Good morning Vietnam

Made it via Kuala Lumpur to  Ho Chi Mihn City, Vietnam!

One year of stitch

I've been sewing along all year and have managed to fill up my first chosen fabric - a piece of vintage table linen which belonged to Nannie.

Now I'm on a new adventure, so a new piece of linen is coming along too.  This time it'll be all black thread....I'm traveling light ! So let's see what marks and lines I can collect in the Far East.  I'll try to post daily, so keep reading...

Starting from home it will follow my journey by car, plane, bike and boat !

Where are you sewing today?

A hot sunny spell and still lots of quilting to do, so I'm busy at work in my 'summer studio'.

 Also known as the conservatory! But it does mean I can fling all the doors and windows open so that it does feel I am seeing outside. 

But I perhaps aught to take advice from Magic cat. 

When it's so hot, sleep in a cool bag!

Summertime colour

Nature knows just how to combine colours!

Inspiration from the garden

Pattern repeat

Printing with a flour resist and colouring with thickened procion dye is one my favourite ways of producing my own fabrics.

As well as using commercial stencils ( as above) , blocks or printing tools l often like to use everyday domestic items.  One of my favourite is the humble potato masher, indeed I had a bit of a reputation in local charity shops for my constant search for 'the one'.  And what is 'the one' I hear you ask? It's one that gives this pattern:

The first time I used this masher to make a print I was hooked, only trouble was it wasn't mine to have, it belonged to a student and no matter how much I pestered her husband wouldn't give it up, despite my promise of a state of the art (!) new one in replacement.  Not to be defeated I decided that I would take a print of the mark and send it off with all the sizes etc to Fiona at The Stitching Post to see if her block carver would make me a set. He could, so I then 'had' to book a trip to India so I could go and collect them ( naturally...)

Long story short ( or hop over to http://justtotheleftofthemoon.blogspot.co.uk to read about the resulting trip) the blocks weren't ready when we visited, so they were mailed to me when ready.

And here they are....I just love the way everything is sewn into Calico parcels and then sealed with wax.

I couldn't wait to open the parcel to see my blocks, but was a bit puzzled by the size of the parcel...

Puzzle solved - look at the size of the finished blocks - they're huge.  I sent the measurement in metric, but they were make in inches!  So my 4cm X 7 cm became 4 inches X 7 inches. Hummmmm!  

On the other hand, just look at how they were packed....wrapped in off-cuts of silk sari fabric...yum,yum,yum!

But how do they print?  Take a look

Aren't they fabulous?  Only tried them out using a flour resist so far, but I'm thrilled with the results, and do you know what?   The size is just perfect, after all look what I was given last week!

So now I have a whole set of ultimate printing tools!

A different point of view

Over the last year most of my creative energy seems to have been applied to the walls, doors and various odd bits of furniture that make up my home.  That, combined with other things, has meant there has been precious little creative textile art taking place.  Printing and sewing new curtains and blinds don't count.  However, planning and creating my new garden has helped, but it's still been very frustrating and the situation hasn't been made any better by the state of my workroom.

Quite frankly, it's a heap.  I know that, but just now I'm not minded to do anything about it.  Everything in the garden is growing well, so with Festival of Quilt deadlines looming it is time to GET SOMETHING DONE!

So....I've moved my creative space downstairs and into the conservatory. 

Tidier, lighter, brighter and with doors that can be flung open, it is an ideal workspace.  Why haven't I made the move sooner?? Suddenly I feel energised and creative.....long may it last - well until this year's entries have been made!

My workroom assistant has also made the move and is keen to give the new work 

a close inspection before giving it her stamp of approval!

Intrigued by the work?  I'll reveal a little more soon, but until then I need to get back to work!

Bye for now,

Hazel