Indigo Dying.

Today I’m working on my classes that will be held in India on our Craft Tours trip in two weeks.   Watching the families create beatiful things with Indigo is magic, pure magic.

Conversations and Consternations

I’m going to add the conversations and consternations. I’m going to add to the stories, because in all honesty, there was always a lot more going on behind the words. Interesting things happened as a result of the blog. People commented, people contacted me and expanded on the subject I was talking about. I met the most fascinating people who need to be recognised as part of this journey.

Do you know what happens to US school buses when they retire? They become ‘Chicken buses’

When American school buses reach the age of ten years or 150,000 miles, they are sold at auction. Many of these buses are bought and driven down through Mexico to Guatemala where they are prepared for their second lives. In contrast to their modest first lives as yellow buses carting children to school, their second lives are spent stuffed with people, topped with roof racks full of cargo, and driving at high speeds over mountain passes. The old yellow paint is covered with colorful murals and praises to Jesus. They are called. “Chicken buses”

Please, share the story. – Textiles.

However, before I add the images I took a few days ago I wanted to share a little about the situation that the women I photographed are in. I’m no a stranger to photographing poverty or even working with people in the slums areas of Bangkok. As a photographer one is always looking for the unusual and telling the story in images. It’s a fine line between voyeurism and art. I approach these images by also sharing in words the story behind the photos and this poignant video from Zin Video which tells the story so graphically and much better than I could.

Textiles, trains and markets so splendid.

Suddenly the rains came down with force. It was torrential and keeping track of 19 people was challenging. We all ended up absolutely soaked to the skin despite our of our brollies.

The water poured off awnings and umbrellas and then began to rise from the ground so we splashed our way back to the train station.

We held an impromptu show and tell at the boat station to the amusements of the passers by. However, they are unaware of our passion for fabric, bargains, jewelry and clothes.

Textiles at the British Museum

I did find some interesting textiles at the Museum and thought you might like to see them. These pots are stunning, it appears as if they are broken porcelain covered with digitally printed fabric and stitched back into place. How amazing, stunning is the word. I stood for ages studying this wonderful garment. Hand appliquéd…