it's been a while....about a week ago i said goodbye to the wise one and drove 750km (450 miles) east for the purpose of tutoring a costume-from-salvage-clothing class at the Geelong Textile Forum. the wise one was not pleased.
the Forum phenomenon is uniquely Australian and the brainchild of a treasure (the indomitable Janet de Boer) we had the good sense to import from the States over 25 years ago (well, it might be more but you'll have to ask her). for one week several hundred women (well, mostly) gather at one of Australia's most famous schools (Geelong Grammar) to learn a textile skill, dress up without their families watching, have someone else prepare meals & wash up and to have FUN. it's like being on a magical island for a week. (we tutors enjoy it just as much as the students)
in our class sewing machines were banned and after each person had contemplated the character for whom they were designing - complete with language, name, hopes, dreams, favourite colours and backstory - we settled in to the quiet rhythms of hand-stitching. somehow we all found ourselves back in the classroom after the evenings' entertainments, stitching until the pumpkin hour telling stories and giggling helplessly at rounds of ridiculous jokes
as the costumes took shape we added extra detail by beating leaves onto the surface (i call it the 'hapa zome' technique...a Japanese phrase meaning 'leaf dye'). these were Nandina domestica leaves. the image on the cloth looks for all the world like an illustration of the madder plant
our days began with gentle stretches and dances. we listened to flamenco, gypsy and jazz and danced between stitching
an added delight of this week is that traders gather in a large hall for the purpose of accepting monies from participants in exchange for delicious fragments such as this one purchased by my friend Jenni. it's a patchwork from Uzbekistan; seen from behind (above) and through a glass, darkly (below)...Jenni kindly hung it in the classroom window so that we could all admire it
towards the conclusion of our week together we gave a small performance. i'll post the photos when i receive them.
at the end of our last class day my students kindly presented me with talismans...found objects hung on handmade string twined from precious scraps. here they are hanging on the bedpost at home, together with a doll made by one of the Three when they were small
it was a lovely week, but the road beckoned....funny how it took me two days to drive over, but only nine hours to get home...
i think there may be a magnet hidden in the tea-pot
How i would have loved to be on that magical island. Unfortunatly i'll have to wait for the hapa zome. Because dear India, good for you but bad for me, your book has sold out and i have to wait.
ReplyDeleteArgggggggh, ggggrrrrrrrrrrr.
Love, Martine
India, this sounds completely wonderful! I can just imagine the fun you all had. I bet, with all that creativity going on, the place was really buzzing.
ReplyDeleteI'm so looking forward to your photos.
Oh, it was great for you but not so for those of us minding the bereft wise one.
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness... i feel like i've stepped onto a magical island just reading this post! all of those people hand stitching... wow... and the hapa zome!! and the patchwork from uzbekistan!! yes, i think i've put on annette's fairy shoes and tiptoed right onto a magic island...
ReplyDeleteLooks like it was a fabulous week. Each year I go along on the Open Day and ogle over the fabulous work made by all of the creative people who spent the week at the forum. Now hearing your tales I want to go even more. I will have to MAKE it happen soon. (PS. thanks for visiting my blog - it was a buzz to see a comment from someone who's work I've only just discovered but really admire!!) Sophie
ReplyDeletehow wonderful! one day - when the smallest one is big enough to be left for more than a couple of days......
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to be able to reassure you, Martine, that there is a second print run on the way...and yes, everyone, a Textile Forum is truly a magical experience, whether as tutor or student! well worth saving the small change for...
ReplyDeleteI come here for the quiet. The workshop sounds wonderful, and the stillness around your post even more wonderful.
ReplyDeleteOh boy India, you are diving into richer oceans of creativity, generously allowing us to swim beside you and I for one cannot wait for my next adventure. I agree having experienced these intensive workshops. These forays are delightful, inspiring and leave one slightly bereft afterwards for having such creative companions and mentors. I enjoy my muddling and puddling that comes in the interludes but anticipate the next meeting with a certainty that we will continue to meet again and go to new levels of creating and making. Soooooo looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteThis must have been as if you were on a holiday to Paradise.. The whole thing felt so good... also loved the colored stained glass window effect of the pieced quilt top ... Thanks you...
ReplyDeleteIt was a fabulous week, I did Keith Lo Bues class and had a ball. I wish I'd also been able to take your class, peaking through the window was like looking into a magical wonderland. I loved it all.
ReplyDeleteWow. The class and community sound amazing. I love the photos of the costumes and dancing. Very lovely, magical.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting--so that you could be found.
jb
Don't know how you found your way to my blog, but I'm so glad you did! Reading about your week of hand stitching and creativity and friendship made me marvel that such things DO happen, not just in dreams. Will have to dig back in your archives for more.....!
ReplyDeleteI heard on the grapevine, that there was a fair bit of peeping through windows, at this wonderful sounding class!
ReplyDelete