Blast from the Past

Going through the photographs in my archives I came across these pictures from the very first show of my work . It was a collaborative show. Garments by Plantation House and scarves and stoles by MAYA.

Plantation House garments and my scarves and stoles.( some pics are a bit blurry, sorry about that)

What's fascinating is the way in which we worked. We decided to do the show, then we both worked independently for a couple of months. There was no theme or colour palette we chose to work with.

 Day before the opening we both arrived at the venue and surprisingly there were scarves to compliment most of the garments.

Detail of a reversable tussar silk scarf.

It was a wonderful show and my scarves and stoles were well received and I also sold my work which was a bonus.
This was before I started this blog.

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Africa inspired throws

My trip to Tanzania in August inspired these patchwork throws. A small group of women in North Karnataka made these hand sewn throws with noil silk cut offs from Plantation House.    

 Indian Ocean. The blues of the ocean and the soft white sand. It's magical in Zanzibar. R and I sat and watched the colours of the water change as the tide came in and the sun
made its journey across the skies to finally set. Absolutely spectacular.

 Masai. The Masai wrapped in their red blankets, so dramatic in the golden brown Savannah.

 The savannah in Tanzania. Browns and golds and the blue sky. Serengeti - the endless plains with the odd acacia tree I've never experienced such wide open spaces before and seen such exotic animals.

Spice Market. The colourful market in Zanzibar,the different colours of the produce and the awnings protecting the shops from the sun inspired this throw.

  

Spice Market. The colourful market in Zanzibar,the different colours of the produce and the awnings protecting the shops from the sun inspired this throw I used lungis. A lungi is a woven  cotton fabric which is usually checked and worn by men in India like a sarong. Currently this Bollywood song has made the humble lungi top of the charts.
The throws are reversable and are generously sized rectangular lounge throws 74" x 48".

The show at Madder Moon was a thumping success. Some pieces of my work sold which has me so excited. I now have to find more venues and galleries which will show my work. If like me you find yourself  wondering where you can find an audience for you work there's good advise to be found here.

Have a good weekend.

Winter Solstice 2010

The first finish of the new year - Winter Solstice 2010. A tea and rust dyed silk and cotton scarf embroidered with circles.

Unusual name wouldn't you say. It was around the time of the Winter Solstice in2010 that I dyed this piece of silk cotton and it reminded me of the appearance of the moon that night of the total lunar eclipse.
Circles embroidered with running stitch cover the surface of the scarf.
To add a hint of sparkle a single red sequin has been attached somewhere along the outer edge of of the small circles embroidered in red like the one at the lower right hand corner in the above image. Can you spot the sequin?

I need to figure out a way to show you how the scarf appears in its entirety and not just the details, will do that with the next couple of scarves which are going to be pashmina. Quite excited because its the first time I'll be working with this fibre. For now if you'd like to see this scarf or any of the others featured in the last couple of posts visit Plantation House at the Leela Galleria, Bangalore.

Plantation House

Have you visited Plantation House yet? For a number of you geography gets in the way so let me take you on a little visual tour.

I was there yesterday to spend time with Shalini and hand over three pieces of my handiwork and of course talk and talk and talk.
That's 'Overgrown' which has many admirers I'm told.
Overgrown is about tussar appliqued squares and cretan stitch on a bright turquoise cotton silk fabric.

A little section just for my scarves! 'Islands' is draped on the t stand and folded on the step stool is 'Autumn'

Detail of Islands. This is a reversable scarf.

Plantation House garments can be worn in more ways than one like this Bedouin inspired Japanese tunic in the foreground but for that you need to visit the store to experience the transformation and be enchanted.

'Autumn" is a hand pieced patchwork scarf.

My work has been received well at Plantation House and I was delighted to see a Japanese lady visit the store wearing one of my scarves and apparently in that state I stop functioning because I failed to ask her, her name or remember to take a photograph. Thank you for choosing to buy and wear a Maya.

Story of the Traveling Pages Sent and Received

I'm back after a month of travel and living out of a travel bag. It feels so good to put up my feet, sip tea and settle into a familiar routine. Sigh, there's simply no place like home.

Other people have been busy too. Liz created this page for my book on Leaves.Its going to be a great addition, thanks Liz.
the page I made for Liz. The theme for her book is Doors.

OK this post was just a quick one to say hello.

More in the days to come about my scarves which have sold well at Plantation House, way beyond my expectations! 

Maya now available at Plantation House

Maya - limited edition hand embroidered scarves by moi are now available at Plantation House, The Leela Galleria, Bangalore.

June TIF

June's challenge in a simple sentence would be "stories that are and stories that are possible" The colour palette and challenge details are here.
I spent sometime trying to figure out what the challenge meant for me and then I don't remember how or when the idea emerged but it was ready to execute and I'm done with this month's challenge and its not yet the middle of June.
On the left is the source or the story called Plantation House. Plantation House is the label under which a close friend who shares the same design sensibilities as me sells her garments. She takes inspiration from the japanese kimono or african garments so her garments have simple cuts and are impeccable for the detailing and finish. She uses fabrics made of natural fibres and the styling is relaxed , the look is one of layered textures. The whole story is one of understated elegance much like life on a plantation, therefore the name - Plantation House.


On the right is a story born from the cutting waste of the garments made for Plantation House. I use the cutting waste to make one of a kind patchwork scarves and stoles embellished with simple embroidery, geometric forms and applique. All handmade and hand finished with impeccable finish and detailing.


Shalini's garments are a perfect foil for my scarves and stoles. We had a show of our work two years back and we hope to have another this year. Its intersting to see how two stories can come together and complement each other so well. Immense possibilities which I need to explore if that show is going to happen.
Now I need to catch up with the Take a Stitch Tuesday group on Stitchin Fingers. I have to do both the Herringbone Stitch and the Buttonhole stitch.