blue magic
most of the work we did at “the workshop” involved indigo
my first experience with indigo was at Kawashima Textile School in 1987
since then I have taken several workshops and tried many different techniques with varying degrees of success
I hope I’ve finally “got it”!!
Bryan keeps a vat going outside the front door
and on the other side is a new vat – an old stainless steel, Japanese bathtub, built-in with a wood surround.
we watched while he got this one started.
A simple formulae
water, slaked lime, indigo and sodium hydrosulfite
and it was ready to dye in 15 minutes
indigo powder is ready
in it goes
a beautiful indigo flower on top
a little sake helps to celebrate the start of a new vat
look at the results
hooked on indigo
the final thing we did before leaving for the train station was plant indigo seeds for Bryan’s next crop.
news from home – the hummingbirds are nesting again, they’ve woven their nest into the crook of a branch.
www.onesmallstitch.Wordpress.com u 
beautiful shibori!
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Oh lovely, the hummingbird nesting and planting more indigo, all part of the circle of nature and life.
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the indigo dyed cloth looks mqagnificent.
why don’t i get ai-bana? never have been able to get it although the vat dyes.
glad you finally got it. spread the word 🙂
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I just fancy dyeing some of that nice silk after reading this. Trouble is I can’t really have an indifo vat on my second floor balcony.
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it seems there is no way NOT to be hooked! so lovely; thanks for sharing.
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indigo lessons, planting AND a hummer where you can SEE it. oh, grace, indeed!
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Velma – Grace indeed, one of my favourite words
Aimee – sharing is a part of the magic
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