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Batik from Java, Indigo from Thailand and Felt Dolls from Kyrgyzstan - Published 17 Jul 2019

NEWS OF INDIGO, JAVA AND THE FAR NORTH

Welcome to the latest Newsletter - catching up with what we have been doing and looking forward to the rest of the year. I spent the winter and early Spring in Thailand and Indonesia, buying stock, exploring new areas and leading a small group around the batik workshops of Java. I finally published the latest instalment of my Asia Textile travel blog - better late than never. If you are interested in indigo, the link will take you there.

A TRIP TO AN INDIGO HEAVEN ALONG THE MEKHONG RIVER -
Isaan Province, in north east Thailand. OK - it's never going to be high on any tourists' list of must dos but there is something very appealing about getting away from the crowds of "farangs" and Asian tour buses, and striking out into "The Real Thailand". And especially when there is the lure of very exciting textiles to be found...c arry on reading the Blog here

I came home and straight back to the first World Textile Day of the year in Wales, and from then on its been fairly non stop. We've done Wonderwool, and Woolfest and FOUR World Textile Days in the South East (Surrey), South (Hampshire) Central (Oxfordshire) and Scotland (Bridge of Allan) Thank goodness for the home comforts of Big Green Van! We managed to fit in a great trip in to the Far North of Scotland while we were up in the north, and visited the wild and wonderful reaches of Achiltibuie, Handa Island, Durness and Eribol. It's easy to forget what a wonderful and diverse country we live in.

I've also been very busy putting lots of new stock we bought onto the website. Here's a quick taster of some of the new stock.
In our Fabrics section, we've got new Indigo fabrics.

.... and new bright, contemporary batik in crisp pure cotton. This is often known as "Bali Batik" but in fact its made in Central Java for export to Bali where its usually made up into shirts.

I've got all my copper batik stamps safely back from Java and have them ALL on the website now. I may be able to get more in October, but I can't guarantee it. These are getting scarcer.

And a lovely new selection of scarves. The indigo scarves came from my latest trip to Sakon Nakhon in northeastern Thailand.

And many of you will be very pleased to hear that there are some NEW FELT DOLLIES in stock! It's always very exciting when new ones arrive to add to our Kyrgyz village.

and there are some new designs in our very popular silver hilltribe jewellery

In March I took another small group to study batik in Java. It was great fun and we packed a heck of a lot into a memorable two weeks! The group included a 22 year old fashion student and an 80 year old New Yorker. It was a privilege to spend so much time with such a great bunch of women.

Barbara Melling, was one of those lovely ladies and a wonderful batik artist. Since her visit to Java in March she has finished the two wonderful batik pictures below - inspired by her visit. Check out her website and If you can get to her studio in Lincolnshire, I hear she teaches great batik classes.

I'm also taking a small group with me to Java at the end of October, and there are currently two spaces, so if you are keen, or know anyone who may be, please contact me. This may well be my last one!

COMING UP THIS AUTUMN

We have three World Textile Days left this year- in Norfolk, Cheshire and near Bristol.
Guest artist quilter and indigo dyer extraordinaire, Janice Gunner is our main speaker in the North, African textile expert and prodigious quilter Magie Relph is in the East and award winning teacher and textile artist Isabella Whitworth is in the West. Come and enjoy the day, the specialist textiles with traders who really know their stuff and the great talks! Get over to the World Textile Day website for details