Jaipur Adventure

I've spent the last 10 days in India learning block printing in Jaipur from the fantastic Heather Moore (aka Skinny laMinx), mud resist printing with indigo dyes and block printing with natural dyes in Bagru. I also visited museums, Brigitte Singh's studio, a paper making factory, bazaars and explored the city in tuc-tucs, cars and on my little legs!

We stayed at the Hotel Diggi Palace, it's covered in hand painted details and each morning I had breakfast in the garden surrounded by peacocks, chipmunks and lime green parakeets. On arrival I was given a blessing on my forehead and a garland of marigolds to wear (which are now squished in my flower press!)

The traffic in Jaipur was amazing and included elephants, horses, cars, tuc-tucs, goats, camels, brightly painted trucks, pigs, cows and motorbikes with huge numbers of people and items on. We spotted one motorbike with six members of a family all squashed on! The beeping horns are relentless but not aggressive, there's not really lanes so everyone is just beeping to let everyone else know where they are. The people of Jaipur are so friendly, it was no problem getting lost as everyone wanted to help!

I had THE BEST time in the workshops, and added a bit of hand drawing, painting and nature printing to most of my designs. 

We had so many opportunities to watch and learn from master crafts men and women...

Here's a design I hand painted in mud and then left in the sun to dry, it then was plunged into the ten foot deep indigo blue dye (which I was terrified of falling in!)...

The pink city walls are covered in beautiful hand painted borders and one morning I spotted the painter at work!

I filled an ENTIRE sketchbook printing beautiful hand carved blocks...

One morning we decided to get up early and visit the flower market... 

Here are the garlands I chose...

I loved the bazaars, they were so inspiring...

But there was inspiration everywhere I looked...

The colour combinations in the Old City were INCREDIBLE...

I loved all the bamboo scaffolding... 

The level of painted and sculptural detail in the buildings was amazing...

and the metal detailing at the City Palace...

A highlight was viewing the Indian Miniature Painting collection at the Albert Hall Museum...

On the last day I treated myself to a very old kantha quilt. It's hand stitched, double sided and created from scraps of material held together with thousands of delicate running stitches which gives it a beautiful texture...

I also bought a silk circle skirt from the 30's, the hem is embroidered with Hindi text spelling out many destinations in India. I LOVE it so much and will be heading down to Brighton to see Eleanor at Dig For Victory to get it reworked into a dress...

I cannot recommend this trip highly enough (further info here), it was the PERFECT combination of creative and inspiring workshops with lots of free time to explore the city alone. I will definitely be going back to India, and I'm already day dreaming about my next trip! ...