Wandering through India

No, I haven’t disappeared into the moving masses of an Indian fabric bazaar. Not that it would be impossible or for that matter completely unpleasant. Instead my absence from blogging has been curtailed by an almost complete lack of access to internet. So, now I am sitting in a bale overlooking undulating rice paddies in Bali I will try, without too much detail to fill in the gaps.

While staying on a remote farm somewhere between Cochin and Allepelay we  spent hours being paddled down the calm  backwaters, invited to watch a concert performed by children from a nearby village and welcomed by  children screaming “hello, what is your name” from the coconut tree lined banks.

Spent time watching life go slowly by while cruising on a restored rice barge.

Relaxed on the cliffs of Varkala, eating amazing food.

High in the mountains overlooking tea plantations we shared tea, by invitation from the Director, with Bollywood stars.

Flew to Jaipur and got pulled along by the millions of people plying and buying wares in the bazaars.

Visited forts and palaces.

Spent a wonderful day in Pushka with Fiona from Creative Arts Safaris visiting fabric dyers, her home, factory and eating a fabulous meal prepared by the tailor’s wives

Udaipur was everything we imagined India to be.

Resting serenely on the banks of a lake and the chosen location for 007’s movie Octopussy ; shown nightly in most guest houses.

Final destination – Mumbai and my last chance to buy more fabric.

What a wonderful surprise.  The streets were clean, well cleanish, wide tree lined streets   and heritage buildings that reminded me of England.

BUT NO DUPION SILK!!!!!

Not to be deterred my bags are stuffed with silk organza, silk chiffon, raw silk, a couple of sarees and linen.

I have a lot of ideas that will hopefully translate into new design concepts.  

Holly Cow we’re in India

 

One of the things we love about travelling is observing cultural nuances. They’re not always immediately obvious. Thais, we notice love stamps. Steve our good friend, having spent some time working in Bangkok  does a fine impression of the ceremonial behaviour.  Stamp handle clutched firmly like a baby holds a rattle, then from a great height and with great ferocity it is twice on the ink pad and once on the document.  Thump,thump….thump. Thump,thump….thump! The Malays we note love a whistle.  On most corners in KL uniformed (that’s another thing they seem to love, especially if covered in braid and shiny buttons) men blow with great authority into their whistles, hands waving accordingly.  This of course has little real effect as most drivers ignore them. Sometimes it was difficult to understand why they were even blowing the whistle in the first place.  Indians we note love horns. I understand on some highways, deserted back streets and dark lanes it is customary to blow the horn to alert the  dozing driver ahead of your intention to overtake.  But when it is peak hour and a complete traffic gridlock and an accompanying symphony of horns you have to ask why? Who and how are they going to overtake? But they all keep honking. That set the scene for our first ride into Fort Kochin, or Cochin or Kochin 0r Kochi ( they can’t seem to decide what to call this place.)

Our welcome into this wonderful country was a pleasant surprise.  Lets just say we were the only non Indian passengers on Air Asia so the line for foreign passports was very short.  Only a few people of Indian descent visiting relatives and us.  In the dim light my eye caught a fluttering hand and a big white smile.  The immigration officer looked really thrilled to see us and after glancing at our passports gave an approving nod to his support worker who readily noted our passport numbers on a scrap of paper. It was nice. This process was repeated again 10 metres further into the airport.  I wonder where the scraps of paper go?

We have been welcomed everywhere we go.  The friendliness is genuine and we are greeted by children with the biggest smiles calling “What is your name”?, “Where are you from”?

Fort Kochin is a very peaceful waterfront enclave where strolling, cycling and auto rickshaw are the preferred means of transport. The Portuguese influence is evident in the many building scattered around the community.  The food is delicious and dinning on dhal and podimas for lunch in a heritage building is one of the simple delights to be enjoyed.

In the centre of the village is a large Catholic school whose curriculum seems to have a strong emphasis on  music studies. The sound of 20 or so children belting out a blues number of trumpets with accompanying unmatched drumming is truly awful and wonderful.

On the textile front I was privileged to have a conversation with the extremely centred and warm saleswomen selling  Ayurvedic fabric.  Apparently the medicinal properties are injected into the cloth

Inspiration

 

I am often asked where I get my inspiration.  It is true I love to put colours and textures together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where do I get my inspiration? ….Nature teaches me more than any book

Orchids of Kuala Lumpur

Mission One Accomplished

 

We decided to change our travel plans.It makes more sense rather than  travel from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore for the day, I take advantage of our stop over.  So, after arriving in Singapore at 2.00am, David and I hang about, a bit like Tom Hanks in the Terminal before David takes off to KL and I hang around the terminal a bit more trying to keep my eyes open. The trip  on the MRT (train) during peak hour is good training for the squishy rides I am sure we will encounter in India.

Knowing the reliably good silk shop in Little Arab Street won’t open until 10.00am, I have more hours to fill.  Where else would one go but to the Raffles Hotel. Not to drink – too early , but cruise about and enjoy the beautiful architecture, the tropical gardens and the exclusive shops. I love the warmth and humidity of the tropics, and today I have both in bucket loads.

Next stop Chinatown. My senses take in the beauty of the preserved shopfronts, temples and market stalls as they slowly begin to wake up. I  lose myself in little shops selling antique furnishings, household goods and trinkets.  The tuneful twitter of delicate birds in decorative cages hanging from the ceiling and the smell of steaming chicken remind me I am thousands of miles from home. I like it.

Navigating through the narrow back lanes of the Islamic community near Little Arab Street it takes all my strength not to stop and explore the many little stalls and cafes selling fabulously aromatic food.  I am on a mission to buy silk at a reasonable price.  I know it will be cheaper in India and I will hopefully add to my collection there.  But I know where I am going, I know how much it will cost and I can post it home from KL.

They welcome me like a regular customer and leave me to choose from the hundred or so colours, I want them all. Can’t. I imagine each colour  finished as a scarf. I imagine the colours on different people I know and can’t wait to wear one in  bronze and another in dark, dark emerald green.  The charcoal will look fabulous and the ink perfect for those who can wear navy, but this will be better. I buy a few other fabrics for an idea I am busy percolating in my brain – think a cross between a scarf and necklace.

They had great linen too.  Today I had to be satisfied just touching it…next time!

 

The colour and texture of my day……..

My Creative Space

 

 

I am quite excited as I prepare my first batch of scarves to be sold at a winery in the Margaret River region.

I tried to create something different for the packaging of this special delivery.  I think it is OK.

 

Exploring India

 

Soon I will be off to India, to look, learn and be stimulated by a diverse culture.

If you would like to order anything before I leave my last day of production will be 15 July.

Made on the Left Market

 

I’m looking forward to another market tomorrow.  The venue is 140 William Street next door to the Murray Street Mall train station entry.  I hope it doesn’t rain. 

 

I have been busy finalising my creations.

Berets and more berets…..

Rescued and Renovated Jackets

Velvet brooches..

My Creative Space

 

		Travelling through Europe and Morocco I collected fabrics and braids which I am turning into bags. I often think about the story of things and was happy when, on purchasing this bag for a friend a loyal customer was just as interested in the fact the fabric came from a small Tuscan market and the braid I found in the souks of Marrakesh. Am I the only one that looks at things and wonders who made it, where were they and what is their life like? http://ourcreativespaces.blogspot.com/

Made on the left market

 

Well there won’t be any resting for me as I prepare for the Made on the Left market. 

This is another new adventure for Lulu Tissu.  I met many new people at the Upmarket and I again look forward to meeting more new people .  I really enjoyed the experience but would have been lost without the assistance of Deidre an experienced market goer,  She just knew what to do, it was great.