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the MAIWA JOURNAL

 



HANDWOVEN, NATURALLY DYED YARDAGE
FROM BENGAL

We've spent years developing this handwoven fabric. We encouraged the famously talented Bengal weavers to return to natural dyes. They accepted the challenge - combining dyeing skills with their hereditary talents in transforming thread into cloth.
Thursday, April 28, 2022 No comments



40% off

BENGAL SHAWLS

We've made it just a little easier to give someone special a masterpiece on May 8th. These shawls are a celebration of thread, pattern, and colour. They are exemplars of the weaver's art. Some exhibit the signature jamdani technique of Bengal, worked in large spectacular patterns. These are singular masterpieces.


See All Scarves & Shawls








See All Scarves & Shawls

See All Clothing

 


To our U.S. customers – don't forget that the exchange rate works in your favour, it's like an extra discount.

Tuesday, April 26, 2022 No comments



Like Stitched Jewelry ...

They know the genius of sparkle and colour. They can embellish any cloth with only a needle, thread, and imagination. They are brilliant craftspeople who carry artisan stitch-traditions into the future. 
Thursday, April 21, 2022 No comments



Caitlin ffrench

These images of Maiwa’s earth pigments come from Canadian artist Caitlin Ffrench. 

Caitlin works deeply with the idea of place and hand-made colour. She is an accomplished paint maker (and dyer) who has the ability to coax subtle hues from the earth. She is usually working with wildcrafted pigments, gathered from within the landbases she visits. Stones or discarded bricks are laboriously ground down finer and finer until they are fine enough to be called pigments - beautiful dusty colour - and then transformed again by her into paints.

For Caitlin, to make a pigment from a stone is to make a connection between place and memory.
 

Here is a little bit more about her in her own words:

“I am a fibre artist living in East Vancouver. I believe that clothing security is just as important as food security—and that we can find brilliance in even the hardest things. I make most of my own clothing (partially because of my beliefs in clothing security, and partially because i’m 6 feet tall- and finding clothes that fit is hard).
I also weave, spin, felt, do surface design (screen print, eco printing), knit, crochet, dye, wildcraft, dance poorly, sing even more poorly, and ride bikes.

I spend a lot of time with my darling partner, who helps me with all of the strange things I do—(He is a lovely artist in his own right…www.aplustattoos.com)

Visit Caitlin on instagram at @ffrench or at her website caitlinffrench.com.



About Earth Pigments

Earth pigments come from minerals, clays and oxides and are best known by names such as burnt sienna, umber and ochre. They are collected in various parts of the world for their characteristic colours. The exceptions are indigo and vine black, which are plant-based. Maiwa works with small companies who prepare these pigments using centuries-old traditional methods. Our pigments are ground extra-fine for textile use.

Earth pigments are not dyes: they do not dissolve in solution, nor do they form molecular bonds with fibres. To work on textiles, paper or other surfaces, the pigment is combined with a binder which bonds the pigment to the surface. Acrylic and gum Arabic are popular media. For cloth we prefer soymilk where the proteins in the milk act as the binder. Our experience with earth pigments is on natural fibres.

For more information see our Earth Pigments Instructions. 
 

See all Earth Pigments




From Pigment to Paint

Caitlin has shared a simple starting point for those who who want to begin transforming pigments into paint. The process can become quite elaborate - and each paint maker, like each chef, has their own unique take on what is best.

Start with this ratio:
1 - 1.5 parts earth pigment to 1 part liquid gum Arabic.

To this you may add:
Honey or glycerin (keeps the paint moist and prevents drying out)
Clove oil (acts as a preservative, prevents mould - only a small drop needed for a half-pan.)

The beautiful glass objects are "mullers" used to mix ingredients and grind pigment particles smaller. They work great, but if you don't have one you can still get started with a simple palette knife. 

For use on textiles with a soymilk binder, see our Earth Pigments Instructions. 




See all Earth Pigments


To our U.S. customers – don't forget that the exchange rate works in your favour, it's like an extra discount.
Tuesday, April 19, 2022 No comments





BLOCK PRINTED BANDANAS

Natural dye on organic cotton; printed using hand-placed wooden blocks in the traditional method. Each piece is a square of crafted brilliance. These naturally dyed bandanas have many different uses: wear them around your neck or tied in your hair; they make the most colourful bundles, they cover a small table nicely, or set a spot for lunch. Anywhere a square of cloth is useful: a block printed bandana. 

See all Individual Bandanas & Bundles



Maiwa's block printed bandanas out in the world.



BANDANA BUNDLES



See all Individual Bandanas & Bundles



Wrap up your small stacks of anything. These bandanas are 22" x 22" (55 cm x 55 cm).
Just one more reason to have an amazing piece of block printed cloth with you.




AJRAKH BLOCK PRINTERS OF INDIA


Ajrakh is a traditional block printing technique that has been practiced for centuries. Natural dyes are used to create eloquent geometric patterns on cotton that reveal a remarkable play between figure and line.  

Blocks are hand-carved from hardwood and then used in a printing process that can involve between thirteen and twenty-one distinct steps. The many processes of scouring, washing, printing, dyeing, and final washing can take up to three weeks to complete. Much of the beauty and depth of ajrakh cloth comes from the intricacy of the imprint that is left by the artisans hand. Instantly recognizable—there is nothing like an ajrakh.

Read More About the Ajrakh Block Printers Here



DABU BLOCK PRINTERS OF INDIA

The fabled pink city of Jaipur sits at the centre of a cluster of traditional block printing communities. For centuries patterns have been created by dipping carved hardwood blocks into dyes and resists in an elaborate process that is complicated and time-consuming. It is also a source of great pride for the artisans who still practice it. These block printers are also masters of the Dabu process - a unique mud resist that is only found in this area.

Read More About the Dabu Block Printers Here




To our U.S. customers – don't forget that the exchange rate works in your favour, it's like an extra discount.

Thursday, April 14, 2022 No comments


MAIWA WORKSHOPS ONLINE
 
These are in-depth workshops delivered through engaging high-definition videos. Our Instructors skillfully guide students accompanied by detailed notes and student Q & A sections. At the end of each workshop students may participate in an optional Zoom meeting.   

Workshops commence in May but students are free to work at their own pace. New content is delivered on a weekly basis until the course is complete. Students have access to workshops for three years from the date of purchase.

Our workshops are delivered on the teachable platform. To get a sense of how it works you may enrol in any of our seven free workshops.

Click the button below to see all our online workshops.

maiwa.teachable.com



Learn to successfully mordant cellulose and protein fibres. Work with cloth and yarns to achieve vibrant, clear colours using classic natural dyes.

In this workshop students will make over 18 separate dye-baths on a variety of fibre types (including wool, cotton, linen, silk, and hemp/cotton). The results will be shifted with iron and indigo for a complex palette. Exhaust baths will be used and these will also be shifted with a modified indigo vat. Students will receive an introduction to shaped resist and indigo dyeing. Throughout the course students will receive professional instruction from Maiwa founder Charllotte Kwon and her daughter Sophena Kwon.

• 45 evocative instructional videos.
• Work with 11 natural dyes including indigo.
• Build dye pots from 18 recipes, shift colours with iron and overdye with indigo.
• Complete the course with close to 100 different colours ... and a whole new appreciation for the magic of natural dyes.

The Natural Dye Workshop

See the trailer here.




Discover the power of oxides to create incredibly textured patterns. When combined with tannins and the blue potential of indigo, a new creative world opens up.

In this workshop students will rust print with flat metal and learn bundling techniques to work with sculptural pieces. The class will make two tannin baths to selectively shift colour while working with binding resist. Additional immersion techniques will be taught with ferrous, tannin, and calcium. A special rust-tea bath will be used to give dramatic results on cloth. Finally students will explore the magic of an iron-reduced indigo vat. This is a very creative exploration of the transformative power of materials to create novel marks and patterns.

• 38 evocative instructional videos.
• Work with 7 unique immersion baths including indigo.
• Learn a variety of binding techniques including clamp, wrap, and shaped resist.
• Complete the course with a body of work exploring the remarkable patterning potential of tannins, oxides and indigo.

Tannins, Oxides & Indigo Workshop

See the trailer here.



Learn the process of making both pigmented and non-pigmented inks, including classics like iron gall ink as well as inks made from natural dyes like cochineal and lake pigments like weld.

In this workshop students will make a range of inks including water soluble and waterproof inks. The workshop will explore papers, and the basis of pointed pen (flexible) writing. Students will learn how to generalize the procedure of ink making so that it may be applied to any organic or mineral matter. The workshop will also present a discussion of journaling, writing, books, and creativity.

• 21 documentary-style instructional videos.
• Work with a range of materials including indigo, carbon black, cochineal, weld, gum Arabic and shellac.
• Learn about ink making as a way to explore materials.
• Consider the history of writing and ink and the future of your own creative practice

The Ink Making Workshop

See the trailer here.



Learn to build a range of indigo vats including organic vats made with fruits, the iron vat, and vats made with plants. Learn a wealth of introductory and advanced shaped resist techniques on silk, linen, and cotton. Learn how to handle materials in the dye vat to get the most from indigo.

In this workshop students will be taken, step-by-step, through the process of making a number of indigo vats, including three organic "fruit vats." Students will learn not only how to make a vat but also how to maintain it, revive it, and put it to bed. The different vats will be explored through the use of many forms of shaped resist - including bound, clamp and stitch resist. An astonishing array of patterning is possible through these techniques. Students will learn how to adjust vats for different fibre types and conditions.

• 35 detailed instructional videos.
• All shaped resist techniques shown with clear, step by step instructions.
• Works taken from blank cloth to finished piece so you can see the entire process.
• An in-depth explanation of the chemistry of indigo extraction and indigo vats so you can learn how and why they work.
• Discover why indigo is the worlds most magical dye.

Journey Into Indigo

See the trailer here.




PRINT & PAINT WITH NATURAL DYES
SOLD OUT

NEXT REGISTRATION AUGUST 15, 2022

Print & Paint with Natural Dyes

maiwa.teachable.com
Tuesday, April 12, 2022 No comments

 


JUST ARRIVED!
NEW TABLECLOTHS

We call them tablecloths — but they are so much more. You can take them anywhere, and anywhere you put one down it will create a sense of place.
Thursday, April 07, 2022 No comments


REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Click the button below to register in our online workshops.

maiwa.teachable.com



If you could paint with natural dyes
— imagine what you could do.

See natural dyes in a whole new way. Join us as we unlock the secrets of how to place mordants and dyes exactly where you want them.

Learn to make a paste out of either a mordant or a dye and place it on cloth with paint brushes, stencils, printing blocks or brush pens. Experience the dramatic contrasts available from ferrous and tannin combinations. Learn how to effectively finish your work and how to combine immersion techniques with direct application. Feel your creative world expand as you gain the power to  blend all the beautiful colours that mordant dyes can give.

• Over 40 detailed instructional videos with written instructions and downloadable PDF's.
• Over 25 demonstration projects.
• Preparation of dye extracts, mordants, and printing pastes with clear, step by step instructions.
• Works taken from blank cloth to finished piece so you can see the entire process.
• Direct access to the instructors through a lively Q & A section.

Print & Paint with Natural Dyes

See the trailer here.



Learn to successfully mordant cellulose and protein fibres. Work with cloth and yarns to achieve vibrant, clear colours using classic natural dyes.

In this workshop students will make over 18 separate dye-baths on a variety of fibre types (including wool, cotton, linen, silk, and hemp/cotton). The results will be shifted with iron and indigo for a complex palette. Exhaust baths will be used and these will also be shifted with a modified indigo vat. Students will receive an introduction to shaped resist and indigo dyeing. Throughout the course students will receive professional instruction from Maiwa founder Charllotte Kwon and her daughter Sophena Kwon.

• 45 evocative instructional videos.
• Work with 11 natural dyes including indigo.
• Build dye pots from 18 recipes, shift colours with iron and overdye with indigo.
• Complete the course with close to 100 different colours ... and a whole new appreciation for the magic of natural dyes.

The Natural Dye Workshop

See the trailer here.



Discover the power of oxides to create incredibly textured patterns. When combined with tannins and the blue potential of indigo, a new creative world opens up.

In this workshop students will rust print with flat metal and learn bundling techniques to work with sculptural pieces. The class will make two tannin baths to selectively shift colour while working with binding resist. Additional immersion techniques will be taught with ferrous, tannin, and calcium. A special rust-tea bath will be used to give dramatic results on cloth. Finally students will explore the magic of an iron-reduced indigo vat. This is a very creative exploration of the transformative power of materials to create novel marks and patterns.

• 38 evocative instructional videos.
• Work with 7 unique immersion baths including indigo.
• Learn a variety of binding techniques including clamp, wrap, and shaped resist.
• Complete the course with a body of work exploring the remarkable patterning potential of tannins, oxides and indigo.

Tannins, Oxides & Indigo Workshop

See the trailer here.


Learn the process of making both pigmented and non-pigmented inks, including classics like iron gall ink as well as inks made from natural dyes like cochineal and lake pigments like weld.

In this workshop students will make a range of inks including water soluble and waterproof inks. The workshop will explore papers, and the basis of pointed pen (flexible) writing. Students will learn how to generalize the procedure of ink making so that it may be applied to any organic or mineral matter. The workshop will also present a discussion of journaling, writing, books, and creativity.

• 21 documentary-style instructional videos.
• Work with a range of materials including indigo, carbon black, cochineal, weld, gum Arabic and shellac.
• Learn about ink making as a way to explore materials.
• Consider the history of writing and ink and the future of your own creative practice

The Ink Making Workshop

See the trailer here.



Learn to build a range of indigo vats including organic vats made with fruits, the iron vat, and vats made with plants. Learn a wealth of introductory and advanced shaped resist techniques on silk, linen, and cotton. Learn how to handle materials in the dye vat to get the most from indigo.

In this workshop students will be taken, step-by-step, through the process of making a number of indigo vats, including three organic "fruit vats." Students will learn not only how to make a vat but also how to maintain it, revive it, and put it to bed. The different vats will be explored through the use of many forms of shaped resist - including bound, clamp and stitch resist. An astonishing array of patterning is possible through these techniques. Students will learn how to adjust vats for different fibre types and conditions.

• 35 detailed instructional videos.
• All shaped resist techniques shown with clear, step by step instructions.
• Works taken from blank cloth to finished piece so you can see the entire process.
• An in-depth explanation of the chemistry of indigo extraction and indigo vats so you can learn how and why they work.
• Discover why indigo is the worlds most magical dye.

Journey Into Indigo

See the trailer here.


maiwa.teachable.com
Monday, April 04, 2022 No comments


Registration opens on Monday April 4th at 9am (Pacific Time)

At 9am on Monday you will see the registration buttons appear on each course page.

(You may need to refresh your browser window to see the button)
 
 
5 MAIWA WORKSHOPS ONLINE
 
These are in-depth workshops delivered through engaging high-definition videos. Our Instructors skillfully guide students accompanied by detailed notes and student Q & A sections. At the end of each workshop students may participate in an optional Zoom presentation.   

Workshops commence in May but students are free to work at their own pace. New content is delivered on a weekly basis until the course is complete. Students have access to workshops for three years from the date of purchase.

Our workshops are delivered on the teachable platform. To get a sense of how it works you may enrol in any of our seven free workshops.
 
maiwa.teachable.com



— Registration opens April 4th at 9am PST at maiwa.teachable.com.

— Create a Teachable account in advance by enrolling in one of our free lessons.

—Have your Teachable login details ready on registration day. Be sure to enter a valid email address as this is how we will be communicating.

—Supply & Equipment List can be found on workshop sales pages.Workshop pages are listed here at maiwa.teachable.com.

Print & Paint with Natural Dyes
The Natural Dye Workshop
Tannins, Oxides & Indigo
Journey Into Indigo
The Ink Making Workshop
Saturday, April 02, 2022 No comments
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  • Natural Dyes - Mordants Part 1
    The Maiwa Guide to Natural Dyes What they are and how to use them We've divided the section on Mordants into three parts. We start...
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  • Natural Dyes - Mordants Part 3
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  • Maiwa on the Road - Jawaja
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      • Handwoven, Naturally Dyed Yardage – from Bengal
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