We are in Bolivia now, with a frail hold on the threads of telecommunication. What we do have here are magnificent textiles ...

Jalq'a weaving woven by Marth Llampa

A short dispatch, received from Charllotte reads: "I came to Bolivia for the Jalk'a weavings and have just viewed a whole collection of exquisite ones from Asur. Crazy creatures inside creatures of a dreamworld of the weavers imagination. A fearsome, dark, chaotic world executed in the system of a loom. It is truly amazing. I can't wait to show others these pieces. We are going to Potosi tomorrow and hopefully Tarabuco and Candelaria."

We will try to update you on the trip as often as communication permits.

Next week, award winning instructor Carol Soderlund arrives in Vancouver to teach the Dyeing to Discharge workshop.

Discharge dyeing is an exciting technique that can give results with depth and vibrancy. It is invaluable to both film and theatre costume departments. Anyone with dyeing experience can get started but it takes considerable skill and special instruction to obtain repeatable results which have consistency in colour and pattern. Carol Soderlund, renowned for her precision dyeing classes, teaches this technique so that students may achieve stunning results - over and over again.

We have a few spots still available in this workshop.

November 1 - 5 (Mon - Fri) 9am - 5pm
Maiwa East 1310 Odlum Drive, Vancouver, Canada

We've just put our latest podcast up.

Part 2
In this presentation the panel consider the desire to go to remote distances, insurance against snow leopards, collections and collectors.

Join Bappaditya Biswas (weaver and entrepreneur), Stephen Huyler (anthropologist, photographer, and writer), Linda Cortright, (journalist and magazine publisher), Charllotte Kwon (owner of Maiwa and documentary filmmaker), and Sheila Paine (explorer and author) as they present a variety of approaches to travel, exploration, culture and craft.

" I am curious about them, they are equally curious about me."

- Linda Cortright

Recorded at the 2009 Maiwa Textile Symposium on October 21, 2009
Posted October 2010

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Sally Melville Book Signing

We invite you to join us next Saturday October 23rd for a book signing event with Sally Melville. Many of you will know her from her series of workshops which are running this month. We are pleased to host a release event for this, her latest title Warm Knits, Cool Gifts. Books will be on hand for purchase and Sally will be happy to sign them.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Saturday October 23rd
5 - 6 pm
Maiwa Supply Store
Northwest corner of the Net Loft building.
Granville Island, Vancouver, Canada

A container has just arrived from India.

We receive containers on a regular basis holding old furniture, carved doors & thresholds, teak cabinets, coffee tables, book cases, engraved water urns, ironwork chairs and tables, furniture handpainted by the renowned Abhi Shakar and Jetu Singh, and many other items both large and small.

All hardwoods are old or reclaimed.



1. Recently arrived is the twin of the cabinet pictured here. An impressive piece, warm wood tones varnished with history. On the top is a small sampling of the range of brassware found in our showroom.
Cabinet 899.95. Brass pots range 29.95 - 89.95 each.

2. The second item is teak cabinet. The clean lines of this piece will compliment any decor. Two upper drawers, display space and double glass doors below.
Price 349.00

3. The third item is a small cabinet featuring a door made from a traditionional window shutter. Hammered metal detail make this cabinet unique.
Price 249.00

4. Maiwa East carries a range of our famous bedding, quilts, cusions, embroideries and textiles.
Bedding ranges from $59.95 for single 60 x 90" hand blockprinted sheets to $179.95 for king size duvet covers.

Open:
Thursday - Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday - 11am - 5 pm

Michel Garcia and Charllotte Kwon consider a pot of gallic tannin.

Michel Garcia arrived from France a few days early for his two workshops; Secrets from the Dye Garden and Indigo the Organic Vat. What do you do while in the company of a knowledgeable chemist, botanist and one of the leading natural dye experts in the world? You head straight for the dye studio of course.

We could have easily spent a month testing, experimenting and cooking up colour. But as we only had two days we limited ourselves to some indigo, mordanting, and tannin tests. One of our dye tests was done with logwood. Here are photos from the afternoon.

Logwood chips ready for dyeing.

Cotton sample about 5 minutes after going into the pot.

Fabric samples after about 30 minutes.

Finished dye samples with logwood.