Hot off the press this week - it's the new Granville Island Works. This document contains in depth interviews with the artisans and businesses who call Granville Island home. Put together by Zen House Media, this richly illustrated magazine will motivate you to find the hidden treasures of the Island.

Maiwa is pleased to have an entry on its main store, its supply store, Maiwa East and its philosophy of slow clothes.

Granville Island Works is a free publication. Pick yours up in the Maiwa stores or at other Granville Island merchants.

The Ajrakh that Rachel writes about can be found in our online store as can print versions of the wonderful Hand/Eye magazine.

We have put up pictures of one cloth going through sixteen stages of production. With a double-sided ajrakh these stages must be performed on each side of the cloth. It takes an entire set of wooden blocks to print an ajrakh. Sometimes the pattern is asymetric and so a separate set of blocks must be carved for each side. The pièce de résistance? A double-sided ajrakh printed with different colours on each side.

Listen to our three podcasts featuring the Khatri brothers from Dhamadka and Ajrakpur.

Excerpts from
Masters of the Art
The Khatri Blockprinters of Dhamadka and Ajrakhpur
Part 1 - Presentation
Razzaque Mohammed Khatri and Ismail Mohammed Khatri
with Eiluned Edwards

Excerpts from
Masters of the Art
The Khatri Blockprinters of Dhamadka and Ajrakhpur
Part 2 - Questions from the Audience with
Razzaque Mohammed Khatri and Ismail Mohammed Khatri
and Eiluned Edwards

Excerpts from
Kismet, Ajrakh, and the Fish of Knowledge:
Collaborating with Craftspeople in India
Eiluned Edwards

MANIFESTATIONS

Kristy Johnston at Grampians Station, New Zealand.

In the fall of 2011 we were contacted by Kristy Johnston, who had an interesting and unusual dye project.

She had just returned from a series of visits to New Zealand's high country where she was visiting remote sheep stations, collecting vegetation, and creating a series of dye samples to act as a chromatic index of place. In her own words:

"Using the concept of terroir, a French term used in the wine industry suggesting that the flavour of wine is affected by the land and the climate where it is produced, I have sought to find a visual terroir through the material nature of colour by using dye extracted from vegetation physically collected from actual places and applying it to merino wool."

The work formed her Masters Thesis for her Masters of Design at Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand. Johnston contacted us again in June to let us know that her thesis was complete (we were happy to be quoted on page 28).

Colours of the High Country: Exploring Place Through Colour is a remarkable work on a number of levels. Firstly, the project is beautifully presented with several photos of the high country she visited, secondly the writing is clear and evocative - equal parts imagery and ideas, and thirdly (perhaps most importantly for our readers) the idea of using natural dyes to make your own colourway as a marker of place is a very strong and compelling one. It is a concept which Johnston has presented in all of its fascinating complexity.

Kristy Johnston's graduate exhibit.

At the conclusion of her project Johnston organized the dyed samples into a graduate exhibition to show the colours of each station. On display were samples of the actual plants, a vial showing the extract obtained from the plant, dyed merino wool, and dyed knit merino fabric.

The farmers involved were unable to make it to the graduate exhibition but she sent them each some photos and a set of swatch cards, each card contained samples of the dyed yarns and knits for each station. Kristy told us "I have heard back from a few of the farmers and they have shown interest in the variations in the dyes between their stations, particularly for the same plant types."

Colours from the High Country is available as a PDF from the following link:

http://mro.massey.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10179/3247/02_whole.pdf?sequence=1

Maiwa sets up it's booth on opening night. Fingers crossed, pray for sun.

Maiwa founder Charllotte Kwon took an expanded version of her natural dye class to the Penland School of Crafts this summer. Accompanied by daughter, assistant, and fellow-teacher Sophena Kwon, the two led an intense two-week study of natural colourants on a variety of fibres.

The class was featured on the Penland Sketchbook twice: Dyed and gone to heaven and It's a Family Act! For those who may not know Penland, it has been a remarkable beacon for craft and artisans for over eighty years. Charllotte has long dreamed of teaching there. Then, one exciting day in 2011, the call came asking if she would consider being part of the summer 2012 session ...

Here are some of our photos.

It may have been the only day in the past week when it didn't rain - and for that we were very grateful. This is what the opening day of symposium registration looked like just before 9am on June 25th. During the first day we filled over 750 spaces in workshops, lectures and events. Thanks to everyone for their patience and perseverance during opening day.

Still trying to decide which workshop might be best for you? Or maybe looking for something to round out your schedule? Here are some select workshops with openings. Don't see your favourite workshop? Check out the listing online to see if it is full. It is still early so please call and ask to be added to the wait list (604 669 3939).



Narrative Textiles taught by Janet Bolton. This is the one-day sister-class to "The Stitch that Tells a Story." It is a in-depth introduction to Janet Boldon's direct way of working.

Hmong women. Photograph by Diana Bocco

Diana Bocco interviewed us about our experience working with tribal communities and the influence of designers on tribal textiles. Tim McLaughlin fielded the questions. The finished article appeared in The Genteel on June 13. Here is a link to the complete story.

http://www.thegenteel.com/articles/design/designers-helping-save-tribal-textiles

We’ve been doing registrations since 2004 and we’ve noticed a pattern. It’s a rush. The line up forms early. But we have a highly efficient team of Maiwa veterans to guide the process. Here are some tips for successful registration.

Maiwa has removed this content because it was out of date.

50% OFF 

ALL BEDS 

SELECTED CABINETS AND TABLES 

Sale Starts 10am Thursday May 31st 

The Maiwa Wrap Party is a night to remember. We put on a spread, bring in a live band, and let loose.

The highlight of the evening is the Maiwa Auction—it’s entertaining to watch and exhilarating to participate. On the block are complete outfits, carpets, furniture, and carefully assembled lots containing books, objects, and textiles. All proceeds go directly to the Maiwa Foundation.

Join Jan Duclos, a French national who has lived most of his life in India, and Laxmi Duclos, a member of the Banjara community and traditional embroiderer, as they guide us through an exhibition of Banjara embroidery.

Jan and Laxmi together run the Surya’s Lambhani Women Welfare Trust (Surya’s Garden) in Hampi, India. It is one of the most vital co-operatives working with Banjara embroidery today. The group works with local craftspeople to preserve traditional needlework skills and designs.

Well known for bold colours and a forceful design sense, the Banjara (sometimes called Lambhani or Lambada) are thought to be descended from the Roma who migrated through the mountains of Afghanistan and settled in the deserts of Rajasthan.

Since the 14th century, the Banjaras have gradually traveled down to the south. They worked for the Moghuls transporting provisions and trading goods, traveling with large herds of thousands of bullocks and carts, buying and selling sugar, salt, grain, and perfumes. Their habit of living in isolated groups away from others, which was a characteristic of their nomadic days, still persists.