During my residency at Cornwall College in 2014 I did a session with Woad , mainly dying wool with the students. I was intrigued by the stunning colour, the depth and a vibrancy, that seems to come from within.
Woad is a plant, looking a bit like large spinach, which is biennial and was used for dying blue in Europe, before the the introduction of imported Indigo and later the development of synthetic Indigo.
During my research for my MA dissertation, I learned, that the commercial Woad production in the UK only ceased in the 1930.
The wish to explore more about Woad and Indigo and practice dying with it has stayed with me.
In the summer 2017, during the School of Craft at the Newlyn Art Gallery, I attended a workshop facilitated by Sarah Johnson .
Dyeing with Indigo is simply fascinating, the intriguing scale of tones, the vibrancy of colour and aexperiencing a glimpse of the endless possibilities with Shibori, the Japanese art of tie dying.
In my search for an practise which sit comfortably with my ideas about sustainability, inclusiveness and compatibility with my life, I had started to experiment with handstitch, embroidery and in September 2017 I met Sara, the Quilt Lady at Helston Makes It! and learned my first steps into English Paper Piecing more commonly known as patchwork in the UK.
Currently I am using the Indigo dyed fabric and working with the most simples way of English Paper Piecing.
One stitch at a time, I will find my way home……………
One Stitch at Time 