On the way to Jaisalmer we stopped at Barmer to attend a block printing workshop run for us by a small textile printing company called Panihari.
This was very exciting as one of the workers first showed us the process and then we were each given a metre of cloth and helped to create our own prints. We each just used two different blocks one for the edge and one for the centre, but they would use several wooden blocks to create a detailed pattern with several colours (see the Anokhi post). The solution we pressed onto the material was made of lime and gum. This will act as a ‘resist’ so that when the material is dyed the patterned sections will remain white.
They will dye our prints with indigo and send them on to us in Jaisalmer … watch this space.
What a wonderful journey you are having, so many amazing experiences and encounters. The workshops and craftspeople you have met are using traditions steeped in history, great to see.
What an amazing cinema experience. Good to hear they are still going strong! Have fun!!!
How did you arrange such a workshop. We are headed to jaisalmer in a day for 9 days and we would love to do something like this.
Let me know if you are able.
Thank you