Hand embroidered white-on-white Kurti Tunics

traditional Lucknow style "chikan"work, cotton thread on cotton voile

FRESH STOCK of really magnificent embroidery work has arrived!
Andree's selections of hand embroidered kurti and kurta tunics

This delicate embroidery is a women's craft practiced in the Muslim households of Uttar Pradesh

Also known as shadow-work, the embroidery threads are worked on the inside of the fine voile cotton, to form traditional lace-like designs tracing flowers and vines on the surface.

 Each piece has been carefully selected for grace of design and mastery of the skill

"MASTERPIECE" ALLOVER HAND EMBROIDERED STYLE 
on front, back and sleeves

assorted sizes  $120. - $160.

LIGHTER MOTIF EMBROIDERY STYLE

lighter embroidery trim

back embroidery motif

lighter MOTIF embroidery style on pure white and pastel cottons, hand washable

$57. - $88.

MASTER DYERS FEATURE

The traditional art of tie dye, in it's most sophisticated form, 

created by the BANDHEJ and LEHERIYA artisans of Rajasthan

Kingfisher blue silk scarf with very fine floral patterns $75.

Closeup of the texture created by many tiny points of tied silk, with example of loosened thread

Scarlet silk scarf with very fine web patterns $75.

Rose pink leheriya crepe silk dupatta, glamorous summer wear! 

Colour explosion at the Leheriya Master Dyer's workshop!  The silk is rolled diagonally into long ropes which are tied at intervals to resist the dye bath ( see foreground)

Magenta Crepe Silk large dupatta created by Master Dyer $185.

 A FLOWER GARDEN OF MANY-COLOURED STOLES AND SCARVES 

PURE WOOL, FEATHER WEIGHT

Perfect for summer evenings and garden parties

These beauties are one of a kind!  We call them "Wedding Stoles", the perfect shoulder cover-up for your sleeveless party dresses

Cherry Blossoms printed wool $98.

Dark Diagonal printed wool $98.

Iris Blue printed wool $98.

Wisteria printed wool $98.

New Styles for Sister Bazaar Spring 2014

handmade pure cotton clothing, hand printed in Rajasthan

designed by Andrée

Featuring Indigo Dhabu blockprints

The Picnic Dress  $143. 

Indigo Dhabu Drawstring "tooth" Tunic  $140.

In October I introduced and explained the art of Rajasthani hand blockprinting to a group of fifteen Ace Camp participants.  We toured the Indigo Printer's village, our own Soma blockprinting workshop, master woodblock carvers at work, the Anokhi Museum for Handprinting, and the Old City of Jaipur for a look at traditional tie dye process.

The hands-on blockprinting course was led by Lotta Jansdotter.

Ace Camp participants were very interested to learn about the blockprint process

explaining how I organize the block pattern layout and ink colour selections for commercial Soma production

talking about INDIGO, my passion

demonstrating how to use the traditional ink box for wood blocks

looking at record books of previous prints, with our production manager Anil. In these books are swatches, and the precious recipes for every custom ink colour

Visiting our esteemed master block carver Fundanbhai, on the last day of 2013.  He and I have been working together for decades, I call him my Guru.  Many hundreds of Soma block designs pass through his hands, but he ALWAYS can identify my own designs from those drawn by my assistants!

My brother in law Suresh Nair and I work together at Soma, we were visiting the indigo printer's workshop

SUMMER REVERIES

Sarah Clothes ad, photo Carol Gibson

Some of you may remember Sarah's luxuriously full "Wedding Skirts" and lace-trimmed Victorian blouses.

Carol took this photo at the Arboretum, staff members Joan McCarthy and Shahana Din were the lovely models.  Andree did the styling and accessories.

shopping the Jaipur bazaar

a riot of colours and textures!  

Andree guides textile and craft tours through the bazaars and artisans' workshops of Jaipur

embroidered saree trims sold in rolls

the handmade rope market

at home in India again!

This is my home near Jaipur in a restored 18th c "haveli" castle

WomenWeave is an organization dedicated to empowering & improving the lives of women who weave in rural India.

I was very happy to find their stall at a craft showcase fair in Delhi.

These scarves and wraps are handspun, handwoven, in pure cotton handprinted with botanical source dyes.  They have a lovely soft nubby texture and of course each handwoven piece is unique.

handwoven cotton shawl in iron black print

detail of the handspun, handwoven texture

Tashi was managing the booth

embroidery detail on edging