Menu:
Itinerary for Stitches of the Desert workshop
Workshop Leaders: Lucy Goffin and Rachna Singh
Venue: Ojjas Workshops at Khatipura
Introduction, 4:30 - 6pm:Welcome Tea on Diggi Palace Lawn
Day 1, 10 - 1pm: There will be an introductory talk from Raj Kanwar of Ojjas at her hand-printing studio where Rachna will show you samples of beautiful traditional embroideries. A trip to the local bazaars in the old city with Lucy and Rachna, to source materials and gather inspiration from a fabulous four storey haberdashery emporium selling cottons and silks, mirrors, sequins, beads and metallic ribbons
Day 2, 10 - 5pm: Back at the studio, under the guiding eye of your tutors, you will start your project. Using a variety of threads and materials, you will produce your own running samples of stitches alongside the pieces you have chosen to make. There will be an afternoon visit to the Anokhi Museum of hand-block Printing in a beautifully restored haveli in Amber village.
Day 3, 10 - 4pm: You will gain hands-on experience of the extensive range of decorative stitchery typical of the region, with the help of local embroidery ladies demonstrating their skills.
Day 4, 10 - 4pm: Continue with your process, which will also include the detailing, making up and decorative finishing of your chosen article. During the week a local patwa wallah will demonstrate braid and button making and you can also see printers doing specialist gold and silver work.
Day 5, 10 - 1pm: The chance to finish off your work and assemble it for a small exhibition for all workshop participants in the Diggi Palace gardens.
Day 6: Kite Festival Holiday
Wonderful Workshops exibition at Diggi Palace. Celebration Rajasthani lunch and kite-flying at Saba Havali in the old walled city of Jaipur.
Please note, whilst everything will be done to ensure your safety during the course of these workshops, you undertake to participate at your own risk.
Lucy Goffin is one of the leading textile artists of UK, producing individual pieces to commission and for couture collections, and large works for public spaces. Her work has been acquired by the Art Institute of Chicago, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Shipley Museum & the Crafts Council collection www.lucygoffintextiles.co.uk
Ojjas Studios was founded by Raj Kanwar to work with the revival, innovation and contemporary usage of traditional techniques,designs and skills, with the aim of achieving new dimensions within the timeless appeal of hand printed and embroidered textiles. Her daughter-in-law, Rachna Singh is a knowledgeable exponent of the stitching traditions, working on projects in the villages and is involved with research for Rajasthan's main art college, Indian Institute of Crafts and Design.