Some dyeing and divali.........

One day I will write a post and tell you what a relaxing and quiet week I have had. But then I'll have nothing to write about I suppose and anyway, I don't think it will happen until after Christmas now. So here's what my busy week has been full of. FirstIy I made another doll to go on my stall at the Christmas fair and I made Ruby a felted wool jacket. Here they both are:

I need to embellish the jacket a little bit but as usual I'll probably leave it until the last minute. I also made these chappies to add to the collection:

I'm not convinced that I like the different coloured beards now - so another thing to change at the last minute. I'll have to have a 'last minute' list going soon.  As if I hadn't done enough crafting this week two friends came over yesterday afternoon and we dyed with cochineal and logwood and onion skins.

Here are some close ups:

 

This lot of fleece was dyed in cochineal and then I dipped the left bit in logwood quickly. The colours are divine aren't they?

This is all logwood and the bit on the left was pre-dyed in indigo. Now take a look at this amazing lot:

Two different types of fleece dyed with onion skins. Can you believe the colour of the one on the right? Sadly, it wasn't my fleece but my friend took pity on me and gave me some. Lastly, a couple of cochineal skeins:

It's going to be my new favourite colour I think. I did dye lots of pieces of blanket too and I've added pics of those to my photo album if you want to take a look.

So that takes us up to last night when I collapsed wearily into bed. This morning we remembered that we were celibrating Divali at school so it was a hasty making of a few divali cards for teachers and me putting on my finery to look the part.

I'm really sorry for the terrible pic on the left. I was too tired to go around the house with the mirror seeing where the camera wouldn't flash. I've done a close up of my outfit though for you to see here (by the way I just squeezed into it this year). It's called a salwar kameez and I bought it a few years ago for my niece's wedding and it's so lovely. The colour goes from green to purple and the dupatta that goes around the neck is gorgeous. It's tie dyed and the tieing is done by picking up little circles of fabric and tieing them with cotton and then going on to the next circle. When I bought it I had to unravel some of the circles myself - they're on a continuous loop. The whole thing gets an outing about once a year for Divali and I will wear it tomorrow when we go to my parents for a little celebration.

Incase, you don't know Divali is on 21st and is the Indian festival of light. Both Hindus and Sikhs celebrate it and it's quite an important celebration. I remember when I was little my Mum and all of us would spend most of the day cooking special food like samosas, pakoras (bahjis), meat curries ( we usually ate vegetables most of the time), puris. Dad would go out and hunt down freshly cooked jalebis and Indian sweets - in those days there weren't many shops selling the stuff. Then after all the cooking we'd put on our best Indian outfits and a bindhi on the forehead and go to the temple to pray. Back home relatives and friends would pop in all evening to eat and chat and to say 'Happy Divali'. My Mum also used to make divas herself - again you couldn't buy them as you can now. She'd take some chapatti dough and make into a cup shape. Then she'd pour in some oil and fashion a wick out of cotton wool and put it in. Then she'd put one in each window of the house and light it. It always looked so magical.

Our Divali celebrations are a bit simpler these days as my parents are getting old and their children are scattered all over the world. Still the whole area where my parents live is lit up with special lights laid on by the council and the place will be buzzing, there'll be queues outside the sweet shops and the temple will be full, everyone will be wearing their brightest and best and there will be fireworks in the evening. We're all really looking forward to it.  So I bid you a 'Happy Divali' and a lovely weekend too.

Comments

[Ash]

Happy Divali Simmy :) I wish I could see where your parents live - I remember Divali well from the town I grew up in.

[Cathy]

Happy Divali! I loved reading about Divali, thank you for sharing that story.

I have lurked on your blog for a couple of weeks now. I wanted to say 'hi' and to say that I think your dolls are beautiful (as are all the things you have done!).

[caroline]

I am so in love with Ruby - I think it is her hair that does it for me.

Happy Diwali to you and your family - my nephew and niece are very much looking forward to Eid they have their presents already picked out.

Finally, I hope Rohan's hand is a lot better. Sorry it is a late show of concern I haven't been keeping up with my blog reading.

[Rowan]

Happy Divali Simmy! The salwar kameez is stunning, what absolutely beautiful,vibrant colours.

[Lina]

I think the gnomes are super cute just as they are!

Thanks fo sharing about Divali, I learned something new and enjoyed reading your story.

[ramona]

i didn't know about this celebration. but for today we planned to go to an indian restaurant. good timing, i'd say, huh?
Happy Divali to you, then.

[Ali]

Happy Divali Simmy - your post is full of the most beautiful colours.

[lucette]

Hello Simmy,
The very best to you and your family for Diwali celebrations. One of the best gifts in life is having a strong and supportive family, and you are truly blessed.

Lucette

ps
the dyeing and dolls are wonderful

[Michelle]

Yum. Wish we could cook a Divali dinner together. I'd love to learn some tricks. Yum. I'm hungry. :)

[pamela t.]

Happy Divali Simmy. I too, love the gnomes just the way they are.