EMBROIDERY

Intuitive Embroidery by Gabriela Martinez of Ofelia & Antelmo

In this workshop, Gabriela will share her process and path within the vast embroidery universe. She will teach different flat stitches that she uses in her acclaimed work along with all its possible applications. Gabriela will share her creative process when selecting the color and how to create interesting compositions. She will also show you how to achieve visual effects through repeating patterns.

Gabriela will share a file with all the references seen in class.
No previous knowledge is needed.

Includes: Embroidery kit (hoop, embroidery threads, needles, fabric and scissors)

Final project: sample book with all the exploration of stitches Duration: 4 hours

Cost per person: 150 €

About the tutor

Textile designer and artist, Gabriela Martinez, is the creator of Ofelia & Antelmo, a project that studies hand embroidery and its capabilities as a graphic protagonist in various formats. Inspired mainly by nature, her visual proposal is the result of the observation and exploration of organic shapes through repeating patterns. Through her practice, she tries to observe the therapeutic effects in everyday life that hand embroidery offers, as well as its function as a memory recording tool. In addition to textiles, she applies embroidery to surfaces such as paper, palm, ceramics and dry nature.

She studied Textile and Fashion Design at the CENTRO de Diseño, Cine y Televisión university (2011-2015) in Mexico. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and art fairs in Mexico, Hong Kong, France, Chile, Colombia, England and South Africa.

https://www.gamaor.com/ofelia-y-antelmo

TIE DYE / SHIBORI

Indian Tie Dye Bandhani by Master Abdullah Khatri

Bandhani is derived from the Sanskrit word “Bandha” meaning “to tie”. It is a traditional dyeing method indigenous to the states of Gujrat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The fabric is tied very tightly plucking tiny pinches of the fabric by fingernails to create floral or figurative designs and then dye them into natural dye colours. The tied parts retain their original colour and the remaining portion of the fabric results with colourful patterns. This is similar to the shibori technique of Japan. There are various methods of tie dye and each process results in a unique pattern.

Includes: 2 mts stole/scarf

Final Project: One pattern on your own scarf Duration: 4 hours

Cost per person: 150 €

About the tutor

Abduljabbar Mohammadhussa Khatri from Sidr Textiles is dedicated to the production of unique, limited edition, pieces made through the ancient Indian technique of Bandhani.
Handmade scarves, stoles and shawls are drawn in intricate patterns, then tied to cotton, silk or a mixture of both that is each uniquely dyed.

The work, so thorough that its elaboration takes months to complete, as each pattern is created with small dots made with tiny knots. In addition to their labour in reviving old Bhuj designs from the Kutch district, The brothers are responsible for the composition of each and every Sidr Textiles piece.

They learned the Bandhani technique from family and friends who, in their workshops, taught them the tying and dyeing processes. Receiving this specialised yet informal training in the timely period when interest in local crafts was being revived.

Over the years, their works and contacts with design institutions, artisan organisations and designers have begun to expand outside of the Indian subcontinent.
Currently employing more than 250 artisans living in 8 different villages within Kutch. Sidr textiles moves forward in its project to fully synthesise Traditional and modern India.

@abdullahkhatri.sidrcraft

HAND SPINNING & WEAVING

Kutch weaving & spinning with Master Shamji Vankar

Bhujodi is home to the illustrious Shamji Vankar Vishram Valji who carries on the legacy of his father, Vankar Vishram Valji who was felicitated with the National Award in 1974 for his exemplary work in Dhabla weaving. Shamji bhai who is himself an innovative weaver and an early adopter of kala cotton, oversees Vankar Vishram Valji Weaving, a multigenerational craft initiative for weaving and dyeing of fabrics, shawls and stoles furnishings and durrie (rugs) in cotton and desi oon (indigenous wool) that employs around 90 families.

Shamji Bhai will be teaching a workshop in traditional bhujodi spinning and weaving, something truly magical and meditative that Mahatma Gandhi had all Indian freedom fighters adopt as part of their daily pratice.

Duration: 4 hours

Cost per person: 150 €

About the tutor

Shamji Vankar Vishram Valji is part of a legacy of handloom weavers from
the village of Bhujodi in Gujarat, India. He was trained by his father and elder brothers. As a weaver, his textiles are recognized for their interpretative style that combines traditional motifs with contemporary design woven in fine cotton, silk and wool yarns including desi wool. He experiments with colour, texture, design and high skilled techniques. His specialties range from woolen shawls, stoles, carpets to traditional blankets. Shamji became a master dyer using his own dyeing vats. His expertise grew with his ability and now the family has more than 12
vats at their atelier. He shares his knowledge with local weavers, design students and designers visiting his village. His efforts provided direction and inspiration to young artisans who see a world of possibilities by carring forward their family occupation with pride. He has served at trainer to various young designers
from design institutions like NID (National Institute of Design), NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology).In 1971, his family received a National Award of the weavers’ community of Kutch followed by awards and recognitions in 1999, 2005 and 2012. His atelier has 50 artisans, 30 embroiders and 2 tailors.

@vankar.vishramvalji

BASKETRY

Basketry weaving with Master Carlos Fontales

A weaving workshop using natural fibers with Carlos Fontales, one of the most important experts in basketry in the Spain with several books published, many courses taught and many interesting pieces to his credit aimed at the creation of site-specific projects in different spaces of medium or large dimensions. Contrary to what is usual in design processes, Fontales proposes a free transit, from the emotion of the encounter with new techniques and materials, towards unforeseen results. His workshops aims at a deep connection with nature ́s fibers, the joy of the handmade and the freedom to experiment.

Includes: natural fibers

Final Project: a woven product Duration: 6 hours

Cost per person: 150 €

About the tutor

Carlos Fontales is celebrated master and practicioner in the carft of basket weaving. He was born in Madrid but has travelled the length and breath of Spain to learn from heritage basket weaving traditions all over the country. At the age of 20 he moved to a village in Galicia fleeing from city life and its future prospects. Years later he began to be interested in daily use basketry, the one made by farmers in rural Spain to use on an everyday basis.

As a result of these inquiries and learning, he published a couple of books on the trade. Along with his research, he dedicates his activity to traveling around Spain and other countries giving courses, seminars, conferences, as well as occasional art installations.

@fontalesortiz

HAND KNITTING

Large scale hand knitting with Maria Azcarate

This is a knitting workshop where the main tool is your hands and arms and some threads of merino wool.

Includes:
Merino wool in natural or brown.

An explanatory video and an upcycled patchwork bag. Duration: 4 hours
No need to have prior knowledge

Final Project:

BIG BLANKET
Large (3,2 kg wool; 0,90 m x 1,50 m blanket size)

Cost per person: 210 €

SMALL BLANKET
(1,7 kg wool; 0,90 m x0,70 m

Cost per person: 150 €

About the tutor

Maria (Mia) Azcárate studied fashion design in Madrid where she learned
about all the processes and opportunities behind the production of a garment, while also getting closer to the world of regenerative agriculture. All of this led her to reflect on the impact of consumer decisions, especially in the world of conventional fashion. Therefore she decided to undertake a truly new sector in the Canary Islands: sustainable fashion. MIA Sustainable Collection is a Canarian brand making sustainable garments, locally produced taking into account a balance of people and planet.

https://www.miasustainablecollection.com/en

INDIAN EMBROIDERY

Textile Surface design using Gujarati embroidery & applique techniques with Raasleela Textile

In this workshop, participants will learn a variety of seams and stitches
to hand sew a garment and also different surface embellishment using various Gujarati embroidery and applique, cutting of various fabric shapes, finely stitching them, creating applique motif by folding and cutting patterns, using smallest fabric piece as Tikdi( applique). There will be linear fabric techniques such as piping, cutting and stitching of Katab (Reverse Applique), as well as Bawaliyo technique and its variations of mirrors attached to the fabric.

Participants will also learn to use these stitches not only for surface ornamentations but also for various mending purposes. Raasleela believes every artisan has their individual style. Even if it is as basic as running stitch, it will be different if done by two individuals. This workshop is an invitation to develop your individual style.

Duration: 4 hours

Cost per person: 150 €

About the tutor

The workshop is designed by Hetal Shrivastav, the founder of RaasLeela Textile. Coming from a weaver’s community, Hetal has been working with various needle craft of Gujarat, India for over a decade now. Using these embroideries, RaasLeela makes 100% handsewn products without any use of a sewing machine at all. The brand focuses on sustainability -

The workshop will be led by Sumi - master artisan of RaasLeela. Sumi has been practicing these techniques since her childhood and with a great passion to teach & share, she has been leading various workshops. Normally traditionally an artisan would be an expert of her own community’s technique. 32 year old Sumi is exceptional with the fact that she has mastered multiple techniques. She has mapped her journey from just being an applique artisan to leading workshops and also training and providing work to her neighborhood home based ladies.

https://www.raasleela.co.in