Out of the blue - there came blue

 

When teaching the 'Life's a bleach!' workshop and using black cotton fabric I have come to expect the cloth to discharge to a lovely range of grey and copper colours. 

HOWEVER. Not all black fabrics are the same, even if purchased from the same retailer who has used the same supplier. 

Teaching this technique to a lovely group in Lincolnshire recently we did not get copper, we got.........

Blue! 

Happily it was quite a nice steely blue and combines well with silver and grey. 

I will progress this piece into work for exhibition

Jane Starling, one of the students on the day, has used her practice piece to make up into lovely container

Thanks for sending the photos Jane. Cannot wait to see what you do with your large piece of discharged fabric. 

If you would like to book the 'Life's a bleach!' one or two day workshop for your group then please email maryelmcintosh@gmail.com

£225 per day for groups up to a maximum of 12

I just can't confirm what colours may emerge

Zoom workshop for Scottish Contemporary

Members of the Scottish Contemporary group live all over Scotland, from the Highlands and Islands to the Borders, and meet mostly on zoom for talks and workshops.

They kindly invited me to teach a zoom workshop on the Putting on the Glitz technique and it worked very well.

For zoom workshops I send out packs, by post, in advance with a choice of different colourways. The packs include all the fabric, foils, bonded sheers, and glitter film needed for the workshop. The pack also has instructions.

The zoom session is a combination of a powerpoint showing the detail of each technique and live demonstration. The powerpoint is made available to all participants after the workshop too.

Getting the pace right on zoom can be tricky as people work at different speeds. So I make my own demonstration piece alongside the students whilst keeping the zoom link open at all times to be able to offer advice.

This is my blue shards piece from the Scottish Contemporary workshop which I will progress to show at exhibition

If you would like to book a zoom workshop* please email maryelmcintosh@gmail.com

£195 for the day. No mileage!  10am - 4pm or evening sessions available on request

*Layered Landscapes, Thread bowls, Playing with Pojagi, Precious Pojagi and Texture Adventures workshops also available on zoom
 

ArtConTex event in Colchester

 

I will be exhibiting work as part of the 'E.A.S.T. @ 30' exhibition which will be unveilved at the ArtConTex event to be held at The Minories in Colchester CO1 1UE this October

The gallery on the first floor will incude work by members of the group, past and present, from all 30 years from 1995 until 2025.

As a new member my work has not yet been made! But it will be work from my current research and explorations from my little clogs

Out of the Fold will also be exhibiting at the ArtConTex event in the ballroom at The Minories.

We will show the 'Reflections' series being made now for the exhibition at The Guildhall, Bury St Edmunds in September.

My work for this exhibition also has not been made! But it will be inspired by mirrors.

 

Precious Pojagi results

 

Thank you to Belinda Perkins who sent me an image of her 'Precious Pojagi' piece created on a wokshop with Cambridge Quilters.

The delicate lace collar and whitework embroidery is shown off to great effect hanging in the window.

Thank you also to Julie Welch who completed her 'Precious Pojagi' after a workshop with Lincolnshire Textiles

If you would like to try the 'Precious Pojagi' technique there are some workshops coming up to book.

Wed 28th May 2025 at Sew and So's in Bungay

sewsos.co.uk/workshops 

You can book through the website or telephone 01986 896147

Wed 30th July 2025 at Festival of Quilts, NEC, Birmingham

https://www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk/

You can book through the website

Or why not book me for your textile group? £225 per day. Maximum of 12. maryelmcintosh@gmail.com

Burn your bra! in Lincolnshire

 

It gives me a real thrill when I receive images of pieces started on a workshop with me and then completed afterwards.

Recently I taught the 'Burn Your Bra!' technique to a lovely group in Louth, Lincolnshire. We used nasty old net curtains, nylon lace, and even bits of old underwear to stitch, burn, and colour.

This is the end result by Helen Dickinson who made her piece up into a textured vessel

Helen has added a button/ribbon closing which really enhances the end result. Great colour, texture and form

If you would like to have a go at this fun technique please contact me by email maryelmcintosh@gmail.com to book for your group

Workshop cost for 2025  £225 per day. Maximum of 12.

Workshop cost for 2026 onwards £240 per day

Filling the Gap for Bridging the Gap

 

I was not expecting to exhibit with E.A.S.T. as part of their 'Bridging the Gap' exhibition as the work was already completed when I joined the group in 2024.

'Bridging the Gap' was shown at the Grundisburgh Gallery in April 2024 and at the Babylon Gallery in the autumn of 2024.

However when E.A.S.T. member Kay Mullenger moved away and left the group that created a 'gap' for the third planned exhibition at The Minories in Colchester.

I am delighted to have been able to fill the gap with my "A coat for Elizabeth" inspired by early women herbalists and in particular Elizabeth Blackwell.

The ballroom at The Minories www.theminories.org

is a fantastic space, full of light with high ceilings. 

'Bridging the Gap' looks great in this space.

I would lilke to thank Libby Smith for proposing the use of leaves collected from the Minories garden to add the the display.  It really does suggest an early women herbalist striding through the woods in search of healing herbs and plants.

The placement next to Susan Canfield's fantastic collection of work - inspired by women authors and her use of the oak leaf motif - flows so well. 

In fact there is a nature theme running throughout the show.

I am proud to be part of E.A.S.T. and to see my work shown along with this group of talented artists.

'Bridging the Gap' continues until 4th May (closed Mon and Tues)

10am - 4pm each day

First floor ballroom

Free entry

You can read all about the inspiration and research carried out by each member of E.A.S.T. for the exhibition here easttextile.co.uk/bridging-the-gap/

India Holiday - a change of plan

 

Aahilya Holidays have asked me to lead a different trip to India. 

'A Craft and Cultural Journey of the Golden Triangle' from 30th November until 10th December 2025

Delhi - Agra - Jaipur

Cost* is £2390 when sharing a twin room or £3090 for a single room. 

For more information and to book please look at the Aahilya website www.aahilyaholidays.com/tour/fd0f/a-craft-&-cultural-journey-of-the-golden-triangle-with-mary-mcintosh

*cost excludes flights but these will be arranged by Aahilya

Itinerary:

Day 1. Fly to Delhi. Stay at the Park Inn by Radisson in a deluxe room.

Day 2. Visit to the Craft Museum in Delhi

Day 3. Tour of Old Delhi including the Jama Masjid mosque, the Chandi Chowk market and the Red Fort. 

Day 4. Drive to Agra and visit Agra Fort. Stay at the Radisson Inn.

Day 5. Sunrise tour of the Taj Mahal. Drive to Jaipur via Abhaneri stepwells. Say at the Megh Niwas hotel.

Day 6. Visit Amber Fort and Anokhi Museum. See Hawa Mahal and visit local bazaar.

Day 7. Trip to Sanganer and wood bock carving. Block printing workshop. Paper making. Biria Temple.

Day 8. Trip to Bagru for Dabu block printing workshop. Indigo dyeing. Indian dinner

Day 9. Aari-Tari workshop in Jaipur. Puppet making workshop. 

Day 10. Miniature painting workshop in Jaipur. 

Day 11. Drive to Delhi. Stay at the Rhythm hotel.

Day 12. Flight home to UK