The Sea Island Indigo Workshop weekend* began on Thursday, September 18 at the Charleston Museum with a rag-quilting workshop and storytelling by Sharon Cooper-Murray, aka ‘the Gullah Lady‘. Sharon is a compelling performer and interesting historian, as well as a fiber artist and writer in her own right.
Here’s a 25 second example of a Gullah tale that she told at Boone Hall Plantation recently. If you hunt around YouTube you can find lots more! Charlestonmag.com posted an interview with her here. The Gullah story that we heard was vivid, complete with foot stomping and arm gestures. Translation needed — I could tell that some urgent message needed conveying, but not exactly what (turns out the hens used to rise first in the morning, not the roosters, and the story told why).
beautiful rag quilt – it weighs a TON
indigo strips provided!Rag quilting is a no-sew method of quilting making. Strips of fabric are poked into a loose weave base and tied on top. We used burlap for the base and a nail for an implement. Earlier makers used feed sacks or possibly, the loose weave fabric used to construct slave garments, osnaburg (also called ‘Negro Cloth’). It is a resourceful means of cloth making — requiring no needles, thread, or large scraps.
Sharon brings a work-in-progress along with her, to which we were all invited to insert a strip.
Here is Sharon — as herself — constructing one of her Indigo Babies for the dye vat. She sells these at fairs locally.
Of course once I got home, I devised a shortcut — using a tapestry needle and longer strips.
By stitching with enough slack between pokes, the strip can then be cut and tied, four at a time.
I love the back!This method would be a terrific way to use up fabrics that are not needle-friendly.
*****
Next up: visit to Avery Research Center, then two days of indigo dyeing in a pole barn!
Sea Island Indigo Workshop took place September 18-21, 2014 in Charleston, SC. A field of indigo was grown for us by Donna Hardy, on Rebellion Farm, in Ravenel, SC. Fiber artist Kathy Hattori, of Botanical Workshops, flew in from Seattle to co-lead the two days of hands-on indigo dyeing. My participation in the workshop was funded by a kickstarter campaign.
I like the back!
Yeah me too. Maybe more than the front
definitely
too!
This all looks FABULOUS ! What a time you must have had !
Am very much looking forward to the next installment ….
stay tuned, then!
WOW thanks for sharing.
you’re welcome… more to come!
What a bright and full of spirit gathering!
it was… and by the end of the weekend, we were like children, so directed and united by dunking cloth into the indigo vats!
Sharon Cooper Murray is flat out beautiful!…and that amazing garment you’re wearing–wow. Love your shortcut……what good fun.
do you mean the rag rug on the woman? there was a hole in the rug that Sharon brought with her and one of the participants (from Columbia — the land of ponchos?) saw it as a head hole.
like rug hooking with cloth. mom use to do this. gets very messy f you wash it. you can just weave the strips in. i am working on a rug like that… another small journey. soon.
I forgot about the rug hooking tool. Of course that would make it easier, as well… and weaving, well that would be fun! Can’t wait to see….
What a surprise to see Kathy Hattori’s name as an instructor! I used to work at Earthues with Kathy and Michele Wipplinger. I’m so envious of your trip and am dying (ha ha) to hear more.
Oh that’s so funny, Dana… she was wonderful — warm, knowledgeable, very focused. I’ll have to look up Earthues to learn more.
So interesting, thanks for sharing and for the links.