Lets do some Stamping.

Am still working on the patka border yet thinking about the peacock border on the diaphanous black muslin and oyster silk dhoti/chaddar.

The fan is also under serious developmental reconsideration. I've cut the patterns for the applique but considering the several layers involved in the structure of the tresfoil am wondering whether it will ultimately be too cumbersome.

Today was the day to tackle the polystyrene and experiment with a stamp on those scraps of lawn. Given that the original historic shape is rather basic, another geometric that covers the field of the dhotis the verdict is out until the experiment is dry, set, washed and finally ironed. It's bold and certainly definite.

Thankfully I do have a reference book lurking somewhere amongst the crates and unpacked boxes, which shows how to neatly and both effectually and accurately cut templates which become spacing guides. Using this ensures stamping the ground fabric in a continuous repeat pattern and locating all the motifs with a 98% degree of perfection.

Cutting the polystyrene was much easier than I'd expected. Has a nice surface for taking the fabric paint and is delightfully light in weight for me wield! I'll probably be tweaking the design, adding another motif-step which will introduce a second colour. Then work-up at least one other stamp and more experimental swatches. For the purposes of the sample here, I didn't bother to work-up a spacing guide. Where the paint seemed a little thin on the fabric after stamping, I touched up with a No.8 Sable brush.

The next step is going to be doing some playing with the striped borders so beloved in Indian textile decoration. Am hoping to use more polystyrene for these.

I also picked up several varieties of sponges used around the house that will be cut into shapes, to see what happens and what effects they will offer. Just as well, it's going to be a wet weekend so there is no excuse for not doing some hard work.