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Julie Stephenson ‘With the Roof Off’ Cover Revised

Bhutan book vintage car journey
Published on February 7, 2016 in Bhutan book – “With the Roof Off”…. on it’s way !!!Full resolution (1200 × 1124)
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Living Boldly - See how I do!
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skeinydipping

🧐Curious
🎨Creative
💪🏻Living boldly!
😁Content with wool in my hands
@idoamazingthings
See more on my website -

Instagram post 2199300943661899044_7573063145 My journeys are always a source of inspiration and foundation for my artistic practice as well as the way in which I live. This is my second hand woven blanket- Fields #2. 
We drove in a 96 year old car through Thailand, Laos, China and Kyrgyzstan on our way to London; and the fields were the core of the lives of not only those who lived in these rural communities; but for those also where the crops were delivered and exported to. .

I spent weeks observing the fields and those who worked in them.
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As we travelled it was difficult to post updates due to time constraints as well as censorship; and although my intention was to 'catch-up' when we arrived home... I've found myself diving into my artistic practice and have immersed myself in weaving these beautiful blankets. .

I'm using wool from my collection, and found that I start with an image/theme in my mind; then do a quick gather of yarn and then just start weaving without any fussiness about colour choices. It seems to have all just flowed without much thought. .

I then hand stitch a small motif as a symbol which represents the theme of the artwork. .
I’ve really enjoyed using the beautiful yarns of the most amazing indie dyers but can’t seem to put all of them in this description, so will pop their names in the comment below.
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This little clip has some music from where we travelled.
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If you have any questions about my artistic process in my weaving... I'd love to answer them either in comments or DM.
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#weaving #loomweaving #indieyarn #weaversofinstagram #weaversoftheworld #inspiredbynature #journeywoman #handmade #creativelife #livingthedream #handweaversofinstagram #memade #fibreartist #fibreart #textiledesign #textileartist #textilearts #textileartwork
Instagram post 2197125511554330218_7573063145 As an artist, all my creative expression is founded upon my experiences. 
Our recent journeys through Thailand, Laos and China have inspired a series of blankets I have hand woven using the most beautiful indie dyed wool from my collection. 
Seeing so much weaving in the rural areas, and participating in my weaving class with @theweavingsisters inspired me to recommence weaving which I havent done since I was an adolescent... quite a long time ago!

I'm so enjoying my 48" or 120cm Rigid Heddle Loom by @ashford_wheels_looms . I don't have any podcasts playing. No Audio or visual programmes in the background. I am accompanied only by my thoughts and the sounds of nature outside my studio. it is such a lovely space to be in to weave meditatively.

I hope you enjoy seeing how I translate my experiences into beautiful woven blankets. I have woven several more which I will share over the coming weeks. ***I've tried to include in this description here all the wonderful dyers of these beautiful yarns; so you can see how your yarn is used "in the wild", but it seems I cannot; so I've done so in the first comment below. .
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#weaving #indieyarn #handmadewithlove #loomweaving #weavingart #weavingaustralia #journeywoman #liveboldly #livingthedream #inspired #indiedyedyarn #rigidheddleweaving #rigidheddleloom #creativespirit
Instagram post 2181901153613465477_7573063145 Indigo blue; cotton thread; sewing and laughter. In Dali in South-Western China I sewed, wrapped thread and dipped my cotton into liquid blue; under the instruction of the local Bai women in a small village on the outskirts of Dali; and together with Max and our Guides, had the best day. 
This traditional practice of dyeing has survived for over a thousand years surviving the Cultural Revolution, when many other Dong traditions such as Shamanism, were stamped out by Communist ideology.
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This process of botanical dyeing uses plants such as indigo, woad and mugwort which are native to the nearby mountains of Cangshan. These plants are not only used for dye, but for food, medicine and ornaments.

Historically in this region it is the men who harvest and prepare the dyes, whilst the women weave, prepare the cloth and do the stitching and washing of the dyed fabric.

A couple of dozen plants were used for dyeing. I learned that both acid and alkaline mordants were used to modify the colours.

I also learned of the sense of ritual involved in the dyeing process. Dyeing within the lives of the villagers was only performed on goat days in the lunar calendar from June to October. 
Through our interpreter the ladies shared that they were trying to hold on to their tradition, but were fearful that their traditions were being lost as the young people moved away to the cities and their culture was being wiped out. 
I’m so grateful to have learned this unique and special technique from these fabulous ladies. I had the best day. Swipe for pics and more on my website - link in profile.
. . #liveboldly#traveller #roadtrip #momentsofmine #dali #adventurer #journeywoman #indigo #travelmore #instatravelling #travelgram #explore #explorer #traveldiaries #livingthedream #travelawesome #traveldeeper #livefully #livecreatively #inspired #travelmore #wonderfulplaces #openmyworld #lovetotravel #seekmoments #botanicaldyeing #bai #handcrafts
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2017 All photographs created by and property of Julie Stephenson.
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