The only thing that I regret when I was in India was not buying enough of Indian cotton with block printed motifs on it! (seen here is my top) I learned from the factory and fabric shops that we visited the earliest areas where block printing developed were located in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. The art of block printing began in the 18th century in Rajasthan and the craft has been passed down from generation to generation. The finest contemporary block printing is still found in this area. The main tools of the printer are wooden blocks in different shapes. Each block is hand carved from seasoned teak wood by skilled artisans. The new blocks are soaked in oil for 10-15 days to soften the grain in the timber.
The fabric on which the block is printed 100% cotton voile. It requires a pre-printing treatment in which the fabric is first washed free of starch. It will then be soft bleached if the natural grey color of the fabric is not desired. The fabric is stretchered over the printing table and fastened with small pins.
The blocks are then dipped in natural dye (from plants and fruits or roots) and imprinted on the fabric. To develop the intricate detail within the design, the process is repeated several times. The printed cotton voile is then put out in the sun for a few days to dry and to cure the dye. Next the fabric is steamed, which fixes the dye and makes it permanent.
[this one image Google]
[watching an example of how the block printing process is -from my trip in Jaipur]
one image of the nook around the house,
my hand cream, my bath gel, and my conditioner
thank you all for stopping by and viewing the post...
mind the cut and bruise on my leg as I hash a lot with short shorts and low shocks! ouch!
xxx
