Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Silk in Vietnam

We are home again and have more ready access to computers so a chance to get blogging again!

I haven't done much art myself of late, but thought some of the fibre folk out there might enjoy these images from the Silk village just outside Hanoi. We have visited a few times and are always enraptured by the machinery and the detail and the noise and the dust as these amazing bolts of patterned silk are woven. Click clack click clack click clack it goes.

We bought some lovely colourful scarves from the shop where the machines were and I have worn three of mine so far; but of course I don't have any photos of them...

The intricacies of the knot tying and needle threading causes my eyes to water and my brain to ache as I think thru how it happens; but the results are wonderful.

©2011 Fiona Dempster - silk weaving in action
©2011 Fiona Dempster - silk threads
©2011 Fiona Dempster - silk pattern card
©2011 Fiona Dempster - silk threads, knots and 'needles'
©2011 Fiona Dempster - silk worms

8 comments:

  1. Welcome home Fiona. Hope to see more photos and some inspired work after this wonderful trip.

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  2. wonderful photos fiona! they are your arty works me thinks.....

    good to hear that you're safe and sound back home

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  3. It's quite a fantastic leap from looking at the cocoons to the threads and then to the silk scarves (which I'm sure you'll show us some time). Good to have you back home.

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  4. Fiona, these are wonderful to see! When one loves silk or whatever not only is it educational and interesting to see where it comes from, but most likely important. I love also the artfulness of your photos.

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  5. Wonderful photos Fiona. You have an artists eye for taking such inviting images. I really love the ones with the cocoons and the pattern card. They spark off ideas for designs.... glad you're home safely from your trip. Looks like it was a good one. Lesley

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  6. Hi Wand - nice to see you here and thank for commenting - glad you like what you saw!

    Thanks Jo - good to be home (briefly). More photos will follow...

    Hi Ronnie - thank you. Yes I think I'll have to take solace in some photographic artistic expression over the next while.

    Carol - its pretty cool to sort of see the whole thing happening..its very labour-intensive I must say.

    Tammie - thank you for visiting! I agree - I love to see how things are done and how the process works; it's intriguing to get a glimpse of another world.

    Hi Lesley - thanks. I always smile at how we take photos; never quite the person standing in front of the monument things; but I love the texture and the shadows...

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  7. Fascinating! Thanks for sharing Fiona. I can see why you are compelled to return again and again.

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.