Safi Crafts made huge strides with natural dyes this autumn. With the help and funding of UNESCO we were honoured to participate in a training program by international natural dye expert Michel Garcia. He taught us how to process indigo leaves on the farm and then how to use the dye. He also showed us how to silk screen print with our new natural dyes. It was an intense and fantastic learning period for us culminating in the official launch of our new lines and a Christmas exhibition in Amman.
In the past two and a half years we have received training in design, dyeing, farming indigo, finishing products, marketing and accounting. UNESCO (with funding from the Drosos Foundation) has renovated our building to give us more room to work. We would like to thank Valentina Gamba and Nuria Roca Ruiz for working so tirelessly for our program.
Aishe and Noor strip indigo leaves for soaking. Later we eliminated this time consuming stage of production by using larger soaking containers.
Oxygen must be added to the soaked leaves in order to precipitate the dye. Mr Garcia introduced an electric pump to the process - another labour saving concept that we love.
After making the indigo dye insoluble it must settle and drain in an indigo bag.
Once we learned how to make indigo dye we learned Michel Garcia's method of dyeing using henna leaves in the dye vat. We later switched to using bananas.
What a blue! Michel Garcia, our natural dye guru, is on the lower right of this picture.
Michel Garcia also improved our resist paste and showed us how to print white images on blue grounds.
We did lots of experiments to get the best print results.
We also learned to print with mordent pastes and dyes like madder root, eucalyptus bark, pomegranate and tea.
Our new leaping deer design is based on an ancient mosaic from Mount Nebo, Jordan and is part of our artistic heritage.
Our scarves are hand finished.
We worked with many new designs and prints. This one says "From the heart of Jordan".
This tomato plant design says "Jordan Valley Tomatoes".
Mirvit led the charge on the precise art of hand sewing our new "Rudolph the Red Nosed Camel" Christmas tree ornaments. We sold out at the exhibition!
In early December we officially launched our new lines and showcased the progress we have made in the past two and half years with the help of UNESCO. We loved showing our work at the wonderul venue Shams al Balad in Amman.
Kamlee ran the tabone oven as part of our celebration of rural Jordanian life that we shared with urban people in Amman. Yum!
Mirvit, Aishe Jean and Alia.
Our amazing newly renovated building. Come and visit us in the Ghor al Safi, Jordan.
Such an interesting post. A lot information and very usefull. My regards!
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting post in the blog. A lot information and very usefull how pepole should do.
ReplyDeleteGreat project. The dyes are lovely n natural.Great job Jean n the creators.
ReplyDeleteExcellent your post It was nice thanks for the post
ReplyDeletebuy handicraft
You have good articles here! If anyone here looking for loan @ 2% rate in return to buy home or other financing needs, I want you to contact Mr Benjamin On 247officedept@gmail.com Also On Whats-App + 1-989-394-3740When I was introduced to Mr. Benjamin, I was entering the market as a first time buyer. Naturally,my needs were a bit different and I had loads of questions. Before he sent me my pre-approval letter, he called to speak with me about what it meant and what could change. He made himself available to me at pretty much any hour via email and texts. He was very responsive and knowledgeable. He’s also very straightforward. I explained to him what my expectations were in terms of closing time and other particulars. He said he would meet those expectations but he surpassed them. I closed so quickly my realtor and the seller of course were excited about that. But as a buyer I appreciated being walked through the process of Mr Benjamin loan offer. From pre-approval to closing- the journey was so seamless and I consider myself lucky because I’ve heard horror stories. I recommend him to anyone looking for a loan. Everything was handled electronically expediently and securely
ReplyDelete