A beautiful bowl and vase from The Blue Pottery in Jaipur  I don't often dust . . the housekeeping gene definitely missed me!  But sometimes, when I have time, or I am avoiding doing something else, I dust, and admire and enjoy the many beautiful and colourful artefacts that have traveled home with me from different parts of the world. I am particularly fond of the mementos/trophies that I collected from my 4 textile holidays to Jaipur with Colouricious. What an amazing time we all had together. Lovely long beaded, decorated cords with bells on, hanging in my beaded curtain and on the wall of my lounge.    Small, inexpensive, purchases can bring such delight, even years after, bringing back happy memories of warm, colourful days.   The simple beauty of un fired terracotta lassi cups. I am particularly fond of these lassi cups, they are quite fragile and I was delighted they got back to Ireland in one piece. The yogurt drink lassi is served in the cups and then ...

A wonderful labyrinth block print - in GOLD! So - onward with our wonderful trip to discover all things design based and just so exciting in Jaipur with Colouricious Holidays Our second day started with a trip to a brilliant factory that specialises in printing with metallic paint - no surely not Kim . . something shiny!!? It is a great factory, very well organised, and helping to bring back hand printed fabrics into the high streets all over the world. Next time we go I would love to hear the owner talk about how he started the factory, developed it and how he is, almost single handedly, changing the the image of hand block printing in Jaipur. He is employing more and more block printers who in turn need more and more blocks. It is all very exiting. I wouldn't be surprised when we go back in 2 years if he is on factory number 2.  Joyce had her own young man to help her match up her repeats. You can hear the buzz of very happy ladies printing with the met...

  One of the many breathtaking rooms upstairs at the Chomu Palace. Well - what can you say when you have run out of words to describe something so wonderful?  I have just had one of the most amazing 10 days of my life - in Jaipur, India. It was a Block Printing Textile Holiday created and escorted by Jamie Malden of Colouricious. I don't think I have ever felt so well looked after, excited or encouraged. Every single day was a remarkable one, full of colour, sounds, smells and sparkle. From the choice of hotel to the many workshops that were arranged for us, everything ran like clock work. Jamie was assisted on this holiday by the wonderful Puneet and his family. Puneet is Jamie's 'man in Jaipur'!! He fixes and arranges things and helps everything to run as closely as it is possible to clockwork precision.   First thing in the morning on our way to another fabulous block print workshop. Most mornings saw us climbing into an air conditioned coach to explo...