not calcutta

A neglectful patch of bloglessness ... I'm now working towards showing the entire body of work that is the vanishing ... all three tigers, 5,000 glass bullets and oh yes a new component that I decided upon just over a month ago.

Of course it involves LOTS of sewing and I'm now sailing close to the wind to complete it, as is often the case.

On my last day in Kolkata, I bought three beautiful white dupattas - the long sheathes of fabric that are worn draped over the shoulders. These ones are very fine cotton, open weave and handloom. Didn't have a purpose or particular idea in mind until discussing the advantages of wall-texts vs. no wall-texts with a friend, I pondered stitching the text I wanted to use on to the dupattas.

So, here is the last and longest that is not yet complete - 'the gift'.

masala chai

I didn't realise I'd missed my chai on the run stops till I had my first cup on Tuesday morning.
The hot sweet tea, the rough terracotta cup, standing and sipping. A quick pick-me-up.

It's great to be back here in Kolkata, though my time is not so leisurely as before. It's full steam ahead. We begin installing for the exhibition on Tuesday, with four days to complete, and it opens on Saturday 6th Feb, which is also Dominic's birthday.

I'm going into Harrington Street Art Centre this afternoon, to measure up the fireplace and make a template for the velvet spill. Still sewing.

ghost in the machine

no diversion, no distraction

says the sewing machine oracle

no zig zag, no reverse

straight stitch only

going forward