I'm so excited about this Organic '11 freebie. Les Indiennes is the very first fabric company that contacted me after seeing the CNN clip. A huge box of fabric arrived a week later that took my breath away. Not only was it organic, but it was hand printed. Yes, you read that correctly, hand printed. It is called the Kalamkari Process and this is how it is done (all photos and captions property of Les Indiennes):
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Fabric PreparationLes Indiennes must initially be softened and bleached so that the fabric will feel as luxurious as possible and the colors, as vibrant. Bales of organic cotton are repeatedly rinsed and beaten against large rocks, then laid out on the grass to bleach in the intense Indian sun. If it rains, this step must wait. |
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Block PrintingOnce the fabric is sufficiently softened and lightened, printing begins. Craftsmen dip hand-carved teak blocks in dyes derived from plants, roots, earth, and rock. Great care must be taken in pressing the pattern to the cloth. Then, the printed fabric is air dried for at least two days. |
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Color FixingWhen the fabric is dry, it must be steamed over a fire of rice chaff to fix the color. Workers next haul the cloth to a stream and rinse the fabric to remove excess dye. Colors emerge from different streams in different tones¬--nature’s little tweak! |
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Final TouchesAfter the color is fully saturated, the fabric undergoes another round of softening and color-brightening. The fabrics are boiled, laid in the sun once more, and dipped in a natural, color-intensifying solution . With all of these careful steps, it is not surprising that Les Indiennes arrive beautifully broken-in and soft, with sweet and pleasing hints that they are made entirely by hand. |
I mean, how beautiful is this? I could nap here anytime. Now, go get yourself a cup of tea, curl up in your favorite chair and have a nice long look at the Les Indiennes FLIP BOOK. Simply. Stunning.
I cannot say enough kind words about Les Indiennes and founder Mary Mulcahy. The fabric is stunning and Mary has been an incredible supporter of Green Bag Lady for over 3 years!! Thank you Mary and everyone at Les Indiennes! We heart you!
So, if you are still with me, there is a freebie involved, I promise. How about these 8 gorgeous bags…
To enter this freebie do the following:
•LEAVE A COMMENT, IN THE COMMENT LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN THIS FORMAT: name(at)something(dot)com it is important to spell out dot and at so you don't get spam, if you DO NOT leave an email address, you will not be entered in the freebie.
•In your comment, tell us what made you squeal with delight in the Les Indiennes FLIP BOOK.
•DEADLINE FOR THE FREEBIE IS 10 PM(CST) Thursday, October 13, 2011. (winners announced October 14)
•ELEVEN LUCKY WINNERS WILL BE RANDOMLY CHOSEN FROM THE COMMENTS TO WIN one of eight shopping bags OR one of three lunch tote/SIGG bottle sets!
Don't forget to leave us your email! Good luck--Teresa
New to Green Bag Lady? Click HERE.
36 comments:
That is very beautiful fabric! I am completely in love with Colette - Indigo.
The Indigo Bedding set took my breathe away.
Mary and Les Indiennes surely have some amazing talent.
Thank you for such an awesome giveaway!
craftynewbie (at) gmail (dot) com
Here I am!...wispering for the indians fabrics! I love the green designs at the bed clothes, the bags are so elegants!
adriadru(at)gmail(dot)com.
These bags are beautiful and I love everything on the website. The Jacqueline duvet cover is so pretty. Thanks or the great giveaway.
Mel J.
mkjacquot(at)gmail(dot)com
These fabrics are stunning and I love that you showed the process of how they are made! I love the dominique pattern as shown on a canvas in the flip book...it is a work of art!
Thanks for the chance to win!!
paskiaq(at)yahoo(dot)ca
Wow, these are fabulous! I loved all of the Indigo bedding, as well as the Florette tablecloth. The bags you made with the fabrics look great!
ninachen44(at)gmail(dot)com
Absolutely beautiful fabric and what an awesome process to create it. Love the uniqueness each piece must have. I would be honored to have one of these beautiful bags! Deknits(at)yahoo(dot)com
Beautiful. There is no other word!
donareynolds8(at)gmail (dot) com
What didn't take my breath away! There is so much loveliness on that site. The Jacqueline duvet cover was probably my favourite, though!
jlwhite (at) sasktel (dot) net
Those fabrics are so beautiful. I loved the Indigo bedclothes.
eli(at)sharksdinner(dot)com
There was a picture of all blue and white bedding with a wall hanging...fabulous! Well, it was all good. Best paisleys I've seen in a long time.
snohpat(at)yahoo(dot)com
I LOVE the bedding! It is beautiful and would be so lovely in my bedroom! What an incredible company! Thank you for sharing!
doucettep(at)gmail(dot)com.
Gosh they all made me whoop with delight! I would love to snooze on that gorgeous daybed with the blue spots and blue patterned cushions. What amazing fabrics and giveaway.
pollyprimrose(at)gmail(dot)com
This came just in time The Indigo Bedding set It is very beautiful. These white bags are a dream!
amira.cecilia(at) gmail (dot) com
WHOA-the red color and the intricacy of the patterns! AND organic AND done with loving hands Score Score Score
ya just gotta love it ;-)
jaynecagle{at}me{dot}com
yanuzo(at)hotmail(dot)com
I loved all the curtains. I really like the brown prints!
Wow, so pretty! Love the curtains... and actually, I love the rustic look on the walls and floor :) I also liked the cloth napkins, gives your table such a nice touch. These bags look lovely!
helen_ono(at)hotmail(dot)com
What beautiful fabric!
trillium422(at)yahoo(dot)com
That is very beautiful, all of it. I really liked the pillows with the medalions. Thank you
hauser(dot)sara(at)gmail(dot)com
Beautiful products - oh my - I love the voile curtains w/ the tie tops. I am going back for more and bookingmarking LesIndiennes! thanks Green Lady! :)
butler83ataoldotcom
I showed the book to my sig other and she and I thought how wonderful the bedrrom sets looked. Where can you purchase something so dreamy ( as she says ). I can be reached here.
Joe (at) flametide_1(at) yahoo (dot).com
Wow that is some gorgeous fabric! I really liked the black and white bedding with the fabric headboard. Just beautiful! jessicalm101(at)gmail(dot)com
I loved the Royale print bedspread set and the Esme bedspread set too. Oh, and the blue stripe chair! The process used to create the fabric is as fabulous as the final product!
fjonon(at)gmail(dot)com
I love everything. But especially the Coeur and Reverse Coeur fabrics!
Adrianna
solsmom(at)gmail(dot)com
Wow! Even if I don't win I'm so glad to learn of these beautiful textiles! I love it all, but the slipcovers on the reading chair and ottoman especially caught my eye. katherinefye(at)hotmail(dot)com
Their technique is amazing, no wonder their fabric is so gorgeous; a lot of love and care goes into making it! I'm putting the gray bedding on my Christmas list this year, specifically the Nicole and Honoree Reverse prints, I love them! Thank you for all you're doing to keep plastics from being used, and for your lovely giveaways!<3
mmcfrog(at)yahoo(dot)com
The colors and the crispness of the fabric. I love it all.
I love the Indigo bedding set!
dawneaton(at)rocketmail(dot)com
Thank you for all the awesome giveaways and your hard work to keep as many plastic bags unused as you can.
WoW-the bags are wonderful!
I very much enjoyed looking at all that yummy fabric...and the process to produce the line is incredible...your blog posts are sew informative GBL...thanks for sharing....
Everything is so crisp and clean and such a caring process to make it just that!! A wonderful freebie as usual!
campbell4158 AT me DOT com
PICK ME - PICK ME !
MY MOM THINKS I'M COOL.
I WILL BE YOUR FRIEND.
I LOVE THE LOOK OF HAND PRINT.
THANK YOU FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THIS LOVELY FABRIC. YOU ARE AWESOME.
JBPITCHER AT HOTMAIL DOT COM
stunningly, breathtakingly beautiful. i am SO HAPPY to see more and more organic fabric. this is amazing! how to choose from so many impossibly wonderful designs- the butterflies made me squeal the loudest, but i just adore every single print!
earth.huggy (at) gmail (dot) com
The Indigo duvet cover is truly beautiful!!
Your work is amazing!!!
LizPetry(at)aol(dot)com
I love the blue and white! I have always been drawn to those 2 colors. Oh and the 'headboard' on the second page! That's awesome! but glad I don't have to dust it. :-)
Someone is going to be very lucky to win this giveaway - Its a good one!
Sara
sjott2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
It's wonderful that Les Indiennes has donated such beautiful organic hand printed fabrics for making Green Bags. Thanks to both for an incredible product.
WOOWOWOWOWOW! Stunning fabric find! I love their website too! I love the fabric/bed set with the big white and blue dots on them. I couldn't see a name on the flip book but wow, I am in love with all of them really!
katrina_hertzer2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
I LOVE that the colors come out differently when washed in different streams :) the whole process is amazing- such a labor of love.
liz(dot)sack(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi, I saw the pictures on this web site,of your bags & thought they are so neat, they look so homey & old fashion.. I would love to have one of them.Thanks
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