India Textiles Tour with Barb Mullen

Experience the rich textile culture of the Gujarat region in India with passionate and highly skilled textile artist Barbara Mullen. It was wonderful to meet Barb at the last Red Thread meeting and hear about her enduring practice as a maker and teacher of traditional textile techniques as well as running international textile tours. 

For thirteen days 10 ~ 22 January 2012, participants will be able to immerse themselves in silk, cotton, calico and wool, by visiting the Rabari tribal village, Maharajah's Palace in Gondai, Calico Museum of Textiles and Kutch's specialist textile and craft villages. Price per person $A5890 includes all airfares, most meals, accommodation, transport, workshops and transfers. 

For more information the tour is produced by World Expeditions contact on 1300 720 000 or enquires@worldexpeditions.com.au

Crochet + Social Activism Unite

The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef - "Ladies Silurian Atoll" (detail). 

Photo © The Institute For Figuring (by Margaret Wertheim)

When I conjure up images of one of Australia's great wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef, I picture an explosion of colour in the most electric hues. Whilst I haven't been lucky enough to visit the colossal reef system stretching for over 2,600kms, I am afraid I will be disappointed with what I would see. Scientists now believe with the affects of global warming, the reef will become devastated in coming years. Now you may be wondering if Red Thread has turned into a group to analyse the natural world and its many manifestations. Wrong! In 2005, sisters Margaret and Christine Wertheim created the worldwide Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project to pay homage to the threat of devastation to this fragile monster. Initially beginning in their humble living room and gradually expanding throughout their house, today their are crochet communities or 'satellites' popping up in Chicago, New York, London to Dublin and Capetown. Now the Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus) is calling for South Australian craftspeople to join in and create your own hyperbolic model which marries handicraft with mathematics, marine biology, social activism and community art on a global scale. To see the many worldwide contributions to the projects visit RiAus and get inspired and get on board.