Navy and White: Traditional Chinese Indigo Fabrics

My brother J and sister-in-law C are building a fabulous new home. She's thinking navy and white fabrics might be a great way to pull together the open floor plan of the new place and go mix with the furniture she already owns. She also loves ethnic fabrics as she's lived - among other places - in Turkey and Japan!

 

When we got together at my parent's house, I remembered about a decade ago I bought some traditional Chinese indigo fabric for my Mom at the Lyndhurst Craft Show where I had a jewelry booth. I took with a quick look down in my parent's basement, and actually found the fabric! I admit I am growing more and more fond of navy and white. Isn't this fabric fantastic?

{hand stenciled}

I bought it from a woman named Shengzhu. The textiles are from her "TC Collection" and I was able to still find her website. It's made in the traditional way with pure cotton cloth, lime, sticky rice and soya using hand-cut stencils.  It's dyed with the indigo carmine extracted from the blue grass (DAQING or BANLAN).

 

I am so impressed by the handmade quality and care that went into this fabric. Navy and White is such a classic pairing. Isn't this little flower print lovely?

{love the birds!}

Are you a Navy and White fan? What would you make with this fabric?

Loretta