Canvas Tote: Spacious

Canvas

Navy, Periwinkle, Cornflower and Cream

14 inches x 15 inches (Length with Straps: 26 inches)

Hand Block Printed in India

The Story

While raising my young family in South Asia for a decade, I fell in love with the beautiful hand-made textiles. Block-printed goods especially stole my heart and filled my home. As I considered the beautiful things I wanted to share with the gift-givers of the world this year, it was an easy decision…

Just for a moment, consider this incredible process. I hand paint all my designs in my home studio. There is usually hot chai on my table with lots of cardamom and ginger. My puppy wags her tail, and my kids often walk by and encourage me. I love that. Painting offers me so much peace, joy, and possibility.

Next, I scan and digitize my files and send them to an amazing micro-enterprise that empowers women in the neighborhood where my daughter was born in India! My heart is full knowing that the streets where I walked, laughed, and lived are still connected to me in my current creative work. What a beautiful, small world.

Then, a master block carver hand carves every wood block. There is one block for EACH color of every finished design. Imagine the hours and the little details and the little bits of wood gathering as this second artist works in their home. Probably there is chai on that table too!

Next, those blocks are tested to make sure that the pattern repeat works perfectly. Then, canvas, linen, and cotton are hand-block-printed, dried, cut, and prepared to be sewn.

Finally, an incredible team pieces everything together- more chai and more artists in their studio preparing beautiful things for you- the gift giver. From paint brush to chisel to ink and then sewing machine, there is so much artistry and so much love packed into these goods.

From my hands and heart to yours. Enjoy this beautifully hand-crafted piece.