Finding great materials that fit the Madame Hall aesthetic is something that I love! Treasures are found daily; in Bhuj, in surrounding villages, from textile dealers and from the communities in exotic, dusty and remote locations on the outskirts of Kutch.
And it doesn't stop there! When I visit Australia, Tessuti is always a 'go to' destination for quality laces and sewing notions. Greenfields sees me leaving with a huge bag of interfacing, zips, buttons etc.....And while on holiday in Lithuania last year, I bought superb linen and beautiful linen lace.
When inspiration hits, an eclectic range of stunning materials is all I need to create some workroom magic!

And just because I bought something ages ago, doesn't mean it gets forgotten! This week saw me delving into my lace basket...that Lithuanian lace I bought a year ago is something I was saving for just the right material. I found this wonderful, floppy off white cotton in one of Bhuj's oldest fabric emporiums. Absolute perfection teamed with Baltic lace and shell buttons from Greenfields in Sydney!

Bharat bhai's shop in the heart of the Shroff Bazaar, near my workroom is a treasure trove of delights! For great variety and all manner of quirky bits and pieces, his shop has been an endless source of inspiration

When the Jat ladies come to town, there's always some fabulous pieces to purchase.....!

Getting out and about in Ramjans auto rickshaw, my preferred mode of travel! I love the leisurely pace....And finding new communities to visit.

Village life, vibrant and full of colour! This young lady did the tattoos on my feet. The 'colour' she used came from the charcoal scraped from the underside of a clay cooking pot!

Amazing embroidery!

And after a day out, it's back behind the machine.....with ideas and inspiration a plenty!

Amanda wanted a wedding dress that complimented the informal venue of her marriage, a special, one of a kind dress...A dress that she'd love wearing again and again at other celebrations in the future too.
She told me her measurements, preferred colour choices and styles that suited her. I sent her pics of various embroideries, block printed cottons and ideas of combining them.
She made her selection and within 6 weeks had a dress that was in the UK with 10 days to spare before her big day.....Made specifically for her from start to finish!

Cheryl loves getting surprises now! After having her first Madame Hall jacket admired and giving it to her friend, she asked me for another!
Something similar to before, with lots of colourful embroidery and sparkling Rabari mirror work.
This vintage Rabar 'milkmans' shawl was absolutely perfect for show stopping style in a warm and cozy jacket. 'Desi' wool, typically used by the Kutch Rabari can be a little coarse, but lined with a thick and luxurious satin....It became something amazingly beautiful and a delight to wear

Well now, I'm being slightly indulgent here...I made this outfit for myself!
We don't get too many opportunities to dress up here in dry, dusty Bhuj, but one of my assistants was getting married and wanted me to attend the nuptials!
I couldn't go the usual bright and super sparkly Indian wedding glam thing...It's just not me. Instead I made one of my favourite Signature Skirts from meters and meters of sheer turban fabric! It had a little gold thread running thru the cotton and with a layer of sparkly net underneath, it twinkled in the early morning winter sunshine. I felt fabulous, and imagine I'll wear this skirt more in 2016!

Mollie's mum has over 10 of my super swishy maxi skirts, but she wanted a super cute short skirt!
I made this from a superb piece of Saurastran embroidery I'd been saving for someone special, don't you just love the abstract kittens and parrots on this vintage piece! It teamed wonderfully with a nice bit of navy and cream stripe cotton canvas, making a great urban boho statement skirt. Totally unique and not another like it anywhere in the world!