Blog – grady bleu

When 'Made in Italy' meant 'Made in Italy'

September 11, 2018

Yesterday I purchased a new pair of shoes. I was working at my design studio and wanted to take a break, so I decided to head down to one of the better shoe stores in Saskatoon. I arrived at 5:00 with only a half hour until the store closed.

Natural Dye Workshop - Dyeing with Protein Fibre

July 31, 2018

I conducted a Natural Dye workshop for the Saskatoon Spinners and Weavers Guild. There were 10 students. We were welcomed by one of the Guild member's homes to have the workshop there in the country, over-looking the river just near Waneskewin National Heritage Site.

BAZAART 2018

June 20, 2018

This past weekend I participated in the 45th Annual BAZAART event. It's held every year and sponsored by the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina, SK.

Weavers in India

April 22, 2018

We spent a month in India this winter and I'd like to share with you some of the highlights. This is the first of several postings of our trip.

A Whole Whack of Rupees

December 20, 2017

Our trip to India is soon arriving. Making contacts with old friends and continued adventures await us.

Caring for Your Naturally-dyed Scarf

December 18, 2017

Garment care labels can be difficult to navigate. In this blog post you can find a link to the Canadian website for care symbols and what they mean.

Dyeing with Cochineal

September 26, 2017

This amazing pink and dark red is achieved from small bugs called cochineal that live on desert cactus. See some of the dying take place in this video.

Dyeing with Weld - A Natural Dye

September 17, 2017

Weld is one of the most light fast and colour-fast plants to dye with. It produces a beautiful and brilliant yellow; even moreso on yummy Merino wool.

Pop-Up Event in Saskatoon - April 2017

May 08, 2017

A Pop-up event in Saskatoon featuring classic linen designs. Wearable and breath-easy for women who value authentic simplicity in their dress.

Print & Paint with Natural Dyes

May 05, 2017

A workshop of printing and painting with natural dyes. So wonderful to attend another workshop at Maiwa Handprints!

Design Inspiration from Tilke's 'Costume Patterns and Designs'

May 02, 2017

I discovered this book and it's wonders many years ago in Duthie's Books; Vancouver's then-famous bookstore. It was a treasure to find since I had just come back from far-flung travels.

'Colours of Nature' with Charlotte Kwon

April 16, 2017

This amazing 4-day workshop was with master dyer Charlotte Kwon from Maiwa Handprints in Vancouver. An in-depth study and preparation of many different kinds of fabrics.