Batik occupies a special place in Indonesian culture. Each fabric has a rich story to tell--as a reflection of the nation's religious beliefs, sophisticated court cultures and cosmopolitan history. The extraordinary textiles in this book are from the collections of Rudolf Smend and Donald Harper. Most date from the period 1880 to 1930 when the art of batik reached its apogee. Having collected historical batik for over thirty years and published two books on the subject, Rudolf Smend has invited his friend and fellow batik specialist Donald Harper to contribute his fine collection to this publication as well. None of the batik in this book have been published before. They represent an exquisite cross-section of the batik production of Java--the most important batik-producing region in the world. The cloths are complemented by vintage photographs from the first quarter of the 20th century demonstrating how the batik were worn at court and at home. Three are from museums in Dresden and Cologne, while three are from the private collection of Leo Haks. The others have been collected over the past 30 years from private sources in Java. The captions are by Maria Wronska-Friend, an ethnologist and batik expert who frequently visits Indonesian batik centers and has worked for many years as an anthropologist in Papua New Guinea. Her contributions provide fundamental knowledge for lovers of this art form while at the same time providing new insights for experts. Rudolf Smend has invited other batik aficionados of his generation to share their passion for batik in this book. Inger McCabe Elliott, author of the bestselling Batik: Fabled Cloth of Java has contributed her lifelong experience. Other authorities like Annegret Haake, Brigitte Khan Majlis and Jonathan Hope share their views and expertise in these pages. This book represents a labor of love and a lifetime of friendship for the two authors, who hope it will provide inspiration to a whole new generation of batik lovers.

The best resource on natural dyeing is back, updated to make your colorful hobby even more beautiful and rewarding.
A practical and inspiring guide to creating and using natural dyes from plants, "Wild Color, Revised and Updated Edition," offers the latest information on current environmentally friendly dyeing techniques and more than 65 species of plants and natural dyestuffs.
This comprehensive book outlines all the necessary equipment, how to select fibers and plant parts, choose the right methods for mordanting and dyeing, test color modifiers and the fastness of dyed colors, and obtain a range of gorgeous colors from every plant, from alter to woad, shown in more than 250 swatches.
"Wild Color, Revised and Updated Edition, "is the all-in-one resource for fiber enthusiasts, including knitters, sewers, and weavers; gardeners who are interested in new uses for traditional dye plants; and eco-conscious DIYers who want authoritative information about the natural dyeing process and the plants that are essential to it.

Leggett's classic text, Ancient and Medieval Dyes, is an informative and easy-to-read introduction to the most common animal and vegetable dyes used before the introduction of synthetic chemical dyes.

Creative designs for one-of-a-kind, colorful projects using versatile and affordable alcohol inks Features over 30 step-by-step tutorials and 200 full-color photos, Crafting with Alcohol Inks offers you an incredible variety of decorative projects that add a splash of color to any surface--glass, ceramic, and even metal! From fashionable accessories to personalized furniture and holiday decor, this book's 30 hands-on projects teaches you everything you need to know. It also guides you step by step from beginner projects like bookmarks, bracelets, and iPhone cases to more advanced projects like multicolor acrylic chairs, stained glass, and leather purses. With basic techniques and detailed instructions, this must-have guide showcases innovative, versatile alcohol ink tutorials and gives you confidence to let your imaginations run wild.

For the Javanese, batik is more than just shirts and sarung, The patterns and motifs express their various local identities; they are statements of Javanese life and philosophy.