When 575 Wandsworth Road asked me to create an art workshop inspired by Khadambi Asalache’s home, I was overwhelmed with ideas. Every corner of the house sparked something in me, but it was his paisley bedspread, covered in Indian block-printed designs, that truly captured my heart.
This summer the stars aligned. I was back in India, where I sourced traditional wooden blocks that brought back memories of my own journey with block printing. Leading this workshop was a full-circle moment for me, and seeing the designs everyone created was a joy.
We finished by stitching Midori-style notebooks to keep our prints safe, so everyone went home with something they had made from start to finish.
A huge thank you to Laura and Erica at 575 Wandsworth Road for this wonderful opportunity, and to everyone who joined.
About the house: 575 Wandsworth Road was the home of Kenyan poet and civil servant Khadambi Asalache until his death in 2006. He left it to the National Trust, which now opens it as a museum for pre-booked guided tours.