By Way of Reflection

In Search of Caribbean Textiles:  Blitherings....

Nothing beats Lobster Orange

So far, life on the high seas has not quite lent itself to anything textile related.  My second season is about to end with naught.  Despite bringing much to tempt, time is short given necessary chores and lack of any real “port” down time (excuses, excuses!). 

But there have been a few flashes during our voyages, if not for the hands, then for the brain…  Here then are my first observations:

A bit of Red, White & Blue on 4th July, St Martin

Sint Maarten, cruise ship destination extraordinaire, offered a little dress shop with clothes made from authentic African fabrics.  I was looking for something more typically Caribbean at the time and for yardage (of cloth) so stupidly didn't pursue this lead.  But the shopping was good!  

Purple & Orange Sunset over Iles des Saintes

Iles des Saintes has wonderful clothes made from hand-dyed cottons.  The colours were exquisite; true reflections of sparkling Caribbean waters.  Their clothes, though beautifully made, were not for me.  Nobody sews here.  It’s French… 

Bequia showed a selection of pretty batiks, hand made on St Vincent.  Nice work but nothing took my eye.  Of course, it too was mostly “finished” product – bags, dresses, tablecloths.  What did catch my eye though were brightly coloured island houses, vivid against dark, tropical greenery; a paint shop colour chart.  

Dressed to Party in Trinidad

Trinidad was a dream offering of fabrics by the yard if you wanted.  Of course, it's mostly imported from China or India.  Local tailors then vie to make up garments.  "Not what I am looking for thankyou."  I already have quite the collection of Indian fabrics at home......

Back in the Saddle

Now where did that old saying come from?  Anyway, I don't really want to know as we're back into those renovations again after an all too brief interlude in the Caribbean.  Yes, it was nice.  Yes, it took our minds off flooring, paint samples and my furniture graveyard (those bits and pieces you collect over the years to restore...).  It's a bit like those UFO quilts really.  Yes, my garden shed is up and running, with potential to be a working studio, one day.  And no, quilt finishing fairies do not exist, especially not in your garden shed! 

I certainly needed this little read (Art & fear) after my most recent course.  My personal outcomes were 1. failure to complete set homework; 2. inability to generate many fresh ideas and 3. a general lack of, well, most everything really.  Where to from here?  I'll let you know when I've digested the book - figuratively speaking, of course! 
Roll on 2009.....

Autumn & Kimonos

There is a delicious chill in the air. A sure sign that Autumn is on its way. Somehow Summer passed us by and with a good deal of rain. At times I thought we might actually be washed down river, the currents ran so strongly.  Also the weather slowed down my furniture restoration program as I had to sand outside...too much dust to do it inside and dusting remains one of my least favourite activities. I can report however that my garden shed is almost set up and ready for some serious work, which is just as well as I've just started an art (contemporary) quilts class with Carolyn Sullivan at the NSW Embroiders' Guild. It runs for 8 sessions over the year AND we have homework....groan!  More to follow on that topic as my head is spinning with ideas but unfortunately nothing much is being committed in the way of fabric & thread.  Always excuses

Sophie Milenovich (Find on Amazon)

I am busy reading an interesting book however, called "Kimonos" by Sophie Milenovich. (As you do when you are a. not working on a Japanese patchwork theme and b. avoiding homework!). I particularly liked her summary because for me it led to an ah ha! moment. It speaks to me on various levels about travel, textiles and finding your own place in the creative process. Sophie's words, in part, are:

"My goal at the start was not so much to acquire encyclopaedic knowledge of the place as to be nourished by it. I looked with my own eyes. To go after objectivity would have been futile, so I sought above all to be touched by the experience. Japan gave me deep nourishment. It also upset and unbalanced me from time to time. But such difficulties have their own importance in any creative work." 

This is the way I like to travel. To be a quiet observer and be nourished by experiencing different world views. I relish being part of it, letting it all wash over me, breathing it in. But as an impassioned and empathetic observer not as an agent of change.  Something to think about for my next travelogue..perhaps to Nepal, where it is said that "every breath's a prayer".