What and Why... African influences.

I have wondered recently if the readers of this blog expect only posts about things African? If so then I think we should put matters straight.

I paint things found under the vast oceans that cover our world. I also paint African wild life and flowers.
Yes I am planning to be painting some African wild flowers.....soon I promise...
Anyway I digress, I will always have Africa in me, the vast lands, the sunsets, the hot, sometimes dry, summers and cold, sometimes icy, winters...the millions of stars I grew up seeing, not realising that many people never see stars, because of city lights.

A small section of Victoria Falls.

It's not a fire...it's a sunset

I was so very fortunate to have been born there and to have grown up in such a wonderful easy relaxed atmosphere. The thing is, I'm not in Africa any more so posts from me are going to have to be about what has influenced or triggered the eventual item I've finally created.
For example....the underwater creations I produce are and always will be inspired by my first visit to Mozambique, back in the early 70's...yeah it unbelievable how long ago that was..I'm surely a fossil by now :-D...anyway digressing again...Mozambique was a place we'd go for two or three weeks every now and then and it was there that first I was introduced to walking on the reefs,'with takkies on our feet' (sneakers or trainers to the rest of the world), to protect us from the sharp edges of coral and mussel shells. Our Mom showed us little tidal pools of water where sea anemones, snails, fish, starfish, tube worms with their gorgeous feathery tendrils all lived. I was mesmerised and my brother and I would spend hours watching them. We also learned how to collect fresh mussels off the reef and then we'd cook and eat them that night for dinner. It's not surprising that my brother is an Ichthyologist- Fisheries Scientist - today.

Clear waters.

As I got older I was introduced to snorkeling and a new wonder world was opened up to me. I was totally hooked on the ocean. The water there is so unbelievably crystal clear you feel as if you are floating on nothing. In 40ft of water you feel as if you can reach down and sift the sand through your fingers. It was the first and only place I've ever seen a giant clam. It was easily 4ft long. I've told others about it but I sometimes see a skeptical look in their eyes. Still, I saw it and that's enough for me.

In the Tuamotu's clear waters..lovely.

I thought that all of earths oceans were as beautiful as this, the coast of Mozambique...WRONG! I've been places where the water is so brown or green that you cannot see more than 1 meter in front of you..and still I snorkeled it to try and see what lives in that soup. This was not caused by pollution, but by rivers. When the river flows into the ocean..for example the Amazon or any of it's offshoots, there is a lot of debris from the forest that gets swept down and out into the ocean, so much so that for many miles around the colour of the water is permanently tinted.

There are other places such as Hawaii where the water is crystal clear but for some reason corals do not do well there and so you have be satisfied with the range of fish...of which there are many. :-D However I've been spoiled by Mozambique. My partner David, has dived in the Persian Gulf and he is waiting to see Mozambique, he thinks the Gulf might be better..ha ha

Now I dived in Tortola, BVI and was pleasantly surprised, snorkeled in the Grenadines and had happy time there too..oh yes also the Venezuelan Islands, los Roquos, Aves etc..and the ABC islands...and here in the south Pacific...great places to snorkel...BUT I am still drawn back to Moz. and my memories from there, and therefore even in my painting of ocean animals I am influenced by Africa.

So our posts here might not be about Africa per se but about something that we've created BECAUSE of Africa and it's influence on us.

I've recently finished a series of Starfish and have posted them up on my Etsy site. You may not believe me that these are real. I've written about them on another blog called Quilters, Fabric Art and Creative Sewing.  http:/sylviesdesigns.blogspot.com  You can see the photo's I took of them, there, along with the painted versions. The article is called, Starfish or Sea Stars. :-D

Welcome! To our newest Authors :-D

Well, I've finally managed to get into a place where I can sit and wax lyrical about some interesting people who have decided to join this blog page. Internet has been iffy for me these last few months, what with sailing about to deserted Islands, Atolls and Motus......not complaining mind you..but when we do get somewhere, where there is a connection i have such a back log of things to sort that time just flies by.

I have managed to upload the info on our newest Authors though and they are : La Antigua, Yasmintoo!, The African Diaspora, Vynns Ravelings and most recently B-Attitudes.

La Antigua makes some quilts, more bags but she also sells fantastic fabric imported from Africa....it''s beautiful stuff. Definitely a must see!
  
Yasmintoo! has gorgeous hand dyed silk and cotton fabrics for sale. She has also made some small works of fiber art . So tempt yourself and have a peek at her shop.

The African Diaspora hmmm well you just gotta see what these folks are making! Exciting tops and skirts and dresses..man the colours are just scintillating. Ever heard of the 'Mandella' shirt? well I saw a ladies version on their site...

Vynns Ravelings The Coolest Craziest jewelry ever seen. I just love the pale olive headdress featured in the ad down on the left side of this post. It's really something. I love her stuff! go on...yeah go on..have a look at it.

B-Attitudes Ahhh YES! This girl has the knack of creating the zaniest Sandals. She gets them in from Kibera, Africa. They are made for her by people she has gone over to meet personally and they have become friends. Yup! Check her shop out it's rather fascinating to see all the designs, and know that they are all carefully hand made.

Well there you have it :-) Items of beauty from far and wide available because of these lovely people.

I'm really looking forward to their posts.....I hope you are too :-D

Kibera!

People have asked my why I care so much about Kibera and so I thought I would share the story with you. Kibera is a slum in Nairobi, Kenya which is said to be 1 square mile big and estimated to be home to people between 400,000 to 1,000,000 dependent on who is reporting the information. I met a young man through facebook some time back and we built a good friendship and eventually started communicating through skype. I would always ask him to describe his home to me, the people, land, food, music etc. He seemed to be optimistic but had struggles there which he seldom told me about. One day after burdens became too much he asked the question: " I wonder if God still remembers we are here?" It was in that moment that I felt something come over me (holy spirit for those that don't know) and I knew that was my personal charge to do SOMETHING to help. What I decided to do was ask how I can help. What we decided to do was build a collaborative which will enable artisans in Kibera to bring there work to the American market. They are so grateful and hope has been restored to them. I care because of they are my friends. I care because I am able to do so and provide them hope. I care because that is the person that I am. I care because my friend Kevin should me how to. If you look at my profile picture it is a picture of the curious children there in Kibera. Despite there grave circumstances, they possess some of the biggest smiles I have ever seen. I care because of them. If we do not take care of them who will? I encourage you to learn more about Kibera and to make a friend with someone there or work with an organization that is reputable. There are SO MANY organizations that say they are helping but if you ask the people they will tell yo that they do not receive the benefits or it is so random they cannot rely on it. I hope I have peeked your interest in Kibera and you do take the time to learn more. It is a beautiful place. More to come...

Flowers and books

Well it seems that things have been quiet here on the blog for a while.....seems we've all been rushing around doing others stuff and ignoring all you wonderful readers...shame on us!!! As you probably know I've been sailing from Panama to the Marquises...actually we are in Tahiti now...and have finally found a cafe where you can buy a beer and then go online..up till now we have been paying between USD$5.00 and E 5.50 an hour for internet, so I think that my excuse for not blogging is a great one...still I'll try and be a bit more active.... :-

So when we were sailing across that huge expanse of water I managed to find the time (it was quite an exhausting trip) to actually get some painting done....I had posted either on here or my other blog called ...umm what is it now...oh yes, it's Quilters, Creative Art and Sewing... :-D, a picture of a rose I was thinking of painting...well after a few abortive attempts I finally managed a few different paintings...so I thought 'd post them for you all to see...and criticise.. :-D

Other than these I haven't done anything new....oh I lie...I've written a fun little book that helps a person provision their boat, van, 5th wheel, land rover, whatever, for long trips...along with tips on how to keep fruit and veg free of mould without a fridge....and also some nice simple easy recipes that absolutely anyone can follow and enjoy.

It's called...Feeding the Skipper! :-D

Cheers all, hope you enjoyed this one :-D

Out of Africa

Okay, I was not born in Africa. I was actually born in Madrid, Spain, which is not so far from Africa. There are only some 15 kilometers from the southernmost point of Spain to Africa and, besides, there still are two enclaves in Africa that belong to Spain: Ceuta and Melilla.
Now, my ancestors were born in Africa. Just because they may have left the continent 100,000 years ago does not make me less African, does it?
Truth be told, I have not lived there either. I spent one week in Casablanca, Morocco, in 1984, and one whole month in Mali, in 2001. That was it.
It was in Mali when I started buying African fabrics. At that time, I just loved them and had to have them, did not know what I was going to do with so many of them. I also learned the Bogolan technique from some artists and of course purchased some things. That trip was a life-changing experience in many senses. When I went back home, I realized something quite common in the Western style: people do not care very much about their clothes and their appearance. I mean, the importance of how we dress as a proof of respect for other people and ourselves.

I made some clothes for myself with those fabrics. People liked them, but some said they would not dare to wear those big prints and bold colors. Why?, I wonder. I guess it is because they do not want to draw any attention. Those colors and prints sure get attention.

I love fabric, all the fabric, but African fabric is always a joy for the eye, a celebration, a reminder of the harsh sun, wild storms, the sounds of balafons, koras and beaten drums.

The return to my ancestors' land.




These fabrics and more are available in my shop.

African fabric prints!

Have you ever noticed that African fabrics have an almost otherworldly beauty? Colors and designs and textures that a Western-raised person would never even consider combining all mingle in a wonderful, beautiful symphony. Even the very basic, functional items are adorned with beautiful designs.

The following two watercolors are part of a small series I am painting of children in Africa. Those who have visited my Etsy shop MossyRockDesigns may know that we are in the process of adopting a little girl from Ethiopia, so my mind and my prayers have been dwelling on orphans. This, in turn, inspired these two and the other 10 paintings in this series.

This little ACEO was so much fun to paint, I think I will paint a series in the near future that shows several African women, each wearing differently printed clothes.

I carry my own son around in a sling all the time. This little guy doesn't look too happy about having his picture taken, but he is as snug as a bug in a rug.

If you would like to see more of the paintings in this series, please visit my art blog, HERE.

Quilting in Africa.

When I lived in South Africa, in the '80's and '90's, I had a business called Iris Creations. The reason for the name was that both my Mother and I have Iris as one of our names. I dyed and painted the fabric and my Mom did the sewing. Then one day I realised that maybe I should know a bit about quilting seeing as I dyed fabric for all the quilters in South Africa, and some people internationally too. :-D

I hunted about and found a lady who taught quilting from her home. She did a 5 day intensive course with a small discount in price if I could encourage another person to join me. Well I'd already decided that my Mom and I were going to do this together so that was a nice little bonus. :-)

We lived in a little farming community about 80 km from Pretoria, the Capital City of South Africa. The course was in Pretoria, so that meant we had to drive in every day. This wasn't a hardship at all...my Mom and I were so excited about this, that we chatted and chatted and the trip passed in no time at all...
The course taught us 9 different types of patch working..we sewed a block of each type and then put them together to make a lap quilt.

The Patchwork that I found the most fun and of course the easiest was the Nine Patch. So I set about practicing it till, I think, I was fairly proficient. I then started to put together Nine Patch Kits, complete with instructions, selling them at the quilt shows and to quilt guilds around the country. This expanded into people asking me to design blocks with a specific theme, which I'd do..then I'd dye fabric for that theme, paint the blocks, cut all the pieces required and package them with batting, backing and instructions. It was fun but very time consuming.

One day my phone rang and to my surprise the caller was a lady from South Africa's Leading Needlework and Craft Magazine, Talking Threads! She'd heard of my quilts and wanted to do a story on them. I was flabbergasted and enormously flattered all at the same time ;-)
We got together and did the interview. I was asked to write up a tutorial on how I made these quilts. I didn't have a camera in those days, so I had to manipulate the whole thing through the computer. They loved it. I  was so excited! Then I didn't hear anything for a while. I was immersed in my work and so time flew by. Several months later they called me and ordered a whole lot of the Nine Patch Quilt kits. I asked what was happening and they said that they wanted stock for when the edition # 20 came out. I got all excited all over again, and was even more busy trying to deal with my regular orders and all this as well.

What they hadn't told me was.......................... My quilt was going to be on the front cover of the Magazine!!!  I was totally blown away when I found out!

The front Cover.

 Inside the Talking Threads was a full three pages showing my quilt and how to make it. Because the Talking Threads had stocked up with the kits..people could get them at a reduced price, a great bargain for beginner quilters.

My Quilt.

 The fabric had all been dyed by me and then stenciled on top of the dye. I had designed 4 different quilts so that people would have a choice.

Other Choices.

All in all it was a great time for me. My business was doing well and I was one happy lady. ;-D

Recently I tried to find out if Talking Threads was still pumping out their fantastic mag, but I couldn't find anything online. Not that, that means anything really..but I did wonder.

Still sailing....this is a scheduled post..just to keep you all on your toes.. lol