Connecting to Community: Safari Travels with Needle and Thread

(The following is a guest post from Leora Raikin with African Folklore Embroidery.)

I cannot remember a time when my mother was not stitching, sewing or baking and my father did not have a hammer in his hand building. I grew up in Cape Town, South Africa.

My parents and grandparents encouraged in their children a love for creating with their hands. My mother sewed most of our clothes, my grandmother was a seamstress and my father made our toys, including slides, puzzles, tree houses, educational toys, book shelves and much more, out of wood. My grandfather had more hobbies and crafts than I can list, and promoted in us an active desire to learn something new every day.

Like most African traditions that are passed down from mother to daughter, father to son, I learnt African Folklore Embroidery from my mother. Since I have a son, I have passed this art form on to him, and he has in turn taught his friends and classmates. 

Since it takes more than twenty hours to travel from America to South Africa, most people will never have the opportunity to experience Africa, the joy of seeing animals up close on a safari, or be exposed to cultural traditions and customs so different from their own. Welcome to the colorful and creative world of African Folklore. My book, Safari Through African Folklore Embroidery: For All Those Who Love Beads, Fiber Art, Colors and Fabric, brings Africa to you and allows you to get a small taste of Africa, its beautiful, diverse and vast cultures and traditions all through African Folklore Embroidery, a multi cultural visual fiber and bead art.

Whether you are an accomplished quilter, sophisticated stitcher, awesome knitter or have never held a needle before, you will be stunned by the ease and beauty of African Folklore Embroidery. The bright colors against the black fabric create a wonderful contrast and the use of chain stitch gives the embroidery a slightly three-dimensional, raised appearance.

Like most ethnic embroidery, chain stitch is the dominant stitch in African Folklore Embroidery. Chain stitch is a very rhythmical stitch, a stitch that flows beautifully and quickly, and is easy to do while doing other things such as chatting with friends, watching television, riding on a plane or train, or watching a basketball or soccer game.

I hope this visual safari through African Folklore Embroidery and the teaching of the various stitches and techniques interweaved with information about various tribes and their customs and traditions, along with African wildlife, will give you a small taste of Africa, its rich beauty and culture.

GIVEAWAY!!!  To encourage you to take that safari, Leora has offered to give an African folklore embroidery kit to two readers. Comment below for your chance to win (today only).

Comments

[Pierrette Mimi Poinsett]

Absoulutely gorgeous work- thanks so much for the guest post.

[Kelee Katillac]

Fantastic! There is such poetry in stitches! One by one -like seconds, minutes ...they leave a track of time.

[Becky]

The colors are soooo gorgeous! Especially on the black fabric! Thanks again L'Tanya for sharing someone new and Leora's beautiful tradition and works.

[Bonnie Riley]

I love this type of embroidery. There's sophistication in such simplicity. It's absolutely gorgeous.

[Valerie SC]

I am just learning quilting, and african american influence on that art. I have a new knowledge quest, embroidery, on the to do list. Beautiful and inspiring work.
Valerie

[Lucy Kilpatrick]

Love those play with colors. I love to quilt, knit, spin and felt. This is very inspiring.

[L'Tanya]

Congratulations Kelee Katillac and Bonnie Riley. You've each won an embroidery kit from African Folklore Embroidery AND...

as a bonus, I also have a copy of Leora Raikin's book to go to Pierrette Mimi Poinsett.

Enjoy!

[optonoura]

I'm newbie here, I hope to get friends at this forum