Denkyem

Denkyem (The Crocodile)

Denkyem in Ghana is the traditional name for crocodile or alligator, this creature is seen as strong and powerful since it can stay for long periods at a time under water. Denkyem is one of Ghana’s Edinkra symbols, these animal symbols are popularly called totems, when likened to this creature you are seen as strong, powerful, and persevering through all life’s struggles and challenges.

Work is raw edge appliqued and machine quilted. Hand dyed fabric and Kente Print.

I relate a lot to this totem symbol which happens to be my favorite amongst the Edinkra Symbols of Ghana.
I invite every one to enjoy and post comments and share.

Denkyem
Original design - 2010
Dimensions 29W 35L
http://braidandstitch.com/

DIPO

DIPO THE CEREMONY OF THE KROBO PEOPLE OF GHANA.

After child naming ceremonies which happen eight days after birth, the next most recognized ceremonial rites are the Puberty rites, this is the coming of age for girls. In Ghana, this is a huge event, the 'Dipo' puberty rites celebrated by the Krobo people ushers young women into adulthood.
In Akan culture women represent the beauty, purity, and dignity of society, and are strongly protected from any form of abusive behavior.

The lasting impressions of a young girls development are built during these formative years of her life, where girls spend most of their time with their mothers. In Ghana, the Akan's believe that good mothers with great morals make good children.

In a three week period of seclusion, the Queen mother of a town or village works with mothers to teach young girls who are of age, the secrets of womanhood, giving them lessons in sex education and abstinence. Girls are also taught and groomed in bedside habits since the mothers also believe that a good and happy wife makes a great home.

After the period of seclusion a huge durbar of chiefs, sub chiefs, and queen mothers is held where most in the community attend, this is one happy occasion, the young women are dressed pretty scanty, with heavy beading resting on their hip lines, and a sash running from the backside to the front creating a traditional pantie line, they are very nicely made up and are presented topless to make a statement about their purity.
There is the pouring of libation, and then these young women are led out to dance topless symbolizing maturity into womanhood, and also her availability to prospective young suitors and husbands.

I chose 'Dipo' for my quilting project, since it is a beautiful cultural topic to discuss as well as an interesting piece when represented in fabric, and also to share and compare with the rest of the world the coming of age celebration for girls.

Dipo is going to some more shows from here and might just show up in you state, so be on the look out. This art work called 'Dipo' is a 'Marble mosaic' a special technique I have created for my mosaic quilting, Dipo had its debut at the North West Quilters Guild Expo, and it was a 'Chart eater' making me very proud!

Quilted Nonsense: Celebrating Masai

Quilted Nonsense: Celebrating Masai: "The Massai are very ordinary people with a simple life styl...e, they have always reminded me that the simple and best things in life are fr..."

Quilted Nonsense: LOVE

Quilted Nonsense: LOVE: "Seahorses are fish that are covered with bony plates and not scales. Males are responsible for child bearing, they fertilize and carry eggs ..."

LOVE

Seahorses are fish that are covered with bony plates and not scales. Males are responsible for child bearing, they fertilize and carry eggs the female deposits into the males pouch, and he carries them to term. Once born, baby seahorses are on their own and they swim away.

Sea horses are found in the warm waters of the world, generally in the shallower waters near the coast lines, they feed on brine shrimp, fish and plankton, Seahorses mate for life and when one partner dies the remaining sea horse never picks a new partner.

They are very vulnerable creatures, and I have always been intrigued by their natural characteristics, they are very protective of their specie. This is a commissioned piece I worked on for a lovely couple for Valentines day.

Artist statement  
This under water piece is a totally painted Art quilt with Acrylics, fabrics used are hand dyed fabric for the background which also served as a canvas, as well as printed fabrics. 
Work is machine pieced, appliquéd, quilted and totally painted and meticulously hand beaded.
Dimensions 22 1/2L 33W

Beautiful Nonsense. Now featured on 'The Quilt Show' June 2014!

This is Beautiful Nonsense, an abstract quilt art which I created after watching so much of the horrific oil spill in the Gulf. I thought of using some of the pictures of the spill which I had saved in an abstract fiber art African inspired quilt. The oil spill at its height was one horrific event that impacted so much of our lives, heroic lives were taken, and our wild life, sea life, and ocean vegetation were greatly impacted.

I thought of the lives that were lost, and the grieving families, and how fragile life was. As I slept that night, I dreamed this piece an abstract work on this tragedy, and 'Beautiful Nonsense' was born!

I decided to change things a little by giving a background that looked more like relief features instead of the blue ocean color, keeping in mind that this quilt was African Inspired, I decided keep the background of this art work in black since black in Africa is symbolic of loss, sorrow and pain.
Our environment was heavily impacted by this unfortunate oil spill, but I decided to tap into that negative energy and turn it into a positive work of art.

Fabrics used were African print and black Swiss linen, and work is machine stitched, heavily trapunto'd, and machine quilted. Work is also hand painted and meticulously hand beaded.

Massai

In the last two days, two lovely Face book friends have for some reason  been going on about this quilt of mine 'Massai' and so it just struck me to feature it next on my community page, in order to share the beautiful story of the Massai people of East Africa.

The Massai are very ordinary people with a very simple life style, they have always reminded me that the simple and best things in life are free, and beyond all the hardship that Africa endures, they prove that you can see 'Happy' in any difficult situation. They wear the whitest smile, and the darkest complexion, characteristics so unique of people who reside along that part of the equator.

The Masai are semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania. Due to their distinctive customs and dress, the Massai choose to reside near the game parks of East Africa, they are among the most well known of the African ethnic groups.They speak Maa, a local dialect. As well as Swahili and English.

They are live stock farmers, and I have always been intrigued by their unique appearance, the stretching and piercing of the their ear lobes, including the thorns they use for piercing, as well as twigs, stones, the pieces of elephant tusks, and empty film canisters they wear in their earlobes. Red is the most favored color of the Massai men.
This quilt 'Massai' is up for exhibit in March and you just might see it at a show in you state, so keep looking!!

I created this abstract work to share the beautiful story of the Masai people of East Africa. Fabrics used are hand dyed fabrics and Kente prints. Work is machine appliqued, quilted,and lightly hand painted.
Massai 55W  261/2L