Valerie Hearder's African Threads

Shangaan Life

This glorious wall hanging is a story in cloth and threads. It's made by a Shangaan embroidery group in Limpopo Province, S.Africa.

Here is the story as told by the artist: Calvin is telling us a story of how the Shangaan people are living their lives. The man is building traditional houses with the help of the woman and also taking care of their cattle, goats and sheep. The woman, most the time when it rains, are busy plowing the mealies (corn) to help support their children when it's no longer raining. They  produce enough food to last until it rains again. A woman is taking care of the orphans, by giving them the homes to lay their head and to give them food and help to educate them.

World Toilet Day:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This embroidery arrived from Etwatwa Township in South Africa. The door of the privy stands open, proudly showing off a toilet. Nearby a woman is pumping water into her bucket. Just think of how that saves her labour and hours of time each day not having to walk to collect water.

The World Toilet Day website states that more children die every day from lack of water sanitation than any other disease.

November 19th is World Toilet Day. Makes you think, huh?

This embroidered square is available from African Threads. You can read more about the maker and her embroidery group called Intuthuko.

Granny's Overwhelmed

A new  shipment of wall hangings arrived from KwaZulu Natal just before Christmas. This one is made by Sheila Msimbi and depicts a Grandmother with many grandchildren to look after: they're jumping, climbing and hiding from her. This small tapestry illustrates exactly why the Grandmother-to-Grandmothers Campaign was founded: to support these unsung heroes who care for the millions of HIV/AIDS orphans. While the bright colors and folk art design of this tapestry is joyful, the truth is that Grandmothers are truly overwhelmed by poverty, ill health and so many mouths to feed.

Granny's Overwhelmed  12" x 14.5" Hand embroidery, appliqué, cotton.($85)
Sheila supports 12 people with her stitchery.

Women's Work

This charming textile was stitched by Sheila Msimbi who lives in Newcastle, Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa. Sheila says that women work physically very hard: carrying water, cultivating the fields,building houses,washing clothes, cooking etc. often with tiny babies on their backs. Textiles are available through www.africanthreads.ca. or Etsy. Email me to receive the latest updates on new textiles from South Africa.

Grandmothers of Africa

This small hand embroidered textile speaks of the pandemic of HIV/AIDS that is sweeping Africa. The agony of the Grandmothers who bury their children and care for their grandchildren is the story of unsung heroes.