Embroidery Threads

I squished this enormous pile of embroidery threads into a large suitcase and carried them to South Africa; gifting them to the women I met. About 2 years ago packages of threads started arriving in the mail when word got out that I was taking threads to women’s groups in South Africa. When I gave talks, women brought bags of threads they no longer wanted and often donated brand new bags of floss. Margaret de Carvalho of the Mother’s Union heard my talk about African Threads and determined that the Mother’s Union was going to “fill a hockey bag” of threads for the African stitchers. Gulp! That’s a lot of thread! Margaret put out the word and a deluge of threads arrived from as far away as Ontario.

 

What a pleasure to give the threads directly to the stitchers in 5 different embroidery groups in S.A. Mapula, which means Mother of Rain, is one of the embroidery groups I visited. They were founded about 14 years ago and it’s a vital economic source for about 145 women in the rural Winterveld area north of Pretoria. Their embroidered hangings have become collector items.

Here I am with some of the Mapula Embroiderers.

 

Group of the Mapula Embroiderers in front of one of their wonderful painted Winterveld houses. 

Here’s a sampling of beaded ceremonial and initiation dolls from the ‘Ndebele people that I now have available through African Threads. You can find more works on my Etsy Site.

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Wonderful Wooly Retreats on spinning, dyeing, felting workshop s in the heart of Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia on the beautiful Watershed Organic Farm. Workshops start on 31 July. Treat yourself to exquisite organic food, textiles and friends. Run by Pollination Project.  There’ll be more interesting workshops from this group so I’ve put a permanent link in the sidebar for this group.

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Be sure to visit  the delightful new web site of Margi Hennen – doll maker, wise-woman and humorist.  I just love these dolls! this one is titled John Lennon Lives on in Maria's Heart.

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Our on-line landscape group has grown to almost 300. There is a very active landscape postcard exchange. Small groups sign up to exchange cards and goodness… the beautiful cards they make are truly inspiring! We also have a stash-building fabric noodle exchange, landscape challenges and a lovely exchange of support and ideas. Come on over! We’d love to have you join us and check out our abundant photo albums for landscape inspiration. See the link in the side bar.

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 Beyond the Horizon – Small Landscape Appliqué, my long out of print book is now available as an e-book download from C&T publishing. There have been many calls for it to be reprinted and now you can have your own copy for the reasonable price o $14.99.  It can be ordered through the “buy now” affiliate button in the left side bar or on my home page. 

Comments

[Rhoda Forbes]

Valerie, I loved reading your blog. What a fantastic giving woman you are, and the work of the women is fantastic.
Are you going to be in Calgary next year for the CQA show?

[Valerie Hearder]

Hi Rhoda, thanks for writing. Indeed I'm hoping to be in Calgary at CQA next year to have a booth with these African goodies! Hope to see you there.

[charity]

It is wonderful to watch such workmanship of art and handicrafts and must have been a pleasure to give the threads that you have.

[Valerie Hearder]

Indeed it was a pleasure to share threads with women who'd turn the threads into vital income. I think your group Blanket America is very interesting - do you hand out quilts?