Art of the Grandmothers

Bonnie Samuel asked me to write a guest blog about one of the stitchery groups that I buy textiles from in South Africa. I chose to talk about Isipethu  - Zulu for "going to the fountain" - as this group makes the most fascinating collages in appliqué and embroidery. 
What I find fascinating is that these women are telling actual stories form their daily lives and observations on how women are treated, cultural events and interesting incidents.  I hope you get a chance to read about this piece called Wife Number Two by Sheila Mobaso from KawZulu Natal. This cheery looking textile really has a darker story behind it and I explain it all in Bonnie's blog: