Sunday 5 April 2009

Banjara Patch


This Banjara Patch came in the post this week. The two main shisha mirrors are quite big. I love the beads, bells and coins along the bottom. I bought it from Rayela's Art Etsy Store. I love it. I don't know what I'm going to do with it yet. I will probably put it up on my studio wall. Check out all the other interesting things Rachel has in her shop.

You can read about the Banjara and Roma people in Rachel's post on her blog Rayela's Fibre Focus. It's sad how these people have been treated throughout the years.

I only came across Rachel's blog recently but I've been enjoying going back through all her previous posts - I still have lots more of her posts to explore.
I also found this website called Surya's Garden which is a trust set up to revive the ancient Banjara - Lambhani embroidery skills and motifs. I love how colourful their traditional dress is. This site also has an interesting section on their History - Go here to find out more.

6 comments:

Eva said...

These eye-symbols are to ward evil off the wearer. They work (and I strongly believe they do) if being worn or turnt into a bag you wear. They cast evil back to the one who stares at them. If you put it up on the wall, you might be on the wrong side of it...

Rachel Biel said...

Thanks for the mention, Barbara! I love these textiles, too!

And, Eva, that was interesting! You should leave a comment about that over on my Banjara post so other readers know about it.

Barbara said...

Thanks for leaving a comment Eva and Rachel.

Thanks for letting me know, Eva. I'll have to rethink what I do with it. Maybe make a bag or scarf/shawl with it.

Art4Sol said...

I was very tempted to buy this one...lucky you! It's a beauty.
Hopefully soon I'll have time to participate at Fiber Focus....thanks for making me a friend.

Barbara said...

It was hard to pick one off Rachel's site. They are all so nice.

artymess said...

I love Indian textiles I wrote my dissertation on symbolism in Indian Textiles as part of my degree course and my final outfits were inspired by India ....I am going to visit rachel's blog ..x