The Language of Fabric

Ok, I admit it; I LOOOOVE fabric.  I especially like to explore fabric stores when I visit a new country because I feel these unique pieces reflect that country's culture.  Most country have their own specialty and custom fabric, pattern, or craft.   It's a wonderful way to bring back a little souvenir after a special trip.

When I travel, I have so much fun exploring fabric stores (I know... I'm weird!).  When I went to France, OMG, I was in heaven.... so many fabrics, so little money, and not enough suitcases....  My sister had to pull me out of the store.  Paris has a wonderful area in Montmartre, just at the bottom of  the "Basilique du Sacré Coeur" where you will find a multitude of fabric stores and decorating stores..... Gosh I want to go back!  I discovered some wonderful Toile de Jouy which is a traditional French country style fabric.   In the south of France, in a pretty town called Aix-en-Provence, I found bright and earthy cotton fabrics that reminded me of summer, great food, and the "Joie de Vivre" (love of life) the French embrace.  Yes I bought a lot of fabric and I wish I could have bought more....

French Country Lumbar Pillow

In Panama, Central America, the women of the Kuna tribe are some of the best embroiderers I have ever seen!  Their handywork is very detailed and they use such tiny little stitches.  It's amazing!!!  They make beautiful design pieces called "Mola" that they incorporate into their clothings.  When they tire of it, they take it off and sell them.  (Although I'm sure that they also make them just for sale).   I bought several  to make throw pillows for myself and received so many compliments that since then I have purchased more for the shop.  They add a beautiful and unique pop of color to any decor.

Two Toucans Tropical Pillow

The Caribbean islands (I'm from Guadeloupe) use a madras fabric plaid that is incorporated into pillows, curtains, chair covers, tablecloths and a host of other items.  Madras originated in India, in a town now called Chennai (but formally known as Madras).  Madras was imported to the Caribbean islands in the 1800's by indentured Indian servants.  Later this colorful fabric was adopted by the island slaves and gradually incorporated into their traditional costumes.  From the Dominican Republic and Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, all the way down to Trinidad, you will find a multitude of colors variations that identify the islands.

Yellow and Orange Plaid Pillow Cover

Fun Island Plaid

  

In Guatemala, natives hand-weave their fabrics using a treadle loom.  This machine was introduced by the Spaniards to the Mayan weavers. Another one is the backstrap loom which is even older and used long before the arrival of the Spaniards.  The material is very colorful and can be used in so many ways.  I hope to be getting some soon.

Recently, I have worked with Chitao, a colorful weaved fabric from Brazil that a good friend of mine brought me back.  The Chitao is a floral print originally from India (wow they invented a lot of fabrics!) and imported into Brazil but the Brazilian modified it by adding bright large flowers.   Chitao is used in home decors as well as in dresses.

Brazilian Tropical Print Cosmetic Pouch

I can't wait to see where my next trip will take me and what treasures I will find!!!   Do you have a style of fabric or embroidery that you want to share?  I would love to read your experiences.

A race with a dolphin

A most magical morning!

This Labor Day Weekend, we decided to spend a few days on our little sailboat and go down to Biscayne Bay National Park.  It's only a couple of hours drive from our home with the trailer, and a great place for sailing.  The weather was beautiful, especially after the visit of tropical storm Isaac.  Of course, South Florida weather usually means afternoon thunderstorms which somehow we always escaped.  The storms usually stay to the West because of the tradewinds and rarely travel to the East over the water.

We did witness a waterspout touching down.  Thankfully, it was on the water.  The sailboat sailing just ahead of it makes for a striking picture.  I'm sure the boat was plenty ahead of the waterspout but it is not something that I want to experience.

Faster! Faster!!!

We had some great sailing Saturday and Sunday into the Bay.  12 to 15 knots wind speed and the boat was making good timing.  We had a rocky night anchorage at Elliot Key but the second night at Pumpkin Key, the moon was so bright and so beautiful.  There were two other sailboats spending the night not to far from us and the moon was lighting all around us.  When we awoke, the water was smooth as glass as the wind had totally died.

Once in a blue moon!

We decided to get an early start Monday morning as we wanted to sail about 20 miles south.  We were motoring to the channel out to sea when about 300 yards ahead, we noticed a pod of dolphins.  They were gently gliding in and out of the water as dolphins do, making that whoosh noise as they come up to breathe.  I walked up to the bow of the boat to sit and dangle my feet.  Imagine my surprise when suddenly four dolphins appeared swimming at the front of the boat right under my feet!  After a few seconds they veered away.  I was so excited but before I could turn around, another group came up to replace the others.  I was so close I I could almost touch them and I could see that the larger of the dolphins seemed to have three scars or markings near his dorsal fin.  He was rather large.

This group also swam away to the back of the boat.  I turned to my husband who was steering and I could see the dolphins right at the back of the boat resting as if they were tired from playing a game.  Suddenly, a smaller dolphin speed fast toward the front of the sailboat again and I started calling him taping the side of the boat.  The little dolphin jumped out of the water a bit and was looking at me. It swam under the bow too as if racing with us but then turned around to join his pod.  The group had stopped swimming as if waiting for the straggler to catch up.

What a sight!  It happened so fast that there was no time to take pictures!!!   I will never forget this moment!

Sunset over Miami after the storm

In the mood for jam ~ Star Fruit jam that is!

I have a beautiful star fruit or carambola tree in my back yard.  It gives me two pickings every year.  This season, my tree is loaded with huge, sweet, juicy, delicious star fruit. I am not sure if it's the rain (or I kind of remember giving it some fertilizer a while back) or the heat, but I have fruit galore!



I bring bags of it to the office, give to the neighbors, my mother, my sister, and anyone else that want it.  Every season, I make delicious jam with my star fruits.  It's super easy and so delicious. Here's how to make this delicious concoction:

For about 2 cups of jam, you'll need 12 - 15 medium to large star fruits, 2 cups of granulated sugar, and 1 vanilla bean (very important) cut into 2-3 pieces.

After cleaning the star fruits with a brush under running water, cut the ridges of the fruits (that's usually more stringy and green), then cut lengthwise into quarter and then cut again lengthwise.  Dice everything into small  pieces and place in a large pot on the stove.

Add your sugar and your vanilla bean.  Simmer on low heat for 2 1/2 to 3 hours to reduce the juice produced by the star fruits.  You'll have a thick and fraguant jam.  Let it cool and refrigerate.  It's delicious with plain 0% fat Greek plain or vanilla yogurt, vanilla ice cream, or simply on a piece of toast.  

While I will not give you the nutritional information of the star fruit, I can tell you that they are rich in antioxidants, potassium, and vitamin C.

A word of warning:  people with kidney disease and kidney stone should stay away from eating star fruits as they contain oxalic acid.  Patients that also take statins for cardiovascular illnesses should not consume star fruits as they can increase the statins dosage within the body.

Summer Vacation

School is about ready to start again and like many parents the year revolves around the school year.  Because I work for the school district, it still applies to me.  Even with the Florida heat, I love summer.  It's time for swimming in the ocean (yes I am a Floridian and from November to March, I don't swim in the ocean), going boating in the Keys or elsewhere, and evening picnicking on the beach. It's really not nice in the evening.  The cool breeze comes in from the ocean and it's wonderful.

 Delray Beach has their Fourth of July fireworks off the ocean and it's the best.  We get there early with a picnic, set the towels or chairs, go swimming for a while, play on the beach, and then we lay back and enjoy the light show.


I still enjoy taking summer vacation and this year was no exception.  My husband and I are newbie sailors.  We have a small sailboat that we can trailer and go around the State of Florida.  We  have gone to Tampa and Ana Maria, the Florida Keys, Stuart and Ft. Pierce, and Biscayne National Park.  It's real camping I tell you, no luxury.  The boat is small and cramped inside without a stove.  We cook everything on the outside BBQ, and take our showers outside (I keep my bathing suit on thank you very much...)  It's really great to get away for 2 or 3 days.

This year, we took a big leap and chartered a 38 feet catamaran in the British Virgin Islands for ten days.  Our sons came with us, including one of the girlfriends.  A nice size boat, it had 3 bedrooms (berths) inside kitchen (the galley), 2 bathroom (heads) and an inside shower.  It was really great to sail from island to island.  The water is so clear and blue, so much sea life everywhere and the dramatic landscape of the islands.  We went snorkeling at the Indians, Dead Man's Bay, The Caves, and White Bay.  Explored the salt lakes, climbed Monkey Point, and hiked the Bath at Virgin Gorda.  We did little shopping except for food as everything is so expensive but it is so beautiful over there.  I love being able to chart our path and say "hey let's check that island over there!"

Now that we are pros...... hum hum, we can start planning the next trip (minus the kids though, but friends are welcome).  Where shall we go???

Beautiful Sunsets

I love the magical changes in the sky colors during sunrises and sunsets.  Unfortunately, I get to see sunsets much more often than sunrises.  I do love to sleep a little in the morning on weekends.

Anyway, here are some pictures that I've taken recently, just when it's that time of the day, when the rays of the sunset reflects onto the clouds, as if a brush has been dipped in paint and just stroked onto the sky its canvas.

                                                             Biscayne Bay National Park

                                                              Cane Garden Bay, BVI

                                                                   Virgin Gorda, BVI

                                                               British Virgin Islands

                                                                British Virgin Islands

                                                                Key Largo, Florida

                                                             Lake Worth, Florida
Ok the last one is a really cool phenomenon that I thought was a strange rainbow and sometimes it's called a fire rainbow.  But really this is a "Circumhorizontal Arc".  This occurs when the sun is very in the sky and there is a cirrus cloud which contains plate-shaped iced crystals.  It seems to be a rare occurance but that was the first time that I have ever seen it.  Isn't nature wonderful?


https://www.etsy.com/listing/63184306/orange-green-plaid-throw-pillow-cover


https://www.etsy.com/listing/97731109/summer-beach-bag-with-rope-handles


https://www.etsy.com/listing/100850084/cosmetic-makeup-bag-pink-orange-batik

I decided to start the blog again.  I had this wild idea back in December and then dropped it when I ran short of time.  So I promise to be more consistent and hope to make it interesting.
For some time now, I have been very interested in gourds.  In Guadeloupe, we have a variety of gourd trees (they are not really gourds, they are called "Calebasse" but their charesteristics are like those of the gourds found in America except that they grow on trees!  Yes like fruits!  They come in all sizes and are usually round like melons.  Inedible, they are used for containers and decorative items.

I have brought seeds back and I have a medium tree now in my front yard.  I had a couple of calebasse last year but I'm not sure how to preserve them.  We are waiting for this year's crop and hope to do better.  I want to learn how to carve them like they do in the islands.  My son Mathew is also wanting to work with them.  When I have a fruit, I will take picture to show everyone.

The inside of gourds and calebash are scooped out and they are dried which can take weeks to months.  They come in all sizes and many interesting shapes.  They are not usually eaten as many can be toxic to humans but once dried, they can be carved and painted and used as decorative items as well as to transport items and more importantly they can as plates and bowls.  I have had several for years now, and they can be washed and reused many time.  The outside shell becomes hard like a thin sheet of wood.  It is such a versatile produce!

Until the time that I can collect my own fruits, I found this website http://www.islandgourds.com/home.html   The artist is Ardee Walter and she carves and paints the gourds from Hawaii and boy! she does fantastic work!   She also uses natural seeds to make jewelry. Check out some of these pictures, enjoy the artistry, and let me know what you think.

Staying creative in a world of ready-made

How many people do not think they have the slightly incline to be creative?  Most people say "Oh no, I'm not creative like you", or "I don't know have any sense of colors".  Unfortunately, most people will not try for fear of failing and it's so easy to go to a store to buy what you want ready-made or have someone else make it for you, for a price of course!  But I'm here to tell you it can be so easy and so much more rewarding if you do it yourself!  It's not just about the money you'll save, it's about that feeling you get.

Fortunately for me, my mother loved to use her hands to make things and gave me the confidence in myself to try and create.  Like many children, I was not so keen in following in her footsteps unless it benefited me.  Unlike my father who was not handy with his hands (but knew how to do everything if you catch my meaning) she was the one to take on minor construction projects around the house:   finishing off the drywall and painting of the basement of our house, or scouring the yard sales to buy an old piece of furniture to refinishing it.  She also sew her clothes, my sister's and mine too and she just loved to try working on different projects all the time.  It can be addicting.  I know I have the disease too!  Once you start, you can't stop.

Of all the crafts my mom taught me, knitting is the one thing I never could grasp.  She tried to teach me but I'm left-handed and just never got the knack for it: I'm not very gracious at it (the needles tightly tucked under my arms, I lift my elbows every time I make the yarn go around the needle making me look like a duck flapping its wings - yes, I'm not kidding).  But I tried!!!

I can crochet, I sew, I refinish furniture, paint my house inside and out, and even redo whole rooms inside my house with my husband.  Last time, I was very angry at one of my sons and grabbed the crow bar and knocked down tiles in the bathroom walls.  We had to start the project.  I'm not so sure that was a good way to force the issue but now we have a beautiful bathroom.

Anyway, back to creating things.  a friend asked me the other day if my husband knew how to lay tiles.  I responded that not only did he and I laid tiles we have done practically our whole house.  I mean we're no master tilers but I think our floors look pretty good and the bathroom walls do to.   And it must be true because many people couldn't believe it when we said we did it!  I mean you won't know if you don't try! And believe me, saving money is a HUGE incentive.  But the feeling of accomplishment you get is "priceless". And my friend's husband is in the trade's business so it's not like he can't work with his hands but my point is if you don't try you won't know.

These pictures I'm adding are those of a dresser my husband refinished.  I've done several over the years and he's helped me a little - mostly sanding the wood but never really doing it.  Well this dresser has been taking space in our garage for more than a year.  I started working it but than the weather got hot again and I just couldn't get into the mood.  One day, I came home from work and he was scraping, sanding, cleaning the wood.  I was so surprised.  He chose the colors of the wood stain and did the whole thing by himself.  It turned out beautiful!!! He did a superb job and I couldn't have done it better.

If he had not tried, he would not had known he could do it.  What's the worst that could have happened? Stain it the wrong color and start over (or give it away if it's that bad).  I'm just glad it turned out so good. Now I have a new dresser for my fabrics.