Book lovin’

I picked up this African Textiles book years ago at the fabulous bookstore at the De Young Museum SF. This is one of those books that I return to again and again when I need a bit of inspiration. The work in here is magnificent – it covers traditional textiles from throughout Africa, everything from fine Zulu beading details to Ikat textiles and breath-taking garments. I treasure an informative book like this – it gets every part of the creative me excited. What books are inspiring you right now?

Check out these symbolic patterns from Ghana called ‘adinkra’. These symbols are screen-printed or wood-blocked onto fabric and are not only decorative, but carry messages of traditional wisdom of Ghanain culture.

I bet you didn’t know the picture below left is a reversible wedding dress from Ethiopia? The simplicity of that shape, and the tops on the right is so appealing, don’t you think? I’m fantasizing about those in a washed silk…

I wish you could see these up close! The below right is the result of incredible Xhosa beadwork; a woman’s apron & man’s anklet .

The Zulu beadwork below is a more common decorative craft of South Africa.  The beads are stitched on leather skins. Trip to Africa, anyone?

And finally, these beauties (which feel South American a bit, wouldn’t you say?) are Madagascan raphia textiles woven by the Merina women in the Madagascar highlands. The right image is  warp-ikat dyed raphia. Yes, raphia. When woven so delicately and tightly,the outcome is a soft,durable fabric that feels like a silky cotton to the touch. What do you think, are with me on finding inspiration in these pages?