Postcard for friends

This card started off life as scraps in the scrap box. And formed itself into layers like sedimentary rocks. But later had a wave motif added for interest. I hope the friends like it, it was send with congratulations to John on his achievement in refereeing the Cup final match in Scotland last weekend.

Omani silver work - catch up

I am spending a lot of time researching Omani silver embroidery on the ceremonial dagger (Khunjar). It is about time this work featured on my blog. Here is an example of the Omani craftsman's work. Actually, probably a woman. My teacher is Fatma who lives in Khaboura up the coast about 2 hours' drive from here.

This pieces is beautiful - and looks like it was made by machine but believe me it wasn't. A dagger like this one would cost about 4-600 Omani Rials which right now is about 6-800 pounds sterling!

The work is done by hand but without a threaded needle. Holes are punched (painstakingly) through the leather one by one and the silver wire-work is sewn later. It takes hours.

I am learning the technique, not because I want to make a Khunjar :-) but I want to incorporate the method into my own work and, hopefully shed some light on the artists who still create such lovely pieces. They receive little recognition for their work. To this end I hope I can get something published on it soon. Watch this space....

Terracotta army - Chinese tin work

Yesterday I couldn't use my sewing machine software - someone had cleared the laptop hard drive! so I will have to install the software again. I guess I was stalled.

So I made this brooch. There is only one of them but I photographed it in two orientations to show the lovely play of light.
It uses a Chinese tin embroidery technique but I use recycled cans. The difference in the effect is that mine has a much chunkier look and more play of light.

I hope to incorporate some of this in my Terracotta Army piece/s... good that the tin work method is Chinese eh?