Monsoon inspired fiber book

The Monsoon has inspired poets, musicians and artists on the Indian subcontinent for centuries and it's my turn  to attempt capturing the moods of this season in a small fiber book which will measure approximately 4" x 6" when it's complete.

 Embroidery and applique. I'm exploring and creating a variation of how to make a fiber book. The process of making this little book will serve to make a tutorial which I have promised some visitors to the blog. I request some patience, the tutorial will be posted once the book is completed.

The beginnings of another page. I'm using some of the natural dyed and rust dyed fabrics from my stash. The rusty washer found on my morning walk made that beautiful burning summer sun.

Change is in the air.

Have a good weekend.

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Natural material for packaging

Last week we were on a road trip and somewhere on NH 7 we saw men waving these conical packages. Curiosity got the better of us and we stopped to buy two. These are packages of Palmyra leaves.   

Knotted and tied with a couple of fronds. 

The palmyra leaf  opens to reveal five of six pods of the palmyra fruit.

The Palmyra leaf is circular in shape and has a naturally occurring accordion fold which aids the creation of the conical packages. Pure genius whoever created this package. 

Summer is round the corner. 

With the onset of the summer heat, the fruit of the Palmyra palm makes an appearance on the carts of   fruit sellers on the streets of every neighbourhood in the city. The fruit seller cuts open the fiberous  black fruit and removes three jelly like pods which are filled with a cool liquid. These jelly pods are just the thing to beat the summer heat.

Wish they would use the Palmyra leaf for packaging instead of the thin plastic bags which are ruining our environment.  

We've embraced the use of plastic for packaging and forgotten the use of natural materials for packaging.

Have a good week. 

Senbazuru

Senbazuru refers to sen - one thousand  tsuru - cranes.

I'm attempting to fold 1000 origami cranes this year.

My research has revealed I need to fold all one thousand myself and they can't be given away. 

First 100 of 1000. In Japan one can buy a senbazuru set which comes complete with paper, string and bead.  I'm putting a recycling angle to the challenge by using only paper flyers which I can get my hands on. 

An ancient Japanese legend promises a wish will be granted to the one who folds one thousand cranes. I'm hoping to fold a thousand cranes for a wish for someone very dear to me.

Keeping with tradition I'll be stringing 25 cranes on one length of string and the 40 strings of cranes will be hung  in a place  where the element will act on the paper cranes and as they fray and get tattered the wish shall be released.
The story of Sadako Sasaki has made the little origami crane a symbol of peace all over the world and  and I've read, that the Japanese space agency had the folding of a thousand cranes as a test for aspiring astronauts.

100 cranes folded and made, 900 to go. Would you like to learn to fold a paper crane? here's a link.

It will make you Happy

The next found poem - It will make you happy.

It will make you happy

The joy outweighs the costs.

There is data - heroin makes you feel rare pleasure.

Memories of the highs brings joy.

Those moments few and far between, everybody ought to have it, 

because it will make them happy.