Whew! After a tumultuous trip from Zimbabwe to South Africa where it spent a nice vacation, a new shipment of patches has arrived in Washington State! It is always like Christmas morning when we get a new shipment. To know that the last person touching these patches was a sister in Zimbabwe is incredibly moving. (And who doesn't love receiving a box tied up with string?)
The box was stuffed full of vibrant patches. From the hands of women artists in Zimbabwe to our hands in the US. It's a beautiful thing...
Ever wonder how the patches look when they arrive? Here are a few pictures of the raw patches. Stunning and a little rough around the edges. Perhaps like a metaphor for Zimbabwe? The art is complete, the edges are a bit frayed. There are such bold oranges, reds, and yellows. The rich purples and browns are equally beautiful.
After we stare at these patches and hold them in our hands, flipping through the newness of the art ... we get to work! A little tending to those rough edges. We hem the beauties with black thread...
After the hemming? The patches are sewn onto recycled, reusable bags that are ready for you!
Stay tuned for pictures of the rest of the process and some of the great end product!
Also -- keep your eyes peeled for an update to the Zimbags website: galleries of the artwork.
www.zimbags.org
...bag poverty.
-The Happy Bag Elves
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