Today it has been a very busy day. I had my machine knitting class all morning and then spent the afternoon taking photos for my photography class tonight. There are not many flowers in the garden because it has been very dry until today... so I could capture some raindrops on the flowers. The light was perfect for taking photos outside because there was not much direct sunlight. These are some of my homework photos.
I am fascinated by all fibre arts, and weaving is not an exception. For some time I took weaving classes in Bolivia a few years ago but I found it too time consuming and did not continue. This lady was weaving a table runner working with a mix of more than ten colors.
Last week I made this pumpkin color baby alpaca scarf. I knitted the body of the scarf and then made a ruffle to go around it. The ruffle has more than 1,600 rows and when sewing it to the body I gathered stitches every 25 rows.... I finally finished it last Friday and washed it and left it to dry all day on Saturday. On Sunday I embroidered it with flowers and vines using some baby alpaca I had at home.
This weekend we will finally decorate our Christmas tree. We have been very busy with work and honestly did not have time to unpack the tree and the ornaments.
While I was going through all the Christmas decorations I have collected over the years and travels, I found these beautiful beaded ornaments I bought in Nairobi two years ago. They bring back such good memories!
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
I love baking, but the everyday food seems so boring to me now. I don't know if it is that I have run out of ideas or just the feeling of obligation. Sometimes I think of something new or find a new recipe, go to the supermarket to get the ingredients and get very disappointed when I can only find two out of nine ingredients.
For years I have been trying quinoa at restaurants in Bolivia and everywhere I could find a quinoa dish on the menu, but never tried to make it myself. I was afraid that it would not be as easy as it looked to make.
Today I finally tried it in the most friendly way I know.... with a rice cooker. It turned out perfect! after the quinoa was ready I mixed it with onions, tomatoes, garlic, olives and mushrooms to make a filling for red bell peppers.
In 1572, the Spanish prohibited the Quechua from wearing native Inca tunics and wrap-around dresses. Andean peoples then adopted the clothing still in use today. Quechua women wear skirts and blouses, with colorful woven shawls around their shoulders. Some traditional hats are embellished with sequins and beads. I love the intricate embroidery work on the colorful clothing and accessories. It is a great inspiration for my own work.
These "aguayos" have earth tones very often found in Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. I have a collection of Bolivian "aguayos" that I keep around the house and sometimes use as blankets during the cold winter months. Each one is a work of art.
Cusco is a great city to explore. I had the chance to spend four days there on Thanksgiving weekend because the kids did not have to go to school. From Cusco we took the train to Machu Picchu and spent the day there. I have lived in this part of the world {on and off} for almost nine years and have always wanted to visit this part of Peru. My kids are old enough now to make the trip and not get tired with the long walks, museums and tours.
{color} Cusco is a very colorful city with colonial red roofs, whitewashed walls and hand carved blue doors and balconies.
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