After Zambia

The photo above shows the gift I received from the Visual Arts Council in Zambia at my leaving party. The paintings are a triptych of an area in Zambia where I used to live - Katete. I was very moved to get them and also chuffed to find that they fit in my luggage.
I am back in the UK for Christmas and taking stock of things. It's weird to be in your thirties and to find yourself without a fixed abode, permanent job or any of the other things most people have that define them. '

Now begins the task of searching through what belongings I do have and deciding what to ship to the US and what to give away. I was very pleased to see all my crafty things again and they are a good place to start from in terms of building a new life. One advantage of the transitory life I have had is that you have less junk to sort through, and only what matters really remains.

Craft Business Journal II – Like minds, research and plans

Lusaka is quite a small place really. When you meet certain people six degrees of separation seems an entirely plausible theory. After building my social network here I have found another ex-pat who is a sewing enthusiast and has made quite a good business from her creations.
After a few texts, I finally met her today and was really inspired by her work.

In a place like Lusaka where materials are difficult to find, it is invaluable to find someone who can give you essential info on anything from haberdasheries to shipping resources from abroad. My new acquaintance also gave me some advice on what sells here and when to sell certain things. Many foreign workers (of which Lusaka has a ton!) go home in the summer months, though here it’s the cold season, this is the perfect time to sell crafts inspired by local themes as they want to take them home as gifts and souvenirs.

I now have some solid tasks ahead of me; I need to think of some new designs but also some that are African inspired for May and June. I also have a sewing machine on loan for a week so I better get some stock together!

Salaula Treasures

Yesterday I went to the giant salaula market here in Lusaka. Salaula is second hand clothes and this market had EVERYTHING, as another friend said, it’s like a department store, the market is organised into sections – skirts, children’s clothers, shoes, menswear etc. I saw some really great stuff and bought these wonderful bed sheets which I will use for quilting. Aren’t they funky?

Kabulonga Craft Market

On the last Saturday of every month a craft market is held at the Dutch Reform Church in an area of Lusaka called Kabulonga. It's a definite highlight of my month, for sale are a tremendous array of crafts, as wells as plants and fresh produce. It's also inevitable that I will bump into someone I know, as it seems to be the highlight of many Lusaka dwellers' calendar as well. Even if you're not up for some retail therapy, it's a great chance to eat anything from home made cakes to fresh Chinese dumplings or BBQ. I was also thrilled to see a couple of used book stalls, new books here are so expensive, so the chance to buy some at a cut price is great.

If you've been following my blogs, you will know we are currently decorating our new home and we bought a few gems at the market that were pretty reasonable. The pictures show the 'Zam Leather' stall selling hides and footballs made by the organization my husband is working for – 'Alive and Kicking'. We bought from them some funky place mats and coasters made from leather and cow hide.

A New Addition

I would like to introduce my new and rather ornate looking sewing machine! I have been looking into sewing machines for a while but the more modern ones are pretty pricey, and since I have a good sewing machine back in the UK, AND I want one for a short time here, it seemed silly to buy an expensive one. Thankfully, my favourite taxi driver Litiyah also has a secret talent – he makes a fabulous personal shopper and new exactly where to take me to find something basic and affordable. So here we have the 'Flying Dove'. It looks like a Singer but is more cheaply made, when I saw it in the shop it was a manual with a hand crank, which would be a great work out for my arm! Anyway, for a little extra they were able to fit a motor so that I can use it with electricity. It works fine, though there is no zig zag stitch, the thread snaps and the motor smokes a little when you go too fast, but I managed to make some curtains with it, and I find it easier to operate than more fancy machines. I don't think it is up to things like appliqué, but I prefer to do that by hand anyway.

Chitenge Therapy

Moving back to Zambia has been a big transition, even though we lived here before. However I am so happy to be able to buy chitenges again. I went to the local market and got a few 'samples' so we could decide on how to decorate our new place. The colours and patterns are so vibrant and different (you can find chitenges with floral patterns, geometric, pictures I have seen some with mobile phones and razor blades on them!). They could be a little overwhelming, so we are using them quite selectively and matching them with a pale cream to tone it down a little.

Today's The Day

Off I go, I fly out tonight and not sure when my next post will be!

Internet in Zambia is not very reliable and rather slow. That may not necessarily be a bad thing as I think I have become quite addicted to it since I left my job! Although I will still try to post, I think the frequency won't be the same. Probably once a week or so, hopefully more when we get our own place and get it installed (fingers crossed).

Wish me luck.

Packing and Plans

Packing aah! I have had to move from one place to another on average at least once a year for the last eight years. As glamorous as that sounds, moving to Italy, Zambia etc. I am getting rather sick of it now. I am having to leave all my sewing stuff behind and a lot of my clothes, but this is not too heartbreaking. They'll be there when I get back (it will seem like new stuff)and it's a good chance to build up a stash in Zambia.

It's been ages since I sat down and did some sewing, either I have been plonked in front of the internet or getting ready to leave. I am cursing the fact we can't take sharp implements on the plane because it means I can't sit and work on this lovely kit I got as a wedding present from my new sister-in-law. It's so sweet and the threads she bought for it a gorgeous quality. She bought the kit from a place called Needlepoint.com in Raleigh, N.C.

I am getting excited about leaving especially since my husband might have found us a place to live that is really nice and I am thinking of all the cool projects I can start with the wonderful chitenges. Some of you may know about these because I blogged about them months ago. Chitenges are sold in 2 metre pieces and the women wear them around their waist as a kind of sarong to either cover themselves for modesty (the booty is mucho sexy in Zambia) or to stop you getting dirty. They are also used for carrying babies, items and much more. They come in wonderful patterns and are very cheap to buy. I can't wait to start a quilt (we will need a light quilt for cold season) but I also have ideas for more projects including clothes. Check out my other blog Scrapbook for a video about African fabric.

Some ladies modelling the use of chitenges, you can see they wear them as headscarves as well. The lady on the far right has one tied across her chest because there is a baby in there!

When you're pounding maize you can get quite dirty, so an old chitenge is the best apron or overall.

Things to Look Forward to in Zambia

My husband's house when he was there from 2005 - 2007

Chitenges - the amazing fabric pieces you can get at a steal that the women use to wrap around them or make clothes from

Outdoor bars - warm nights and cold beer

chibwabwa - pumpkin leaves with ground nuts, yum

Soya chunks - yum again

Cute kiddies - sometimes annoying too though!

Nice people - Zambians are lovely

New job - maybe!

Great weather - sun, sun, sun and maybe some rain.

Travel - safaris, cute lodges with pools, quiet retreats and lots of really cook countries on our doorstep.

Me teaching adults 3 years ago

Plans for the Future

My crafting pursuits have been put on a back burner for the moment. What with the wedding and now arrangements for our move out to Zambia.

My new husband has a job out there with a charity and I will go with him and look for work there. We met in Zambia so it is really special that we are getting the chance to go back. I am excited about the fabrics I will be able to find there - African prints are so diverse and vibrant. I also hope to get involved in a crafting group there, maybe one that helps Zambians.

We will be based in the capital where there are a couple of craft fairs. I am very excited about our new life.

African Fabric Memories

I have mentioned before my love of Zambian chitenges, and I plan to add a few more pictures of women wearing these in the future. A strange coincidence then, to receive a package in the mail from an old friend from Zambia, containing 4 new chitenges. The patterns are above, I love the last one in particular.

It is amazing, the variety of colours and designs that go into designing these vibrant pieces of fabric, from mobile phone and razor blade prints, to op artesque patterns. And I am touched that my friend sent me such a thoughtful gift, all the way from Zambia