Market

I spent a LOT of time in Mali scouring through markets for textile inspiration, materials, and some perfect things to add to the Proud Mary Market. I finally got around to adding some amazing scarves, jewelry, and textiles I picked up on my trip. You can shop them here! And as with all of the Market goods, I'm donating a percentage of sales to a non-profit that works for positive change in the region. I've chosen Africa Yoga Project as our second giving partner. Check out their amazing mission here! Happy Shopping!

Mali: Part Three--Mud Cloth in the Making

Step 1: Pagne (120 cm x 2 m pieces of hand-woven fabric) are dipped in the first tub setting the fabric to receive color. First the fabrics soak in a plant dye called N' galama. The N' galama is a yellow color and sets the fabric to take the other mud and plant dyes.

A few of the artisans spreading out the first layer of color (mud).
Grey base color (made from mud) drying in the hot, Malian sun
Drawing the "Mondrian-esque" pattern with a bleach and soap solution. Drying in the yard after drawing the pattern with the bleach/soap solution. I was tempted to stop the process here I loved it so much!

Ta-da..."Grillage". The subtle green (plant), tan (mud), and rose (bark) colors turned out perfect! My favorite of the 5 new mud cloth prints will be available this Spring in pillows and as a pouf.

I feel so lucky to have been able to work in such an amazing environment with such talented artisans. The founder, Boubacar Doumbia, started the studio to be able to address the unemployment issues in Mali by providing young men an opportunity to learn a skill, receive a fair income, and a sense of pride in their work.

Happy New Year!

Peace out 2011. Relishing in the excitement of a new year! 2012 you're going to be amazing...I just know it. How do I know? Because I'm going to do work that I love, surround myself with relationships that are easy, and travel.

I was super lucky to be able to see Amadou & Mariam play at a little club in Bamako. Their story is super inspiring and their music is incredible. Turn up this song...it'll make you happy, promise!

Mali: Hard Travel...

Last week after discovering 17 strange bites on my face I started Googling "strange facial bites west africa" and Thank God I did because I discovered an amazing blog chronicling the author's travels through Mali. What Possessed Me's trials and tribulations throughout this unique country are comedic genius. I needed these laughs on numerous occasions while here in Mali! It was this quote though that has really stuck with me...

As for the recognition of hard travel as rewarding, the feeling is mainly retrospective, since it is only in looking back that we see how we have been enriched.

These 22 days in Mali have been amazing, extremely difficult, tiring, dirty, frustrating, long, dirty again, eye-opening, beautiful, happy, and sad. When I left everyone said "have such an amazing trip, have so much fun, find beautiful things"...these things happened but so did the other things. It will be interesting to see how those "other things" resonate in my life once I'm back.

Mali: Part Two

Beads, lots and lots of beads. Scoured the markets for all of the hot pink ones which will be coming home with me and available in the Proud Mary Market soon!

Leather pouf by the Tuareg tribe of the Sahara Desert/Sahel regions of Africa. The Tuareg's migrate North and South from Libya/Algeria down to Mali, Cameroon, and Niger. They also make really beautiful Silver and Ebony jewelry.

Wooden carved animals and creepy/cool horse puppets from Segou.

Yummy baskets in the market in Segou.

Stunning Fulani, nomadic tribe of the Sahel region of Africa which travel East and West following the rains, fabric. The colors and fringe are perfect. I'm bringing home a big one to make into pillows for the Market...stay tuned!
Ornate, Tuareg leather camel bag with a beautiful mint green and multi-colored leather fringe.
Gorgeous cotton shirt made by Dogon people in Northern Mali. The metal embroidery looks so cool in person (and there are pom poms...enough said)!

I don't think there is any greater joy than picking through a market, bartering on jewelry and textiles, and discovering a piece of fabric that makes you want to shout from the rooftops. Yes, I really like a good market and Malian Marche's did not disappoint!