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Bondo and Boda Bodas

February 25, 2012 by Birdbrain Leave a Comment

Bondo is 7 km from Matangwe and the best way to get there is by motorbike, or boda boda, as they are called. Luckily the boda boda station was right across from the clinic.

Sometimes the load of passengers on a boda boda is scary; I saw up to four children without helmets as passengers. For my first ride, I wore a helmet, but then I too got into the local custom, donning a scarf to protect me from the dust and hanging on to the back handle. It is a wonderful way to see the countryside.

Bicycles too are everywhere, almost rivalling Amsterdam.

Even the flour for the students’ lunches is delivered by bicycle.

One of my favourite spots in Bondo was the cyber cafe called The Click.  You’d have to say The Click was ‘basic’, and not too reliable. It had about 6 ancient computers–but it seemed magic all the same when Gmail appeared with emails from Canada. The market in Bondo operates on Tuesdays and Fridays. We went to buy flip flops for the students, but I had a chance to wander around the food section before we came home. They had wonderful Tilapia, and tiny fish which the students often had for lunch, cooked in a broth and served with Ugali.

Filed Under: kenya

matangwe, kenya

February 24, 2012 by Birdbrain 5 Comments

I taught school, mostly grade 6 and 8, for three weeks in Matangwe Kenya, a small village which centres on a medical clinic, the school, a community store, a funeral home and a church. My days began by walking down this road, often joined by delightful small children.

The school had 8 classrooms, 8 teachers and almost 500 children.  Along the road were the village homes, mud huts with thatched or tin rooves.

 

The grade 6 students at Parkdale Public School in Belleville collected 50 pounds of school supplies for me to take to Matangwe and also wrote letters to the students. You can see the intense interest the Matangwe students had in reading the Canadian letters. The students were the absolute highlight of my visit; I learned so much from them and their teachers.  These grade 6 students are fluent in English, Luo and Kiswahili–they are full of curiosity and eager to learn, all 46 of them.

Filed Under: matangwe

odiochienge na mabeyo e Kenya (my wonderful days in Kenya) Part I

February 22, 2012 by Birdbrain 3 Comments

I spent the last three weeks teaching in Metangwe, Kenya. It was an amazing experience and I hope over the next few posts to share the lessons I learned and the images that are seared into my brain and heart. I took my watercolour travel kit, my Pentel water brush and my Moleskine watercolour journal. Inspired my the many urban sketchers, I attempted to capture the new world around me.  The women of Kenya are hardworking, resourceful and talented. I was fascinated by the way they were able to carry water or other burdens on their head, sometimes while talking on their cell phone! Even very little girls are able to perform this feat–you can see them practising in the evenings on their way back from the watering hole.


 

Filed Under: matangwe

Nairobi

February 19, 2012 by Birdbrain Leave a Comment

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We spent part of yesterday walking around downtown Nairobi–a world away from Matangwe. We went to the Maasai market and through the university. Rug inspiration everywhere!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

saturday in kisumu

February 11, 2012 by Birdbrain 3 Comments

Hello everyone!

I am in a cyber cafe in Kisumu Kenya. This is the first chance I have had to connect–and I will not be able to attach any photos of this amazing country. That will have to wait until I am back in Canada–just a little over a week now. I just wanted to let you know that I am alive and well and learning TONS. The students, the teachers and the community people are amazing. I am working in the school primarily with Grade 6 and Grade 8. I also have the wonderful opportunity to spend time with the women at the Community Centre who are making bags from Kitenge fabric for sale on the web. This is a great chance for them to work together and  to all benefit while staying in their community.

I’ll have many more details when I get home. Best to all of you, xine.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

one more sleep

January 27, 2012 by Birdbrain 2 Comments

I am all packed and ready to go. I get to Amsterdam Saturday morning, Nairobi Saturday night and Matangwe some time on Sunday. A wonderful new book that I had pre-ordered some time ago arrived yesterday, just in time to take with me. I have promised myself that I will record all the new sights in my sketchbook. This new book by Gabriel Campanario is an excellent resource with loads of sketches from people around the world. Some of my faves are there.

Speaking of art and faves…a local grade 6 class has been helping me with my Kenya plans. They each wrote letters to the students there, they made an amazing 12 minute video to illustrate their lives and they gathered well over 50 pounds of art and sport supplies for the students in Matangwe. I will be so proud to share the efforts of these students with the students in Kenya. My large red duffle bag is jammed to the seams with pencils, pens, erasers, paints and soccer balls. Thanks so much Grade 6’s!

And finally here is Fireworks, three sides of the border done. Working at it each day I was able to complete side three in just over a week. I figure the whole thing will be done by the end of April, with any luck, but for now we are giving each other a much-needed break.

Filed Under: Hooking, inspiration

new thoughts, new rug 2

January 25, 2012 by Birdbrain 2 Comments

I love the work of Hundertwasser–his paintings and his tapestries. I think his work has much to tell us and much to inspire us for rug hooking (just look at this background). He loves houses–so I am enjoying his versions as I plan my next rug. You won’t be disappointed if you follow the link to his official website. Friends of mine are lucky enough to have an original–it has so much wonderful colour and fanciful detail. 

Filed Under: Hooking, inspiration

January 25, 2012 by Birdbrain Leave a Comment

I hooked this pillow in October 2007, adding a new block each day or two. When I look at it now, I remember just what happened that month. Hooking as journal.

https://birdbraindesigns.ca/sidebar-photoblog/2593/

Filed Under: Sidebar Photoblog

fish in line

January 25, 2012 by Birdbrain Leave a Comment

This is an early piece where I was learning about colour and values. It is now at my sister’s cottage, adding vibrant shots of colour. This is a purchased pattern, but I am sorry to say that I do not know whose.

Filed Under: Sidebar Photoblog

new thoughts, new rug

January 22, 2012 by Birdbrain Leave a Comment

These days I am hooking on Fireworks, reading websites about travelling to Kenya, packing, and dreaming about my next rug. Last year when we were in the National Gallery I took this photo of a new book about Vienna in 1900. I am thinking of ordering it here, a wonderful site which has no minimum for free shipping.  I know many others have found Klimt an inspiration for rug hooking–and I see his influence in my own work, even something like this chair seat which was done several years ago in a class with Sharon Townsend at the  Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild’s wonderful November classes and show. (I have just sent off my application for November 2012!)

I am planning a new rug for Owen and Carissa–it will have houses in it, both their family homes and the new house they have together. Somehow there will be winding roads in it–and birds. For me, backgrounds are as important as major images–and much more intriguing. I am playing with the idea of tessellated birds in various colours of the sky. Just playing for now.

Filed Under: Hooking, inspiration

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