textile exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Art

Thank you for sharing this with us, went to their site, but they don`t show much, only a tiny photo. I am very lucky to have a `Suzani`, and admire and enjoy it every day. we hang it on the wall. mirjam

Susan,

Thanks for the heads up on the exhibit.

Here's a website that is supporting women in the Kandahar region of Afghanistan by giving them an outlet for selling their embroidery.

Afghanistan by giving them an outlet for selling their embroidery.

Thank you, Donna! I was very interested to see that the craft continues to thrive and now provides sustenance for the stitchers.

sue

Handcrafts were ALWAYS women`s help to make a [meager] living, when they were in bad situations. Alas, that is the reason that many Aid oriented institutions, tend to provide women with handcraft materials and courses, instead of teaching computer use and other knowledge that will raise them to a higher money making level . mirjam

in bad situations.

women with handcraft materials and courses, instead of teaching computer use and other knowledge that will raise them to a higher money making level .

Teaching computer skills is admirable and would help tremendously. The problem lies with having a reliable power source. You can do embroidery with just sunlight or even candlelight. Which is a problem in this area.

Donna L. in Virginia

But there are all sorts of portable generator systems that work off things like bicycle pedals & hand cranks as well. It's good to learn both. There was an interesting film on PBS a few weeks back about the bank in India which a Nobel prize winner founded designed as a cooperative to bring village women into using their skills - whatever - to a better way of life. Teaching them to handle money, work in groups with a leader from amongst their group - how to account, they would borrow sums of money, have a reasonable repayment scheme, and then be able to prosper - some on small scales, some eventually into bigger scales - doing anything from handcrafts to small shops or just selling their milk or cheese, etc. Pretty fascinating how this bank worked - but there are big issues with the government in the state & the founder.

In knitting stuff, there's a well known yarn coop from Uruguay, IIRC, that started out similarly, Manos - that does beautiful hand-dyes - and is from a cooperative of women who likely wouldn't have much but they've become quite successful with their yarns. Gorgeous stuff.

Ellice

Well, I'll be in Baltimore twice next week - Tuesday & Thursday at the main Hopkins. I bet time could be made... Thanks for letting us know.

ellice

I did not say women should not use hand craft skills, i do want them to have more abilities as well, so that they will not depend on others to sell their products, and will instead keep all profits.

In Israel there is a good example

mirjam