i-love-handcrafts.com - creative meandering !

 with Nuno's (the fisherman) boat - which he named after his mother - on Sao Pedro beach, Sao Vicente.  On a lovely day like today, my mind goes back to the frenzy of excitement and preparation preceding my first visit to Cape Verde in May 2015. This post is in honor of the islands of Sao Vicente and Santo Antao - which stole my heart over and over and over again ! Since then I've been back in August 2016 and August 2017...to join the Baia das Gatas festival, and who knows what this year will bring ! In lieu of my next visit, let me reminisce by sharing with you my first ever story about Cabo Verde, written by me and published on 26th January 2016, via a fledgling e-zine. Below is a link to an archived version of my story  with my byline ,  (a precaution I've had to take as my byline was changed without explanation recently !). Should you come across such a discrepancy again - please notify me directly via a message. I dedicate this posting to the wonder...

 One Easter, about 5 years ago my search for Easter crafts for my Sunday school class led me on an amazing journey  into egg land ; and I couldn't wait to start my own  project inspired by the array of designs on display, and taking the opportunity to  incorporate the marbling and inlay techniques I has been experimenting with that year.  Just google Decorated Eggs and have a look at the wonderful images They also inspire some of the most diverse and creative decorating techniques found. Whether its  African (Ostrich eggs),   Eastern European (Pysanka painted eggs) or Western European (Faberge eggs)  there's an egg out there for you ! . Decorated Ostrich Egg Faberge Decorated Egg Pysanka Decorated Eggs Eggs are symbolic of so many things - birth, new beginnings, regeneration and nurture. So much folklore  and so many traditions are wrapped around this vehicle of recreation, that I've always held a ...

A big tree has fallen in the iconic anti-apartheid fighter - Winne Madikizela Mandela. She embodied it all - wit, intelligence, looks, carriage, defiance, voice, opinion and bravery - all proudly displayed in the beautiful iconic photographs I have included here. The system of apartheid robbed her of a normal family life, as her husband was fully immersed in the political struggle, long before he was incarcerated for 30 years. Winne Mandela continued, fully immersing herself in activism, taking on her husband's mantle with courage. Then she was robbed again by the system - of her dignity when she blurred the boundaries by her uncompromising attitude towards against any found to be against the struggle that had shaped her voice. It brought her notoriety which she bore in her own unique style. She was a proud lady and held her head high - sometimes with a twinkle in her eye...an African style icon even in advanced years. Celebrate with me her creative flair in these images which s...