Tuesday, May 13, 2014

FABBY: GOODBY AND IKAT MADE IN ECUADOR


Hello sweet friends!

              I am taking off for a couple of weeks, so I won't be blogging because we are going all around the coastal region of Ecuador and be at the gorgeous beaches, in beautiful hotels and eating lobster that I love and some more great sea food dishes...I can't wait!

We will be driving tomorrow, Wednesday very early in the morning.

Alejandro and I are going with his brother and his wife, both wonderful siblings and a lot of fun to be with.

I will post photos when I come back.

Meanwhile, have a wonderful time!

I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT "IKAT-MACANA" CLOTH HAND MADE IN ECUADOR AND OF COURSE, SOME PHOTOS OF CLOTHING AS WELL.


A very simple and quick explanation here. An indigenous man weaving the "Ikat or Macana" in Ecuador.

Natural Dyes:
The dyeing process that Jose uses are only natural dyes which are available nearby. Walnut gives shades of brown. Indigo for many blues. Lichens for greens. Cochineal for reds and oranges. And minerals from rocks producing greys. This striped shawl was made as such from the weaving and natural colorings explained above.
Weaving Ikat:
Once the warping and dyeing process is completed, in some ways, the weaving is the easiest step. Care must be taken that the warp-dyed pattern doesn’t shift on the loom, thereby throwing the pattern out of sequence. But since the weaving is all done on a backstrap loom, once the warp is taut around the frame and the body of the weaver, the pattern is secured and weaving can begin. The woven structure is a warp-faced plain weave so the weaving itself can go pretty quickly.

 Jose’s home and workshop sit off a back road that connects to the main highway leading to the town of Gualaceo, 35 km east of Cuenca in Ecuador. It is here that he and his family (his wife and their four children) are dedicated to weaving ikat, a tie-and-dye resist process of a highly intricate and complicated hand weaving technique practiced in a number of cultures around the world. But in Ecuador, particularly in the Cuenca region, Jose and his family are just a few remaining weavers still practicing this art.
Here a beautiful wrap in black and White. Cute ceramic figures of Ecuadorian Indigenous man and woman.


 

I did my tablecloth for my round table by putting to shawls like this one together.
You can look at the tablecloth on my table for 5 de Mayo.

I love this red and black shawl!


Another pretty shawl in black and white.






There are infinite color combinations and are great for upholstery as it shows here in the chairs, in this lovely purple and white.


 
We had made for this chairs the Ikat many years ago specially for upholstering them and for hubby's grandfather's reclining chair as well. 

I left a couple of shawls for my tablecloth, some of you who follow me just saw it on my 5 de Mayo tablescape.
They come in the form of long shawls with fringes. Two years ago I reupholstered these two chairs to go with my soft yellow couches in the den.

I still have one chairs left with the Ikat in the guest room, plus the recliner, which I'm sending them to my daughter Alexandra who wants them for her apartment.

 
So here you have it, a Little bit of the marvelous things in the 'IKAT' weaving sold around here.


See you when I get back and thank you so much for coming over to read about it, as I know some of you are interested about this
beautiful and dying art.

Thank you for coming by, even though I will not be here to answer your lovely and generous comments...and I will answer them as soon as I come back.

 Do take care of yourselves.

 I will join a couple of parties with this post and than I'm off! 
Thank you so much sweet ladies!

Tuesday Tune Link Up at,  http://www.natashainoz.com


                                                                      LOVE,
FABBY

25 comments:

  1. Fabby --- have a wonderful trip. Enjoy yourself! (Love IKat ... thanks for all the info).

    ox

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  2. Fabby, enjoy your trip. It sounds fabulous! Be safe and take lots of photos to share with us.

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  3. Forgot to say……..the IKat images are lovely. I'm going to pin the chairs. Love the idea of using this fabric for chairs.

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  4. Beautiful colors and designs.

    Have a wonderful time and I look forward to the photo's.

    Blessings, Catherine

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  5. Fabby I hope you have a grand time on your vacation. Look forward to seeing lots of pictures of your beautiful beaches and country. Love the red shawl very much.

    God bless your travels.

    Erika

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  6. Gorgeous. Have a wonderful trip, Fabby. xo Laura

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  7. Beautiful and colourful Ikat prints! Have a wonderful and safe trip. It sounds like a lot of fun. Take lots of pictures! :)

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  8. Fabby, your trip sounds fantastic. I can hardly wait to see the beautiful photos! Have fun and be safe. xo

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  9. What beautiful, BEAUTIFUL fabric. I know you will have a wonderful time as you travel. (I've been "absent" while recovering from hip replacement surgery 7 weeks ago and my husband's more recent bypass surgery.) I look forward to your return and seeing/reading more about your trip.

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  10. Hi Fabby,
    What a wonderful trip you are going to have! I cant wait to read all about it and see pictures. I will live vicariously through you.
    Safe travels, Elizabeth

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  11. A late happy mother's day! I loved this post and all the information. Love those chairs at the end. I still have scarves in my drawer from our time in Ecuador. Have a wonderful trip.

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  12. Have fun Fabby. Enjoy your trip. It sounds amazing.

    Janet

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  13. Hello Fabby...I hope you have a wonderful time on your travels.

    I wanted to thank you for your kind words on my blog when I posted about losing my beloved Honey Cat. It's a week today (May 13) since she died and my heart is still so very very sad.

    Your message meant a lot to me. Susan

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  14. Bonjour ma chère Fabby,

    Je te souhaite un très agréable séjour... Prends soin de toi et reviens nous en pleine forme.
    Merci pour ce joli billet.
    Je te fais de gros bisous ♡

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  15. Fabby, enjoy your vaycay and your trip! Have a bouillabaisse for me!! :)

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  16. Dearest Fabby,
    Enjoy your coastal tour with family. That will be very special and so much to see and do!
    Thank you for the Ikat info. So similar indeed to the one in Indonesia, except that they don't use wool.
    Hugs to you and yours.
    Mariette

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  17. Beautiful post.Have a wonderful trip and think of me when you do all the adventure.Safe driving.Love and Hugs....Sujatha

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  18. Have fun on your trip! Hugs, Maria

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  19. Wonder what will happen after Jose and family is gone.

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  20. Love it Fabby - very beautiful and vibrant patterns indeed! It would look great draped or framed, either way, its a real treat for anyone or any home!

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  21. What a great post, Fabby! Hope you enjoy your trip!!!

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  22. I hope you are having a wonderful, wonderful time. I am back blogging from my break and missed you by one day! We'll catch up when you get back- xoDiana

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  23. Have a great time, Fabby! Get lots more of the gorgeous fabric!
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  24. such gorgeous fabrics and designs! have a wonderful safe trip! xo

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  25. Have a wonderful trip and take lots of pictures!!! PS Love the info on ikat!

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I love to receive your sweet and generous messages. You always make my day !

FABBY