“So what shall we do today?” asked my dear daughter in law. I knew that Burkina Faso (the country in West Africa where we spent a week) grew cotton, and therefor there must be fiber work going on somewhere and I told her that was what I’d really love to see. Not with fleece of course, but fiber is fiber! She thought there might be a cotton weaving cooperative some where nearby so off we went on another adventure.
The sights along the way – donkeys pulling heavy loads, women carrying loads of everything from bananas to bundles of wood on their heads ( that will be my next blog post) getting their daily water from nearby wells, continued to amaze me.
woman carries fruit
Some of my photos are blurry because I was in the car bouncing along and trying to be discreet about taking photos! (not easy) But I will share them anyway.
Ohh! I think we found it!! There were no other visitors there so my daughter in law asked if it was all right that we were there. One very gracious woman said they were happy to have us. I probably missed a bit of the communication since I speak no French or Mooré but fortunately my daughter in law knows enough to communicate in either language.
color color everywhere!
These women were winding yarn from what looked like swifts on to the larger “winder”. Their babies were tied to their backs or left to sleep in the shade of the tree.
the weavers
Turning around we saw the weavers! Using chunks of concrete or rocks to hold their work securely, they quietly wove their cotton fibers and created beautifully colored cloth. Did they enjoy their work? I think they were happy that they had work, as so many do not, but I did not sense the joy of creating or working with fiber that I see in women I know in the US. Perhaps because they were not creating, but rather following a set pattern and just putting in a day of work. ??
How old might this weaver be? Did she enjoy her work?
weavers weaving
More photos of the african weavers…
yarn winder and wheel
Then finally I saw it!! A smile!!
It certainly could have been that her smile had nothing to do with her weaving, but I was happy to see it none the less.
day care for weavers babies
Our hostess then showed us a “boutique” where the women sold their woven cloth and of course I had room in my suitcase for that! It was one way I knew I could tell them I appreciated their work and I am enjoying my African weavings back in Utah as much as I thought I would.
hand spun cotton from Africa
The handspun cotton above is probably my favorite treasure from the day we spent at the weavers co-op. I am winding some of it into skeins and will eventually use it. For now I’m happy that it is woven in my memories of the day.
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I am so envious of you to have that experience. I am blown away by the pictures and I bet you will treasure the yarn and what you create from it. Amazing!
great photos- and how wonsderful that you were able to buy some of the fabric and yarn these women produce- to help feed those families and keep them off the streets that are so dangerous for them. Yes- we would think you will treasure those pieces for a very long time. your life will never be the same…..
ya know – my gramma wove and spun in russia- never here in the USA- she says that is work. LOL and we think of it as relaxing.
I’m another spinner who got this link from Peggy, only this isn’t the first time I have viewed your beautiful yarn, roving and batts. I have not ordered as yet, but was waiting until you have a new supply of alpaca fleeces before I actually order. Love your site, love your products. Thanks. Susan
Beautiful work. I certainly hope they at least are paid to make that stuff…I am sorry there is no joy in the creation. Maybe we would not be so happy if we sat there all day creating something that was not our own.
I love seeing your pictures! The handspun cotton is absolutely beautiful!!!!