Kashmir Memories

Size: H; 98cm x W: 93cm
April 2003


The starting point for this work was a pheran (sort of an overcoat coat) that I bought in Kashmir many years ago. The traditional green of the pheran inspired the use of the Amish colours and these in turn reflect the colours of the highly decorated house-boats on the lake which is surrounded by forests and mountain ranges.

There is minimal surface stitching which is very large, even for me, but there is a lot of invisible stitching to hold the heavy wool onto the backing.

Apart from the green, the wool in hand-dyed as is the stitching wool.
The Kashmiri people carry a small firepot underneath the pheran. It is made from clay and has charcoal in it. Although the pheran has sleeves, most people have their hand inside carrying the firepot and so everyone looks pregnant.

Rain coming?

This is the view over the front fence. We have a high weldmesh fence as we used to have dogs in the yard. On the horizon you can see the huge poles put up in the last few years by the electricity company. They are a part of the National Grid.

The land has been farmed for the past 150 years, not very well either in that there is a fair bit of erosion and the soil is impoverished.

The sky is full of rain clouds and the photo was taken because that is a rare occurrence at this time of year.

Landmarks I: National Grid

Size: H: 73cm x W: 87cm
This is my interpretation of the view from the front of the house. The arrangement of the patches tool quite a while as did the orientation of the whole piece. There are some stitches to go and the 'poles' are still pinned on. I used T-shirt paint for the lines across and fabric paint for the sponged on tree tops and bushes. The whole thing is on Indian cotton backing which is essential as otherwise the wool stretches. There is a variety of stitches round the edges of each piece and the middle is glued down - a big mistake, as it was impossible to sew. All the knots for starting and finishing are on the top of the piece and any frayed edges have been left. After all, whoever heard of neatness in nature?