Visiting the beautiful island of Lamu..
Out of Town for ten days.
A Piece of Cucu’s Heart.
A note to the reader; click each picture for greater detail the story is from top left to right; enjoy.
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- Thinking thoughts. A Cucu (Grandmother in Kikuyu) has lost a little piece of her heart, and Tattie is determined to go and find it because he wants his whole Cucu back.
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- Spring Flowers. Gazing at the flowers springing to life made Tattie more determined to go on this mission, so Cucu would feel the happiness of life again.
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- This is the start of my journey. So many trains. So many colours. All in that station numbered one to ten. I need the one to take me south. Its not an easy choice. I guess I will find number seven and just go.
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- At the railway station people whizzed past him, he just wished they would slow down because they all moved too fast. Dodging feet, and flowers, newspapers and cases was all so dizzy making.
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- The train headed south taking a day and a night. It was a long and tiring journey hiding in amongst the luggage, hoping not to be found out. He made it! Tattie leaves the Station and its pouring heavily down raining cats and bones and rabbits and balls. Not wanting to get soaking wet and maybe sick he dashes down the busy street and leaps into the boot of an open car.
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- Amazement and horror someone slams the boot closed and the car zooms off at great speed, well theres not much Tattie can do , so he lies there and waits…
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- Golly gosh I am at the Sea thought Tattie, perfect now I can cross this great pool of water and keep moving South to that little bit of Cucu’s heart.
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- Amazed Tattie looked out over this Ocean of yellow sand, he felt so very little and really really lost.
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- Oh my Golly Gosh out of nowhere came this really wierd looking thing; all he could see where skinny pink legs that looked like broomsticks, a sort of scruffy feathery middle, a wobbly long pink neck like a hosepipe, then this head that peered at him with two huge eyes and funny yellow thing that stuck out. Its eyes smiled and Tattie knew it was a feathered friend. “Where’s South?” asked Tattie. The Feathered friend stretched its neck in a direction which Tattie knew was South.
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- and plodding along in a bit of a daydream in automatic drive not noticing anything, he stepped on something green, holly molly goaly the green thing reared up huge teeth and red eyes growled vicously angrily at Tattie. “I shan’t be scared, I shan’t be scared I will growl back because I have the loudest growl in town.”” So whose sacred NOW?” thought Tattie as the crocodile reeled back and slithered off into the water. Phew close thing.
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- Thank goodness for humans cause they all love dogs, thought Tattie as he wizzed up in the sky with his new found friend the sand far behind him. The world beneath him and not far away the little piece of Cucu’s heart.
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- Down to earth, and bang on in the right spot, just a long and windey road that Tattie knew would take him to their door.
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- oh what a perfect day. Now Cucu’s heart will be whole.
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- With all the messages of love their hearts their thoughts Tattie has these precious gifts to deliver back to Cucu now he knows her heart will be whole.
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- This story was written for my two beautiful boys who live in Africa from their Cucu Janie in England.
A morning at Kazuri Beads.
Today we decided to visit Kazuri Beads (www.kazuribeads.com) in the heart of Karen Blixen Country, famous for her book Out of Africa. Down leafy tree lined vibrant green lanes is a special little place started by Lady Susan Woods who employed all her skills to create a fantastic set up, still going strong today, making ceramic beads. Employing over 350 single Mothers Kazuri has gone from strength to strength export now making up over 75% of their market.
We were given a guided tour of the factory by a lovely gentleman. They make their own clay and have bought in several machines from potteries that are closing in the UK.
Whilst I love the unglazed work and the fact that Kazuri helps so many people I do feel very opposed to the commercial finishing finding the glazes too glossy.
A Morning with Abraham, potting in Kenya.
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- In the Middle of Africa, Pottery
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- The Kangaroo Flower Pot Fellow Potter Africa
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- All handcoiled lovely work
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- A wheel and finnishing off.
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- Preparing the thick clay.
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- Fired by electricity, sawdust and a fan in Kenya, Africa.
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- Tin shacks and Pottery in Africa, the co-operatives work.
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- Resulting work of the artisans/ potters.
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- Look at this form, this work!
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- My Daughter’s first pots
Anybody visiting Nairobi is more than welcome for lessons at the co-operative, with old man Abraham it is a wonderful experience and the co-operative would love the support. Contact Jemma 0727772823. Or jemmanyagah@mac.com.
A retreat would be a fun idea we are thinking of organizing one, keep you posted.
JCS Ceramic Sculpture Blog 