Little jewelled bag (hand beaded by Mary Addison)
A few years ago, just before Christmas I made a couple of little velvet drawstring bags decorated with seed pearls and beads. Ideal for little presents of hand strung, semi precious stones and silver beads, I gave away the necklaces and bracelets but became too attached to the bags to part with them. Of course they took much longer to make than anticipated. The first I showed here.
Little jewelled bag: reverse (hand embroidered by Mary Addison)
Home in Oxfordshire, today will be devoted to de-Christmasifying the house before I descend on London tomorrow to share nanny duties with daughter No 1 while the real nanny is still enjoying her well-earned, extended holiday. I hope I will have time to prepare some embroidery to take with me but time for fine sewing may be limited for the next few weeks as at the end of the month I am being swept off by daughter No 1 to see daughter No 2 in Vietnam, where the latter is country director for the NGO, Mines Advisory Group, MAG, and from which she is soon to return to take up a position at head office in Manchester. (I hope all that daughter No 1 and No 2 bit hasn’t got too confusing.)
Detail of little jewelled bag (hand beaded by Mary Addison)
For many reasons, I never expected to visit Vietnam although my interest in the country grew as each of my daughter’s visits home were accompanied by beautiful textiles which I wanted to learn more about. At Christmas she came back with a fantastic traditional skirt (here are a couple of skirts made from rescued textiles but if you scroll down there is a picture of a more splendid skirt with orange embroidery which is very like her most recent purchase). I meant to photograph the new skirt in detail before she left … but then all sorts of other enjoyable things just got in the way.
Detail of little jewelled bag (hand beaded by Mary Addison)
That I am making the trip at all is due to the serendipitous life of daughter No 1 who, with unexpected holiday to take as she changes jobs, thought we should both grab the chance to go and visit her sister. Generously both daughters and No 1’s husband are funding my trip, the flight has been booked and an itinerary is being worked out. It will not be easy for daughter No 2 who will be tying up the ends of her current job while at the same time wanting to introduce us to all the things she knows we will love. But then life is never perfect and chances have to be taken when they offer themselves.
26 Comments
Love the jewelled bag! We visited Vietnam about 15 years ago travelling from Hanoi to Saigon, it is a beautiful country with the most amazing textiles especially silks. I didn’t embroider then which is probably just as well!
Great to hear you enjoyed Vietnam. It’s not somewhere I’d naturally think of visiting but getting to know more about it has whetted my appetite, especially for the textiles. My daughter has her own favourite places she wants us to visit, so no time will be wasted.
Glad you like the little bag
“But then life is never perfect and chances have to be taken when they offer themselves.”
Amen. And — bon voyage! 🙂
You are absolutely right, Vicki.
Safe and happy travels! You are sure to come home inspired! X
Inspired but not too much buying, I hope. Now may be the time to practise moderation.
What a wonderful pair of daughters you have! I wish you a most glorious time together in Vietnam..
Kind thoughts, Rachel. They are wonderful.
I hope that you have a wonderful holiday and I look forward to hearing about it. I think that a simple number system for offspring works well. My father calls his 3 daughters D1, D2, D3 and we refer to him as AP (Aged Parent, which I think that we stole from Great Expectations). bx ps I love the bags, particularly the one in photo number 2.
I like your family identification system which is short and to the point. It would have saved typing energy and blog space if I’d had the sense to use your abbreviations when I first started writing this. Thanks for your good wishes for my holiday.
I’m already looking forward to reading about, and looking at, the colours, textiles and landscapes of Vietnam as seen through your eyes. And accompanied by two daughters. Treasure beyond measure. Have a wonderful time, Mary.
Thank you Penny – only there 10 days – but it should be a great way to spend early February!
Have a wonderful time. Enjoy the textiles and bring some back with you!
Thank you Bev. Being selective in my buying will be difficult.
I once asked a friend who has travelled quite extensively which was her favourite country – her reply was immediate – Vietnam. What a lot to look forward to!
That’s very interesting Marge – it does seem very unlike other countries in SE Asia and in spite (or because of?) of the war seems to have kept its individuality.
Oh how exciting! Do have a splendid time. We all look forward to hearing a full account of everything!
I must get on with a bit of homework research then, Linda so as not to disappoint. Thanks for your kind thoughts.
Such an exciting adventure and even better in the company of two daughters. Someone told me that a successful parent has children who live in interesting places around the world so that they can visit them on holiday. I think you can award yourself a parenting star or two.
Cornflower posted this link which I think you will enjoy : http://yumikohiguchi.com/
Happy New Year – may it be full of adventures!
Spending 10 days or so with two of my daughters is a present in itself and in an interesting place I never thought I’d visit is an added bonus. That the two of them have independent, dynamic, happy and healthy lives and are still pleased to see me is all I could wish for.
I do know Yumiko Higuchi’s work and just wish her elusive blog had better translation.
Thank you for such a lovely comment, Alice.
Lovely little bags! and what an adventure you are going to have in Vietnam – having a particular focus such as textiles gives you an approach quite different from the typical tourist. Looking forward to your blog posts from/following the trip.
Great to hear from you Anna. You’re right about the focus but with so little time in a country of such size and diversity, I shall be lucky to even scratch the surface.
I can only begin to imagine the gorgeous textiles and embroideries your eyes will be feasting on… what an amazing treat for you and how very lovely of your daughters too…. I can’t wait to see what you will bring back in your bulging suitcase!
Unfortunately I think my trip will be to short to visit some of the most interesting craft villages, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that daughter No 2 will have something up her sleeve. On the buying front, I think I must exercise huge restraint!
Looking forward to your visit mum! I have got many things on the agenda, we’ll have to see how much of it we can achieve! My colleagues are also very happy you are coming to visit and are making plans too so you can meet at least the Hanoi lot!
That all sounds very exciting. Fascinated to see where you’ve been living and working for the last 4 years, especially as my visit was so unexpected.