Black Handmade
Thousands of years of history is sewed in handcrafted Chinese Miao clothing
Who are the Miao?
In the mountain areas of southern and southwestern China, there are more than 100 variant Miao minority groups. Every group is distinguished by its different costume, and the beautiful women’s clothes are exceptionally fascinating. Embroidery, batik, and beautiful silver jewelry are all indispensable additions to Miao style.
Clothes for the holidays
During holidays, weddings, and other large ceremonies, Miao women usually wear a short jacket with beautiful, embroidered patterns on the narrow sleeves, shoulders, and collar. In some areas, they have glistening pieces of silver and silver bells sewn onto the front, back, cuffs, and lap of the jacket. So sometimes it’s called a silver jacket.
Some Miao women also wear pleated skirts that can have 40 layers with more than 500 pleats. In some areas, women’s long skirt reaches directly to their feet.The short skirt comes to their knees.
In front of the skirts, there is a beautiful embroidered apron that also drops to the knees or feet. Behind the apron, there are four or five long waistbands flying like a peacock’s beautiful plumage. Some women also wear leggings and embroidered shoes.
With extraordinary silver ornaments, like big silver headdress, neckbands, earrings, and silver bracelets to go with these clothes, many Miao women can proudly claim they are the most beautiful women in the world.
Colors found in Miao costume are mainly blue, yellow, red, black, and white. The clothes are always homemade by Miao women themselves.
Casual suits
Miao casual suits look simple and light, but they are still very beautiful. Jackets, shirts, aprons, and pants all have beautiful embroidered patterns on them.
On informal occasions, Miao women wear an embroidered handkerchief on their head instead of the heavy silver headdress that’s worn during the holidays.
Embroidery
Girls start to learn how to embroider from their mother when they are only seven or eight years old. At the age of 14 or 15, they have become an expert on embroidery. Before they are ready to be married, they will spend 3 to 5 years making themselves a suit of embroidered garments to act as a dowry.
Their mysterious culture, religion and long history can be read on the beautiful embroidery. The pattern of butterflies, dragons, flowers, animals, mountains are always sewed in their embroidered piece.
The Miao didn’t have historical scripts for thousands of years, so they embroider their history on their clothes.Many old stories are reflected on the patterns that have been bequeathed for generations. Actually almost each embroidered pattern has an interesting story.
Batik
Techniques for making batik, a durable cloth with remarkable colors and designs, have been around for more than 1,000 years.
First, an artist will make a design on a sheet of white cloth with a knife dipped in hot wax. Then they will dye the cloth in a huge vat, sometimes with as many as five different colors. After dyeing, the cloth is ready to be rinsed and boiled.
Chinese Miao batik art is quite interesting and unique. C. Liu has been devoting herself in studying Miao culture, art, and history for many years. Go to her website to learn more about Miao batick and other fascinating arts like beautiful Miao silver ornaments.
Handmade Portraits: Black-eyed Suzie
|
|
Molcajete – Authentic Mexican Mortar and Pestle $23.95 Our authentic Mexican mortar and pestle is handcarved of natural volcanic stone so it’s just the right shape and texture for grinding herbs, whole spices and rubs, and for mixing sauces and pastes. The molcajete is a must-have for Mexican cuisine including salsa and móle sauces. Each piece is unique, and a beautiful display item for the kitchen, too. Hand-wash. Handmade in Mexico. • Mortar: … |
|
|
GROSCHE Glassen hand made double walled glass insulated travel coffee mug, BLACK, 350 ml (12 fl oz) $11.77 Looking for a travel mug thats functional, looks fantastic, and doesn’t leave you with a metallic aftertaste? Don’t want plastic lids or parts? Don’t want metal screws in your travel coffee or tea mug? Well, the GLASSEN Travel mug line from GROSCHE is perfect for you. These travel mugs are hand made from Borosilicate Glass, a high quality thermal safe glass that can easily withstand boiling hot to… |
|
|
Brown Betty 6 Cup Tea Pot – Look for Original Staffordshire Brown Betty embossed on the base of the Teapot for Quality and Authenticity – Made in England Not China $27.00 These are the authentic English Brown Betty tea pots found in kitchens throughout England. The familiar round shape infuses the tea properly producing an excellent flavor. Made from real English red clay, baked to a rich brown color and finished with a transparent glaze, these teapots are the original Brown Betty’s hand made in England using methods dating back to the 1700s…. |
|
|
Ikea Orgel Floor Lamp $27.00 Product materials: Shade: Paper Tube/ Base plate: Steel, Brush finish nickel-plated, Clear lacquer… |
|
|
Gerber 22-41770 Artifact Pocket Keychain Tool $7.26 The Gerber 22-41770 Artifact Pocket Keychain Tool is a pocket-sized companion, offering plenty of functionality in a minimalist package. With a #11 hobby blade, flat and Phillips drivers, wire stripper, pry bar, and more, the Artifact Pocket Keychain Tool helps you be prepared for almost anything, everywhere you go..caption {font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif;font-size: 10px;font-w… |
|
|
Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri Kraton Handle $151.99 12 in. blade made from SK-5 High carbon steel with a Kraton handle and overall length of 12 in. Includes Secure-Ex sheath. ATTRIBUTES Blade Detail: Plain Edge Blade Length (inches): 12.00 Blade Material: SK-5 Carry System: Secure-Ex Sheath Handle Material: Kraton Overall Length (inches): 17.00… |
|
|
Janelle … |
|
|
Box Head Revolution (A completely hallucinatory experience, persistently cockeyed. Pure handmade cinema – pic looks and sounds like nothing else. (A film by Mark Christensen) $2.99 76 min. B/W…. |
|
|
The BATCLIP … |
|
|
Colonel Conk Progress Model 1001 Standard Pure Badger Shaving Brush, Black Handle $22.95 Old-Fashioned Elegance Classically designed with an appealing modern twist, this handsome badger shaving brush will make shaving a treat. |
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Comments are closed.