Crossing the Bosphorus

   I have finished a wall hanging that has been a UFO for 80 years. I first wrote about the blocks here.    This month I decided to make this my finish, and I got 'er done. I am selling this wall hanging to a good friend who commissioned a piece for her office. She appreciates hand piecing, and likes avant garde art. This swagged out piece is for her!
    Thanks to my brilliant daughter, Diane, (who was the National Geographic Geography Bee State Runner-Up for Montana in 1994, at age 11,) I know that the water the elephants crossed from Persia to Morocco, was the Bosphorus Strait.  In Wikipedia it explains the historical changes and importance of this waterway which connects Asia and Europe. Incidentally, the phrase  "crossing the Bosphorus" is used to indicate religious conversion to the Eastern Orthodox Church.    Here are the finishing pictures:

The little "Made in Persia" label is the center triangle.

Blue and white porcelain beads, Turkish style, with Jade beads.

Carmel lozenge beads.

Wooden beads and striped glass geometric beads. Variegated wool strands.

Tiny buttons.

Jet black beads couched over multi colored wool strands.

Silver rings.

Elephant border. See the baby elephant on the left side? Miniature red and black rick rack. Skull and cross-bone binding was the right color, and symbolizes the extinction of the north African Elephant used in ancient times.

Elephants Crossing into Morocco

Researching Marrakesh, Morocco I came upon images of elephants crossing the Zambezi River. Historically, the north African Elephant (now extinct) was used for travel to Morocco on ancient trade routes, as well as for war. Daydreaming about the images of morocco and spice markets, I imagined merchants traveling on elephants, rich and earthy tones, veils and tassels, embellishments. I pulled out a pieced top I started earlier this year, that was waiting for a border... and dug out some elephant fabric from my stash. Eureka! Now, to quilt this and embellish it with trinkets to recall Moroccan spice markets. This is the quilt story that I will illustrate this month.