Materials

Yesterday I went to the Leeds market with Fashion Communication student Robyn Shaw to get a range of thick coloured thread as I ran out (some of it was used for the SunDIY elephant) and some material to sew into. I got some plain pieces at half a metre, and then I got £3.50 worth of a a blue design with an ornate 'teardrop' pattern. It was really good going with Robyn as she helped me choose materials using cotton etc that were best for sewing and stitching into.

'Paisley or Paisley pattern is a term in English for a design using the buta or boteh, a droplet-shaped vegetable motif of Persian (i.e. Iranian) origin. Such designs became very popular in the West in the 18th and 19th centuries, following imports of post-Mughal versions of the design from India, especially in the form of Kashmir shawls, and were then imitated locally. The pattern is sometimes called Persian pickles by American traditionalists, especially quilt-makers, or "Welsh pears" in Welsh textiles as far back as 1888.' - Wikipedia.

What is the Buta?

'Buta (Persian: بته‎‎), (Azerbaijani: Buta) – is an almond-shaped ornament with a sharp-curved upper end.^[1] Buta motif belongs to Iranian culture. It is broadly famed in Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey and countries of the Near East.

Patterns and ornaments of buta motifs can be found on Azerbaijani rugs, kalaghai and textiles, paintings of decorative-applied arts of Azerbaijan and also in decorations of architectural monuments.

“Buta” is a typical detail of Azerbaijani national ornaments. This motif is considered as the most ancient among all national ornaments of Azerbaijan. There are many printed items decorated only with buta. Buta motif was frequently used by Azerbaijani masters. Buta has a lot species and each of them has its own symbolical meaning. But buta is widely spread in Ganja, where it has become an integral part of carpet ornaments.

Buta is displayed in the emblem of the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, which has been held in Azerbaijan.'

I will be using these materials to finish off my Indian elephant (perhaps make more of different sizes and designs) and also to use the thread to draw illustrations from my travels. I want to use the photograph I took of the eggman in Kovalum beach to transfer to a sewn illustration because there was so many vibrant colours within the image!