Wednesday, June 30, 2010

The Showroom

If you have already read my post about the silk factory, then you know that we went to a much smaller, less impressive silk factory before we went to this one. The first showroom was NOTHING compared to the one at this factory, so when we walked in, we were all amazed at what was available and how it was presented. (And we didn't mind the AC, either.)

I'm not even including photos of every room in the showroom. Tons of stuff! And this place is kind of in the middle of nowhere. If I had been in a big shopping center, this would not have been so surprising.


Look at these colors!




These are my favorite types of saris. I love the bright paints on the silk. I don't own one, because I don't wear saris very often. Every time I see saris, though, I admire this type. And I have bought one like this for a gift for someone. Love them!


As if it wasn't enough to see all the beautiful saris, there were also beautiful, colorful scarves. I kept thinking that my mom could make beautiful quilts with these fabrics. Can you make silk quilts?





And more scarves...


Check out the beautiful, detailed stitching on these next outfits. And these are for MEN!




There are other products, too. Silk shirts for men.


Purses galore!


And bedspreads.


So, if you happen to be in my area, and you want to shopping for some nice gifts or fabric, guess where I'll offer to take you.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

The Silk Factory

We had some visitors, six wonderful girls from Scotland and one wild one from South Africa (you know who you are!), and I took them to one, well two, of our local silk factories. Our area is known for its silk. The first one we went to had an impressive showroom (or so we thought). Their factory was tiny, and the power was out. The second factory, now that is a silk factory! And the showroom, which will have to have a blog post all for itself, well, you just wait until you see it.

When we arrived at the second factory, they immediately provided two guides for us. Apparently, they have had visitors before. I wasn't expecting them to be prepared for guests. The ladies took us back to see a place where they had a bunch of trees, like a mini tree farm, that they said are from China. At that time I wasn't too impressed, because I wanted to see the worms. I didn't realize that the fact that they had special leaves was important. Therefore, I did not take any pictures.

After I asked to see the worms, they took us to a little room that had a bunch of trays with leaves and worms of various sizes on them.

(I don't know why the next picture won't rotate, right.) I also took a close up of one of the worms, but I'll save you from that not-so-beautiful sight.

They also had trays with just the cocoons on them. Apparently, some of them they let hatch so they continue to have a supply of worms, but some of them they take to make the silk fabric.


I think these cocoons are left to sit and will provide the next batch of worms.


Across a walkway from the room where all the worms and their cocoons are, is the room where factory begins collecting the silk fibers. They boil the cocoons, and then these ladies gently pull the fibers and attach them to a machine that organizes them together.


They make bundles like this.


These are then taken to the bigger factory room where it is VERY, VERY noisy and there are tons of machines. I think the string is taken from these bundles and put on spools. You may at this point be wondering why there is yellow and white string. We wondered that, too. They have both colors of cocoons, and they just said they produce different quality silk.


The silk threads are then woven into fabric.


The fabric is then washed.

Then it's dyed.


After that, I'm sure it's dried somewhere. And then it's ironed. Look at those piles of silk just laying on the floor!

After that the fabric is decorated. Upstairs at the factory is where they paint designs on. While we were visiting, they were just putting wax on the fabric to prepare it for paint.
Here's a sari that has been prepared.


And these are head scarfs being prepared for paint.


In another room, closer to where the worms were, these men did detailed beading work on saris. They said it takes them about a week (6 days of 8 hour work days) to finish a sari.




In another room women were stitching on saris. They said for a fancy sari like this, it takes one month to three months to finish the stitching. No wonder saris that have stitching like this are so expensive!



I thought it was interesting to see the jobs that men did versus the jobs that women did. I asked quite a few people what their salaries are (that's not a rude question here), and they all earned around $22/month for working 6 days a week and 6-8 hours a day.

We were impressed by the factory, but we were blown away by the show room. But, like I said, that will be another post. I certainly think this post is already long enough.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

A New Toy

We had to buy new glasses. I won't tell you how many glasses have been broken in our house in the last few months. Ellie enjoyed playing with the little box they came in.

First it was a car for ABC Bear (who sings the ABCs if you pinch her hand), Polly, and Dynah.

Ellie thought Cuddles should have a turn, too.

Even though Cuddles filled the car, Ellie wanted Dolly to have a turn, too.

Dolly was refused entry into the vehicle, and the others went for a ride. First it was a car, but later it was an airplane.

In the end, it wasn't good enough that the bears had fun. Ellie wanted a turn, too.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Soup Spoon Please

Ellie was not very pleased with what happened after she tried to eat pumpkin soup without a spoon.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Shaving your face = Love

Franklin, after spending months sporting quite a scruffy beard, shaved his face the other day. He was rewarded with a day of caresses and kisses from his daughter.


I don't think this face has anything to do with Franklin shaving his face. :)

Monday, June 21, 2010

Sunday, June 20, 2010

June 20 Daybook

FOR TODAY: June 20
Outside my window... a man was playing a flute this morning.
I am thinking... of how funny it is that I accidentally celebrated Father's Day a week early. :) This morning Ellie and I said to Franklin, "Happy real Father's Day."
I am thankful for... floss.
From the kitchen... for lunch: rice, lentils, and spinach. for supper: chicken dumpling soup.
I am wearing... a housedress, called a maxi here.
I am creating... a new blog post.
I am going... to teach English later today.
I am reading... a great book on the history of the first few years of BD called A Legacy of Blood. Not a very nice title, but great history!
I am hoping... that a storm comes to cool the weather down, but not until after my clothes have dried.
I am hearing... the whirr of the fan.
Around the house... Ellie is running around with a headband across her eyes telling us over and over that she is wearing glasses.
One of my favorite things... is listening to all the ways Ellie is putting her words together.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...a Father's Day breakfast in bed served a week early.


I saw this idea for the Daybook at this website. http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com

I was thinking, wouldn't it be nice if I did this a few times a week, not necessarily on a blog, but even in my own notebook. Then years from now I could look back and remember all the small joys and challenges life is bringing me in this stage of my life.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

World Cup Fever

I have never really watched the World Cup. I regretfully admit that I didn't even know what it was until after I married Franklin. And even though I was married to Franklin during the last World Cup, I don't even remember watching any games with him.
Well, my lack of enthusiasm for the World Cup is a thing of the past! Partly because it's just wonderful, partly because the enthusiasm in this country for the World Cup is just contagious, because it's fun to watch games with Franklin, and partly because it takes the attention away from hot season. When the World Cup is over, we should be almost half way through monsoon season!
Whatever the reasons for enjoying the World Cup, I had no idea what was coming a month ago. Franklin and I were on the train coming from the capital, and we saw a bunch of blue and white flags on roofs. This was an entire month before even the first game was played! Since then, more and more flags have been popping up.
By far Brazil and Argentina have the most supporters in this country.

This building takes flag waving seriously.

And apparently one flag wasn't good enough to show how much these people love Argentina.

A flag for Spain adds a bit of variety to our "skyline".

Franklin took a trip out to a village the other day, and they have flags out there, too.


On our roof we have three flags waving.
Argentina.

Bangladesh. And Germany.
And that is only one apartment's flags. We haven't put any flags up. If we did, though, it would be for New Zealand. Our landlord hasn't put any flags up either, but they would put up a Brazil flag if they did.

If you aren't following the World Cup yet, I say join in the excitement. Next week eliminations start, so it's going to get even more exciting!!