While in South Africa I was smitten with the guinea fowl birds, which were protected and roamed here and there, untethered, and mostly unafraid.  With good humor and giggles about how much I adored these birds, many loving South African Quilters gave me guinea fowl gifts, and after returning home, I thought how fun would it be to make a garment celebrating this experience?  So I did.

You will see guinea fowl socks, pins, earrings, and many guinea fowl fabric designs that make up the ensemble.  The head scarf is made from the original Shweshwe South African cotton that is still is stiff as when it was purchased.  Da Gama Textiles company gave me several fabrics while I was in Durban, and right now there are so many stories rolling through my head about the life changing experience (of being in South Africa and traveling across the country with dear friends), I could write a book.

Continuing on but with a side note: in the Quilt World there is reciprocity - being a visitor and hosting visitors.   While living in Napa, I was blessed to host quilter friends from SA in my home, and fondly remember all the fun we had together.  That will have to be written about in another article.

Back to the Guinea Fowl Garment:

1.  Front View - I used ready-made denim pants and sewed patches on the knees to bring my Midwest American roots into this playful garment.



2.  Front - Close upper - guinea fowl pockets



Note:  guinea fowl matched earrings and pin set



Scheswe fabric headpiece with a copper guinea fowl pin



Note:  guinea fowl socks



4.  Back View - guinea fowl shoulders



5.  Back View - Close upper




Many wearable artists make garments born out of an influence; at times it can be from seeing a radiant sunset, a beautiful flower in the garden, or whatever else a maker of fiber art sees and wants to interpret in fiber.  It's a gift to be a maker, whether the expression is in quilts, garments, purses or any other rendition thereof.

I hope this has brought you a few giggles, and mainly some joy on a Monday morning.  Have a great week!

-Viktorya