Betty Tomoki
This week we are featuring Betty's Handmade Crafts. These handmade woven and shell jewelry items can also be used as hanging ornaments. These are intricately woven using the natural materials of coconut fiber (lighter material) and pandanus leaf fibers (darker material).Click here for a picture of the pandanus tree:
http://www.comfsm.fm/~dleeling/angio/pandanus.html.
The shells used are those found in the waters around the island of their origin, the island of Kapingamarangi. This is one of the smaller outer and southernmost islands of Pohnpei State. Kapingamarangi is located about 740 km south of the main island of Pohnpei. Here is a map of the Federated States of Micronesia, of which Pohnpei is one of the four island "States".
Click on this link to learn a little more about Pohnpei: http://www.keteu.org/pohnpei/
The island residents of this small atoll, about 500 total, live on about 1.1 square kilometers on an atoll that totals about 74 square kilometers. So most of this is water. On top of this, Touhou Island, which is the capital of this atoll, lists the highest part of the island at about 35 inches above sea level. The Kapingamarangans, who call themselves "Kirinese", are known for their crafts among other things.
Here is the Wikipedia link about this atoll: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapingamarangi
Map of Kapingamarangi
Here are a few photos of Betty's Handmade Crafts expertly and exquisitely woven by her fellow "Kirinese" on Kapingamarangi Island, Pohnpei.
These are fantastic works of art. And as you can see, a lot of work goes into gathering the natural materials and producing a work that has been part of the Kirinese culture for centuries.
There are a whole lot more island handicrafts and works of art from the beautiful Micronesian Islands of the Pacific at Jeff's Pirates Cove Treasure Island Gift Shop.
Come and have a look for yourselves.
The Pirate Awaits You.....
No comments:
Post a Comment