I’m no slouch with a needle, and here I am doing a bit of  cultural exchange/work experience!  As many of the makers work in the shops where their works are sold, this was taken on one of at least two glorious, mind boggling ‘studio visits’ along the street of the Tentmakers in Cairo, 2007.

But it was instantly clear I am no match for these men who rapidly and rythmically hand stitch (direct applique) small pieces of cotton fabric in gorgeous designs onto canvas weight base fabric to make the Khiamiah – the wall hangings, that traditionally lined desert tents for over 800 years.  Today, most people don’t live in tents of course, but in houses with walls that take generally smaller hangings, and so in adaptation to modern conditions more smaller pieces are produced – cushion covers, table mats and runners to wall hangings up to the 1m-1.25m dimensions.   You can see some in the background of this photo and the three principal styles – pharaonic, abstract islamic patterns and pictorial scenes are represented in this pic.  This small shop/gallery is just one of the 40 or so similar small outlets on the very short Chareh El-Khiamiah, the Tentmaker street in old Cairo.

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In my previous post, I showed one of the two large hangings Mike and I bought on our trip in 2007;  but we just couldn’t resist another!   We also bought this 2m sq. wall hanging which we use as a cover on the bed in our guest bedroom here.  The canvas base with all the extra fabric added, imho makes it a bit too heavy to sleep under, so I always suggest to visitors they carefully roll it back and place on a side chair, but I know some don’t mind actually sleeping under it.  However, everyone comments on its beauty, and the quality of workmanship is superb:

The Tentmakers who produce this amazing work have their own Facebook page, “The Tentmakers of Chareh El-Khiamiah” where you will find more information on them, and links to current and historic examples of the tentmakers’ art.    An Australian film maker Kim Beamish, is currently filming footage for a full length documentary about these artists, their work, its heritage and cultural importance which is becoming better known beyond Egypt’s borders, but inside of which it is not recognised as having any importance at all – hard to believe as that is.  To complete the editing and translations for this important documentary movie, a crowdfunding campaign is currently running to raise the necessary $20,000; and so far over $16,0000  has been pledged, but that still leaves almost $4000 to raise in just a few days !!    If you care that the world should know of such beautiful special work, please allocate at least a few dollars on this crowdfunding site – www.Pozible.com.au/tentmakers/