Hi All,

  Yesterday I had my second art lesson.  Mastini is teaching me new things,and reminding me of things my first art teacher Katie had said.  Katie had said, “keep it fresh!”  In Singapore my teachers said, “keep it fresh…”  Mastini points out when my tomato is fresh but my lemon and eggplant are not, fresh.  Keeping it fresh means not over-working it with paint to try to fix a mistake.  I am learning from Mastini to really think ahead…and to work logically.  Because I did a lot of “homework” Mastini lets me get away with watching her paint more than I think she would normally do.  But it helps me learn and I do work too slowly when I should be working fast and too fast when I should take my time and think first.  A plus from my class:  when I’m off the boat I’m not “in Randal’s way” while he works.  He was sanding off rust and repainting the anchor shute and also other areas of the boat that needed sanding and repainting. 

  But this email is supposed to be about how to wrap a sari.  I’ll save my art lesson story and Randal fixes the boat story for another time.  Part 2 or sari wrapping tomorrow.

Ru

DoraMac

How to Wrap a Sari…… Part one

Odds are I will never wear a sari. Because a sari isn’t just a piece of clothing; it’s a way of moving and behaving and how you feel while wearing it. If not, well then, you’re just draping yourself in lots of pretty material. But it was great fun learning how one is supposed to be worn. And it was especially fun to have a “ladies morning” and get to spend time with the other cruising women. Unfortunately neither Ruth nor Elizabeth could be there. Both had commitments away from the Rally.

Hadeep, the co-organizer for the Rally, began by explaining about the material we were given. The night of the final dinner each woman participating in the Rally had been asked to select a bag with material. After looking in a few bags, I chose one with green material since the boat is green and I tend to wear more green than any other color. Plus, I honestly didn’t want to look like I was being ungratefully picky so when I saw the green, it’s what I chose.

Although one piece of material, the top part is has one pattern, the circles. You are supposed to have that part cut off and turned into a separate blouse since the bulk of the sari is skirt and then shoulder wrap. It’s a very filmy sort of material and weighs almost nothing though it’s either 6 or 9 meters and I can’t remember which. I just know that it takes at least 2 people to fold it and not that I’ve taken it out of the bag again for this photo, Randal will have to help me get it back in.

My photos of Hadeep aren’t all that great. I was trying to pay attention and take photos and that just leaves you with bad photos and no idea how to wrap your sari!

Hadeep on stage explaining about the complimentary pattern that will be cut off and become the blouse. You can see how much material there is.

Getting ready to wrap the sari.

Hadeep seems to be disappearing into her sari.

Terrible photo of Hadeep, but you can see how the sari is to be worn.

Or you can wear it this way and show your blouse or tummy and the pretty pattern of folds made by the material that you tuck in front into your waist. Hadeep really did look lovely and these photos don’t do her justice at all. I’ve others later on as things progressed and they are a bit better.

Then it was our turn!

Some women were quicker learners than others.

Lily Dorlot! Isn’t that a great name! Lily looks about how I felt and she has a Ph. D in computer math modeling or something. Lilly also sews the most wonderful pants for herself and shirts for her husband from material they buy while sailing around the world.

You’ll just have to wait for part 2 to see how I looked.