BRAZIL no.2 Storyropes™ In The Community

 Rio de Janeiro

Our first storyrope™ class in Brazil. 

Yesterday we made storyropes™ with women of one of the communities. 

The artist in me was inspired by the architecture I saw out the windows of our meeting place. 

We began t in a circle. I told my story of family, art and depression. It was depression that resonated in the group - deeply, very deeply. Emotions overflowed. 

I moved on teaching how-to make a storyrope™. At the materials table, the women chose their long strips, ribbons and buttons that would tell their stories.  

After they sat down at tables to begin, I glanced over at the material table. 

All the black was gone. I quickly put more black ribbons out. 

They would need more. I was sure. 

next post: Sharing their Long Stories

LIMA, PERU Tying Ribbons

Monterrico.  Lima, Peru  (4 of 7)

Feb. 12, 2013

The women thoughtfully worked out their time lines, tying ribbons on long strips of fabric.  Buttons were also sewn on to represent events and passages of life. 

Photos: creating around the room.

LIMA, PERU Around the Materials Table

Monterrico.  Lima, Peru  (3 of 7)

Feb. 12, 2013

After sharing my story rope and quilts with the Monterrico women in Lima, I moved over to the materials table, to explain the simple process of making a story rope:

Choose a long a strip, then pick ribbons and buttons that have a color or pattern that relate to events in your story rope or time line.  

It is always amazing how the participants 'get it' immediately and rush up to make their button and ribbon choices. 

I believe as they listen to my story they are processing their own story.

To be continued..... 

Don't miss my other other blog, the Creative Process-also sharing experiences in Peru and Ecuador. 

click for latest post:
PERU Teaching With Quilts

BRAZIL no. 2 In the Studio and Off to a Meeting

Rio de Janeiro

I have a studio here - a granite table top in the corner of our room. 

This morning I began cutting ribbons in my studio. Each color going into a bag - trying for some organization here. 14 bags of different colors. 

Making progress.  I have more strips and ribbons to cut tomorrow. 

Part way through the morning, Jeff (our host & partner in ministry) came by to say that we had an appointment at 1 pm to meet the pastor and women at Caju, go out to lunch and then back to the church to show the storyrope™ idea. Perhaps they might like to have me come share with their women at the church.

On the road we passed several communities. This one pictured will be torn down with the Olympics coming in 2016. 

But we continued on to Caju, where we met, had lunch and shared the storyrope™ process.  

Tuesday we will be going back to teach the storyrope™ to their leaders.

BRAZIL no. 1 Storyrope™ Shopping in Rio De Janeiro

Writing today from Rio de Janeiro

Beginning to post some Brazil storyrope™ related stories.  

I'll continue to share about the storyrope™ in Peru. Post titles will note which country. 

So here we go Brazil!

Today we shopped for fabric, buttons and ribbons for the storyrope™ workshops we have scheduled for here in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. 


Tomorrow I cut all the ribbons and storyropes™.

First workshop this weekend.

In the pictures: Diane and Jeff, who Nelson and I are staying with and partnering on their team. Storyrope™ materials purchased today.

LIMA, PERU Story Ropes and Quilts

Monterrico.  Lima, Peru  (2 of 7)

Feb. 12, 2013 

I began teaching the story rope in Rwanda (click on link) with survivors of the 1994 genocide. The story rope teaching came after the sharing of 4 quilts, which I designed specifically for the that trip. 

Likewise in Peru, I brought several 'story-telling' art quilts - 2 were new, designed to use in Peru, Brazil and Cameroon. 

To begin the 1st evening of teaching with the women from Iglesia Monterrico,  I combined sharing my story rope with 2 quilts, Pathway to Healing (used in Rwanda) and God's Story Rope.

Photos:

top
Marge sharing her story rope as Ruth translates.

middle
Our group of women from Iglesia Monterrico met in a private home. I started out the two nights of teaching with my story rope and tied in the teaching of the two quilts.

bottom
We had first rate translators on this trip, who understood the heart and passion of what we wanted to communicate.  Ruth was our first wonderful translator.

next post:
making the story ropes in Monterrico

LIMA, PERU Setting Up

Monterrico.  Lima, Peru  (1of 7)
Feb. 12, 2013 

Our first presentation of the story rope workshop in Peru, was to the women in the Monterrico Allianza Church in Lima. 


Our meeting was held in the patio room of a private home.  


As part of the workshop I was going to show 2 new quilts I had designed for the class. 
Nelson built the stand before I left the US.

Photos: setting up for the class.

 • Table with story rope materials; Sara; my reflection in mirror. 

• Close up of all the fabulous donated ribbons & buttons. 

• Me setting up quilt stand.