From Africa to Iowa

Mom and Dad just returned from an amazing and beautiful trip to Africa.  They said the sights were one of a kind and mom especially loved all the bright fabrics for sale.  She brought some back with her along with many bracelets, hand carved wood and art.  One of the pieces of fabric she brought for me was a piece of cotton batik.  Batik is when you "paint" a design with beeswax onto fabric (usually silk) and dye the fabric.  Then the wax is picked off and the design is visible.  I make it sound more simple than it is.  It is an amazing art form.

So I thought, what better way to display it than as a table cloth.  It is the perfect size and shape for a long rectangular table.  And just in time for Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

So here is my African table setting with all of my new treasures, all the way from Tanzania!  I used the batik as a tablecloth, the bracelets as napkin rings and adorned the vase with a necklace that has a hand carved giraffe on it.  Thre is also a gourd-shaped decoration that has African animals carved on it.  All the greenery is from my yard - hosta leaves, lilies and ornamental grass.  Enjoy!!