Page 43 - HelensDress_notebook

LETTER FROM wAsHinGTOn dc:
HELEn's dREss FELT sO cLOsE TO My HEART!
by MARiA kARAMeTou
dear Loukia,
i just watched the Vamvakou videos and am very excited about your wonderful and in- formative presentation. So first of all, i want to send you (and Metaxia) my Congratula- tions! This felt so close to my heart and interests! i am not sure if i told you before, but my Asia Minor refugee grandmother raised silkworms and made silk thread with which she embroidered for her dowry, etc. i have inherited a large number of her works many from the early 1900's that she brought with her to Greece when she was deported. She also wove rugs and made intricate lace throughout her life. even in Athens, i remember her continuing to raise silkworms in the drawers of her dresser. She fed them mulberry leaves from the trees the refugees had planted in our street, which was named after their town in the Sea of Marmara.
i am attaching a couple of images of her early embroideries. The third one (with the kofto) bears her name (and mine) in the middle band, and the fifth one, initials. Her han- diwork is the inspiration of my latest work with the bobby pinned "embroideries". So this is another reason i so related to your comments about women and the traditional ex- pectations on them. The bobby pins too relate to the concept of beauty, the societal ex- pectations on women, etc.
Another reason your presentation was so interesting and dear to me was the fact that (i am not sure if you know it), i am also a writer. So recently, i completed a fiction book titled The Amalgam (as yet unpublished) where there is a chapter about the customs of my grandmother's hometown, the engagement ceremony, etc.
it is a book about the life stories of two strong women, the historical and personal events that impact their life's journey, and it goes back and forth in time. Watching your video and the photographs of the wedding procession etc felt so close to my book (and my heart). incidentally, the name of the grandmother character in the book is Metaxia !
if you want any stories, thoughts, etc as you announce at the end of your video, let me know. in the meantime Congratulations again!
All my best, Maria karametou
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Text & photos by Maria Karametou / Embroidery: Maria Michaelides Politis