BANANA LEAF WEAVING

We spent an entire day on the subject matter today. It was not exactly exciting, but an eye-opener none the less given the multiple usage one gets from a single banana leaf. We learned how to clean it, cut it, fold it, and design it for different purposes. This is a bit easier compared to carving because we use fingers, without gadgets. It is much more tedious though because we have to prepare so many small pieces in order to make a larger piece. This 'Lotus Holder' is about 6 inches in diameter, to hold dessert items and guess how many moving parts are involved .... almost 100! Each is hand-cut, and sewn on using a single needle and dark green threads. Just passing the thread through the eye of the needle was enough of a challenge, for me, that is. I do not think I can do either this, or garlands, and obviously not carving, for a living.