Elizabeth Mini
"Tropical Flavor"
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Tropical Flavor is my world, having been born and raised on a banana plantation in the heart of Honduras.
In creating this bag, the Garifuna (meaning strong) people of Honduras became my focus. Eighty percent of them live on the coastal boundaries and islands of Honduras working as fisherman, farmers and laborers for the banana plantations. Their customs and traditions merge African and Indian influences. The tradition of song and dance, known as “Punta,” is rich. Songs have carried man’s joy and pain and are crucial to the well-being of the spirit.
My purse is designed to show that all Garifuna are dancers: in their bodies is the spirit of the dance and their music keeps the body free of fatigue. The background is constructed of 14 fabrics in a log cabin pattern. I then used beadwork and seashells to represent the beaches of Honduras. I also designed the black dolls and stuffed them with batting. Their clothing is covered with bright cotton colors reflecting a people comfortable with their lifestyle and language. The bamboo handles are from trees native to Honduras.
Capturing the happy spirit of the Garifuna in my purse has brought joy into my life.