Re: Thanks again Catherine :)
Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on September 22, 1999 at 20:05:39:
In Reply to: Thanks again Catherine :) posted by MyST on September 22, 1999 at 19:01:00:
Thank you for the kind words....When I make up pattern sheets, I try
to have meaning, source and provenance with every piece possible so
when you adapt the patterns as a henna artist, you know what the
groundwork was for those patterns. Of course you'll change them a bit!
I offer each pattern sheet free for a while on the forum when I first
get it done....that helps me edit out mistakes as people catch them.
(Enlightened self interest, here....and an admission that I am a LOUSY
editor!)
I'm working on a series of Arab pattern sheets....12th through 18th
centuries (so people in SCA bellydance will have real noogie to work
with). ((Actually....if you're in SCA, the 9 sheets that are the
"Friends of Henna " patterns are, I think, some of my best designs and
scholarship.)) The 18th century patterns should be done shortly, so
those of you who found the Gahwazee section, and the hennaed drag
queen section intriguing will have some patterns that go with them.
In the meantime, I carefully copied genuine 19th century Algerian
prostitute hennas from old photographs, that are in the section:
"Historical Henna" (another page on the forum) also posted on the
link below.
If you are a bellydance enthusiast....the best book of authentic
photographs of 19th century hennaes, harquuses, and clothing is:
Alloula, Malek: "The Colonial Harem"; translation by Myrna Godzich
and Wlad Godzich;
Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, c 1986
Email me if you want the 18th century Arabic-Cairoan patterns
(another day or two to finish the edit). Free. of course.