The Paisley lumbar pillow is a one-of-a-kind pillow combining burgundy huipil back strap weaving from Guatemala, contemporary paisley inspired hand embroidery from India and colorful geometric weaving from Guatemala.  The bold colors, patterns and variations of textile techniques will make this pillow a bright addition in any room setting.  

DETAILS:

• 25” x 15” 

• Front - cotton

• Back - linen, in black

• Zipper closure

• Down duck feather pillow insert

• Fabric origins:  Guatemala, India

THE STORY:

The thing I enjoy most about making my pillows is selecting the fabrics, deciding which color combinations, techniques and patterns will complement one another and will visually tell a good story.   Of course, knowing the origins of each fabric, and often knowing who made the fabrics, makes each pillow so special to me. 

The rich burgundy fabric on the left was woven on a Guatemalan backstrap loom used most often to produce fabric for a huipil, the traditional dress worn by indigenous women throughout Guatemala.   The colorful diamond pattern was woven using the supplemental weft technique which creates the design only on the top surface.  Vertical stripes add another design element.   This piece of fabric is part of the many fabrics and huipils I collected during the seven years I lived in Guatemala.  

The center rich embroidery on black fabric was made by one of my favorite groups in India.  St. Mary's Mahila Shikshan Kendra is a fair trade organization located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.  Started by a handful of Dominican Sisters from Spain in the 1970’s, St. Mary’s has partnered with SERRV International since 1992.  I have been fortunate to have visited them many times.  There are 350 women who do the embroidery, all living in nearby slums and are a mix of Hindu, Moslem and Christian, all respecting one another.  Their work is flawless and every stitch is a labor of love.  This piece of embroidery is a contemporary paisley design and sparkles with small mirrors called “shisha.”  It’s a delightful piece and brings life to the pillow.

The bright geometrically patterned handwoven fabric on the left, is also from my collection of textiles purchased during my years in Guatemala and is from the Western Highlands.  The fabric was woven on a four-harness floor loom, and the designs were achieved using a supplement weft technique. I think the contemporary look, as well as the bright assortment of colors and diversity of pattern pairs well with the two other fabrics and makes this a must have home décor center piece.