Day 200- A Baluchi Flying Carpet

If you are as well-versed as I am in the art of making flying carpets, you will know that they are hardly extra-ordinary in appearance. Here you can see one of these flying contraptions parked at a car park, I mean, carpet park.

So unremarkable and disappointing it is in the looks department that many have said they preferred the back of the carpet for at least, it looked more like a real carpet, they claimed. As its maker, I am of course a little offended at such an insensitive comparison. I mean, this is after all a  magic carpet! How can they compare it to a real carpet? 

Perhaps if I can demonstrate its flying prowess, you will see what I mean.

So ABRACADABRA, FLY carpet, FLY.......

Here it is, seating one comfortably, floating over what appears to be an extinct and long eroded volcano. This is my flying carpet in poetic motion. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Flying Carpet announces, please remain seated and fasten your seat belt, for we are landing in Sigiriya where it's rock walls has housed frescoes since the 5th century BC and is said to be the largest natural picture gallery of the world!

Now swooooosh, off we go again, amidst the 1000 year old roots of the Old Banyan Tree, as we fly through 18th century Galle Road in the new capital city, Colombo.  Can you see how this magnificent tree grows across the road like a triumphal arch, ooooh, watch your head, ladies and gentlemen.

How about some meditation time in the niche of  Sri Maha Bodhi, said to be one of the oldest planted tree in the world? All the way in Anuradhapura, the ancient capital of Ceylon? Well, why not? With my flying carpet, all that's impossible becomes possible! So close your eyes and be brought back 2000 years from now and when you open them again..

..you may be atop giant foliage in streaks of pink, matching your flying carpet, matching your new sari , in perfect fashion harmony.

 So can you see now? 

Can you see how my magic tapestry  

make the ordinary, extra-ordinary?

Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov.

And for those of you sceptics who need proof before you believe, go read  this article about  Harvard Professor Lakshminarayanan Mahadevan. He thinks its possible to make a flying carpet, as long as it is no longer than 4 inch and no thicker than 1/10th of a millimeter . Mine is close. It is 4 inch wide, 6 1/2 inch long and 1 millimeter thick . It really almost can fly.

Afterword 

Front

Back

I started making this carpet on 25/4/2010. It was my first one in 25 count canvas. After making 4 miniature rugs in 18 count, I thought I was ready to embark on a finer one. I gave up after 2 weeks because I spent thrice the amount of time unpicking my mistakes than stitching. It was only after Rosanna came to visit in late July this year that I started again because she was so encouraging when she saw my completed rugs. I finished  the rug last Friday, 15 Oct 2010 and yes, so far, most people prefer the back than the front.

And by the way, Rosanna, as a reward, you get to go wherever you want, on my carpet of course! Don't worry, I will test it first next Wednesday and see how far it will take me. I am hoping it will be as far as  Sri Lanka. 

Pattern of rug from "Making Miniature Oriental Rugs and  Carpets" by Meik and Ian McNaughton. Baluchi rug c.1900.
Description : Baluchi rug does not come from Baluchistan ; they are woven by tribes in the north east Iranian province of Khorasan. This example is based on an original displaying strong Turkoman influences, both in the field, which is filled with modified guls (elephant feet) and in the border, which is very similar to some Afghan weavings. The colours however, are typical of Baluchi weaving, as is the outer border which is often described as the "running dog" pattern. 

In my rug, I have replaced orange with pink.For fashion harmony.