–for CARIFESTA 13
INTRICATE Creations, an emerging producer of floral and craft creations has made its name and stamped its authority locally, by intricately incorporating the fibre and other parts of the coconut palm into its many works of art.
And now it is moving to the next level to wow craft lovers in the international arena. This time around, Managing Director, Ms. Melba LaGoudoue of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam will be joining hundreds of Caribbean producers in showcasing their wares at the mega exposition during CARIFESTA XIII to be held in Barbados from August 17 to 28.
Elated about the prospects, LaGoudoue told the Sunday Chronicle that she’d be taking to the exhibition four unique creations, the first of which is ‘The CARIFESTA Roses’ in Large, Medium and Small, each containing 14 petals.

The Large category will be two feet in diameter; the Medium nine inches; and the small four to five inches.
There’s also the ‘Unity Three’ bouquet which consists of three shimmering roses, each representing the three counties of Guyana, namely Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice.
LaGoudoue recalls having had the distinct honour of presenting her first ‘Unity Three’ bouquet creation to Miss Guyana/UK 2016, Miss Felicity Hossanah when she visited the Ancient County, as Berbice is otherwise known, a forthnight ago.

She has also designed, and will be taking with her to Barbados, a wall-piece called ‘Harmony’, which consists of three golden roses, along with a brown-and-cream one.
And then there’s ‘The Swirl’, known as ‘Spring’, in a variety of colours.
The florals, LaGoudoue said, are custom made, utilising mainly coconut fibre and palm, and attractively spray-painted with earth-tone colours as requested.
LaGoudoue says her products are one-of-a- kind and entirely unique, carrying her signature behind her creations.

LaGoudoue, who is a science teacher at Vryman’s Erven Secondary, said she’s had a passion for flowers and floral creations almost all her life, and by 2000, began to realise her potentials, and so yielded to her passion, albeit on a small scale.
The approach she took was to fuse her natural talent with her scientific knowledge as a science teacher. That, coupled with her eco-friendly approach to the environment and up-cycle management, served her to good stead.
But 2015 was, for her, a record- breaking year, since it was then that she ventured into the business at a recognised forum. That occasion was the hosting of Sonia Noel’s “Women in Business Expo” at the Pegasus Hotel, which, incidentally she narrowly got accepted into, having learnt about the exhibition late.

Fortunately, her pleas fell on the compassionate ear of Ms. Noel, who, after receiving photos of her impressive work, eventually enlisted her for the exposition, describing them as ‘great’ and ‘unique’. From then on, it was hectic, for she had only nine days to prepare and deliver, and time was of the essence.
Putting her shoulders to the wheel, she worked night and day and eventually came up with 63 pieces, which she proudly displayed the day the fair was declared open.

BLOWN AWAY
Needless to say, those in attendance were blown away by her breathtaking pieces which they rated as highly attractive. And there were benefits, since interested persons took her particulars and she immediately clinched orders for her products.
“It was with a sense of pride that I looked around to find that I had eventually made it, and that my work was so highly credited,” LaGoudoue modestly related to the Sunday Pepperpot. She recalled that there were about 44 stalls with a wide array of items of craft, ranging from floral creations, Indigenous tibisiri floor mats, place mats, coasters, dress craft, handbags, condiments, coconut products and the works.

The mood was exciting, she said. The women exhibiting their products were friendly, so she made lot of friends. It was literally like the dawn of a new day for her, and she purposed in her heart that there would be no turning back; that she would move from strength to strength and perfect the trade. “It could only get better,” she vowed.
Melba recalls that from then on, there was great motivation for her from Ms. Noel, who urged her not to go back and lock herself away in a box; not to hide her talent under a bushel, but to “Burst forth and let it shine!”

Her next big involvement was her participation in the United Business Fair in Suriname, which saw her gain more confidence to further showcase her novel hand-crafted creations.
Other big exhibitions in which she has participated include “GuyExpo 2015 at the Sophia Exhibition Site; The Coconut Festival at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, where her pieces were a big hit; the Golden Jubilee Expo at Providence in 2016; and the New Amsterdam Town Day in in 2016.

LaGoudoue’s creations were also on display last December at the Giftland Mall here in the city during a Women’s Market Day held to usher in the Christmas shopping activities.
And, earlier this year, she was part of Career Day held at Rose Hall, on the Corentyne, Berbice. She’s also collaborated with Sonia Noel at a forum for Special Needs Children and Children who are Differently Able.
All these contributed, in no small measure, to LaGoudoue’s being honoured and accredited for having the ‘Most Improved Booth’ in her category two months ago.

Having been a teacher for the last 20 years, she has a close affinity for children, and moreso children who are differently able. To this end, she has a proposal to put systems in place to get those children who can use their hands to be taught skills which would make them gainfully employed. She is currently sharing her skills twice weekly with students of the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports’ Drop in Centre at Smythfield, New Amsterdam.
She is scheduled to do some work in central Corentyne, while plans are also on the cards for her to work in a number of other learning institutions in Guyana.

Committed to the ‘Green Economy Initiative’, she sees the time as right for Guyanese to be more eco-friendly, and to take the ‘green’ economy initiative to the next level, thereby creating an eco-friendly environment.
Melba is eternally grateful to God Almighty for the creative abilities with which he has blessed her; her family and friends for their continued support; to Dr. Sonia Noel, who opened up the door and proved a great source of motivation, so much needed to take her to higher heights and make ‘Intricate Creations’ a beacon of light.