By Naomi Parris
A BIG part of a Guyanese Christmas is the traditional year-end cleaning and decorating; around this time of the year many Guyanese can be seen visiting some of the country’s largest retailers to purchase their new carpets, curtains and various decors to welcome the season and give their home a new look for the New Year.

If one were to visit the home of a Guyanese during the festive season, his/her house would be decked out in all of its finest curtains and unique décor. However, with times changing, it would appear that many have lost the appreciation for a good ‘ole’ knitted ‘chair back’ or embroidery needle work.

With hopes of keeping this tradition alive, 33-year-old Olivia Trotman has organised a ‘pop up’ shop on Camp Street, Georgetown displaying her needle work and many hand- crafted creations to catch the eyes of a few passersby and shoppers.

“Embroidery is kind of like a dying art. I love embroidery, I grow up doing embroidery in school, so when I started doing this part of my business, I started back doing embroidery. I even bought books, I watched videos to even see new patterns in the embroidery stitches also,” Trotman related.

She acknowledged that there are not many people who still enjoy and appreciate the art of needle work, but it is something she wishes would return to the markets.

“I would like it to come back. It’s a great art form; it’s unique and it is different from what we have on the market place itself. When you get a hand-embroidery piece you know that you get something made from love, made from right here.”

Trotman urged for more persons to support locally made items rather than going to large retailers who are shipping many of the same products from overseas.

“You know what I think has happened over the years is that as they bring household pieces and so it’s kind of cheaper; so a hand-embroidery piece would be more expensive than the stuff that you’re buying in the store. So you would find more persons might more run towards that than come towards somebody that is like knitting and stitching.”

Embroidery uses various combinations of stitches. Each embroidery stitch has a special name to help identify it. These names vary from country to country and region to region. Some of the basic stitches of embroidery are running stitch, cross stitch, stem stitch, back stitch, satin stitch, chain stitch and blanket stitch.

PRSERVING THE ART FORM
Hand-made embroidery has a rich history dating back to the fifth century BC, and has been termed as a “feminine”, “civilized” activity for “proper young ladies”.
Trotman, however, is bending the societal norm by teaching her four-year-old son about the art of needle work and embroidery. If given the opportunity, Trotman would not mind teaching others some of her techniques.
“Right now I have a four-year-old at home and I am teaching him how to do hand embroidery and it is possible I don’t mind going and teach persons, teach them how it is done,” she said adding: “Embroidery is not like grand time or two stitch or one stitch. Embroidery has grown, there is thread embroidery – what I do, there is ribbon embroidery – what I also do; there is beaded embroidery, there is cross stitching all the different things and techniques of embroidery.”

Trotman disclosed that she is hoping to gain some recognition during the Christmas season to further build her business and brand “Enchanted Gardens- floral arts”.
Trotman has a small store and platform where she sells all handmade décor and hair accessories.