Cambodia: More on Rumdoul

Work in Rundoul continues.  In March 2011, the designer for Mekong Quilts, Liz Reece, and I completed writing a set of definitions used in quilting work.  A common “language” is necessary, for use of the quilters, trainers, organizers, and supporters of the program.   The quilters come from the village areas and most of them finished only a few years of schooling.  The trainers come from different parts of the world and cultures,  including USA, Australia, Belgium, France, Vietnam and other places.  Some terms are not well-understood because of differences in the terms themselves.  For example,  “batting:” in the USA is called  “wadding” in other countries especially in Europe and Australia/New Zealand.   

A workbook for the kampong (village) Group Leaders was prepared, in text and image format, to show the steps needed from preparation to finishing of the quilts.  Another workbook for program officers, assistants and support staff was also prepared, to make their respective functions clear and documented.   The group leaders were called in, and the Production Manager, Miss Hieu, in one of her numerous follow up visits from Ho Chih Minh, helped to shape up the definitions and workbooks.

The KSB quilt model is now in full production.  “KSB” means Khmer Sunbonnet Sue, and Sunbonnet Sam.  These two are highly popular appliqué designs since the early twentieth century.  “VSB”  or Vietnam Sunbonnet Sue and Sam, have been in the main production design of Vietnam Quilts, the forerunner of Mekong Quilts.  KSB depicts the everyday wear of Khmer people, including a checked hand-woven head scarf.  VSB designs include the conical straw hat which is distinctly Vietnamese.

After the Rumdoul visit, I took a van ride headed for Phnom Penh, and David joined me for a few days’ stay.  We enjoyed the city very much: its temples, colonial architecture which in some cases were well preserved, the museum and palace.  This visit included a fabric hunting exercise at the Olympic Market with the Phnom Penh sales staff.  We sampled some fine Khmer cuisine, and also took in the French menus offered by good bistros and cafes.

Here is the link to a Mekong Quilts catalog, produced in April of this year.  A well-made browsable catalog!

http://www.mekong-quilts.org/doc/catalog%20Mekong%20Quilts%20-April%202012.pdf