Marrakesh Express
Women Weavers OnLine
Ben Smim
Piece 2.12324 was made by Halima Outalb or Abbadi, depending on if you use her maiden name or her married name. In Morocco women often keep their maiden name, and children take their father's name. Halima appeared earlier with this piece, which is still available, but she has several others as well - they are below. Halima would use this piece as a bedspread, but it could also be a wall hanging. It is made of wool and cotton and has acrylic yarn fringe. There are thin design bands with colored accents and sequins; click here to see them better. The off-white is wool and the bright white cotton. Halima is in her early thirties and married, but has no children yet. Her husband works off and on, sometimes as a woodcutter (it snows here in the winter and people heat their homes with wood stoves) and sometimes working metal. Although she's never been to school, she attended literacy classes last year taught by Habiba, the project assistant. If she sells this piece, she may buy something for her home. If she sells several, she would like to finish her living room, with a smoother cement floor and ceramic tiles. This piece measures about 5'1" x 8'4" and costs $275.
Piece 3.13022 is a small flatweave, of which this is a detail. You can see the whole rug here. The color on my computer matches the rich dark red I saw, and the orange is light and limited in amount. Halima told us the names of several of the designs in this rug. The diamonds in the border near her thumb are called tellin, which means eyes in Berber. The red outlines in the white design bands are called ereg, or frame. Near her little finger, where the white goes into the red outline, it's called timzin or barley. Halima also described how these rugs are woven from the back, so the weaver has to "use her mind" to get the design right. She said some use a mirror so they can see the front as they work. Further, she said many young girls don't like to weave: it gets wool fuzz all over the room and our clothes, so they feel it's dirty. This piece measures 2'10" x 5'7" anc costs $190.
Piece 3.13024 is a small flatweave in rich red with design bands in black, white and a little light orange. Here the white spots near Habiba's fingertips are called irdn or barley, and the white designs in the border and the stripes are called tbila or small table. You can see the full rug here. The size is about 2'9" x 5'1" and the price is $170.
Piece 3.13026 is a small rectangular rug in rich red wool, with most of the design in white, red and black. But as you can see, there are colored accents in two bands at the right end of the rug. I've often seen irregularities like this, but usually in a shop and not with the weaver, so I was eager to ask why she stopped using the colors. She said it wasn't a mistake or forgetfulness; she just changed her mind and decided she liked it better without them. You can see the whole piece here. It measures 2'5" x 3'9 1/2" and costs $100.
Pillow 3.13031 was made by Halima's aunt from Mrirt,and it is very well-done. The main colors are white and a rich red, with accents in yellow, true blue and kelly green, plus sequins. Click here to see the whole pillow, and here to see the back. It measures 14" x 19" and costs $58.
