Acadian Handicraft Now Sought After In Modem World

Lake County Mail, Issue 26, 19 November 1947, Page 9

Acadian Handicraft Now Sought After In Modem World

Tlie story of the exile of the original Acadians from their homeland in Nova Scotia and their wanderings until they finally found a haven among the bayous of southern Louisiana has been made famous in Longfellow’s epic poem. Only recently, however, have their descendants, the present-day Acadians, who still live in the picturesque country where their ancestors established a home in 1765, again come into prominence.

This time,- writes Bernice Stevens Decker in the “ Christian Science Monitor,” their story is one of contribution to the field of modern arts and crafts. Woven rag rugs and quilts and homespun blankets in patterns known in Acadian homes for centuries are finding .their way into modern decorative settings and their handwoven hats and handbags made of palmetto strips are becoming popular fashion accessories.

Isolated Existence For many years these Frenchspeaking bayou people of the Teche country remained more or less isolated from the rest of Louisiana, keeping almost intact and to themselves their songs, crafts, folklore, and way of life. Although for years the Acadian women had been excellent homemakers, spending hours at the loom and with, the needle, little was known of their artistic skill outside their own communities. For years the women have woven their own rugs,' bedspreads, curtains, and other linens to furnish only their own households. But to-day, through the help of the General Extension Division of the Louisiana State University, they are being encouraged not only to continue and preserve these arts and skills, but to develop for themselves a modest but profitable handicraft industry. The original project goes back to 1938 when Miss Louise Y. Olivier was appointed field representative to carry on this extension work for the university, Chosen because she had been a French major in college and because she was herself of French descent, she was assigned at that time to work toward the preservation of the language, culture, and traditions of the Frenchspeaking peoples of the state. Search for Traditional Material Since then, she has spent much of her time in the French-speaking parishes fringing the Gulf. (Parish is the term used in Louisiana for county.) She began by visiting in the homes in search of cultural and traditional material. To further among these people a greater appreciation for their own folklore and to acquaint neighbouring communities with their customs, she began sponsoring a series of French assemblies, or community entertainments. To these entertainments some of the women brought examples of their latest handiwork to show their friends. They brought their rugs, quilts, mats, palmetto hats, pieces of “ macrame ” (an art «f pure French origin in which a fine fringed lace is produced without use of needles) and other products. These were greatly admired by many of the visitors who attended the gatherings and many wanted to buy them. This gave Miss Olivier an idea. When the war-time travel restrictions made it impossible to hold the community gatherings, Miss Olivier suggested that the University further develop the craft field. She visited in the homes and encouraged the women to make more items than they alone could use. She

tilled a cardboard box with their handmade objects and, like the 11 marchand cu boite ” of earlier days who peddled his wares from house to house, displayed the articles to merchants, gift shop managers, and individuals m various parts of the state. Demand for the wares was immediate, and so many orders came in with satisfying regularity that it- was necessary for Miss Olivier to enlist more and more workers. Now, there are many women using their spare time to earn extra income for the, family. Their products arc officially known as “Acadian Handicraft,” and in Louisiana in particular have sections of their own in department stores. Crafts Products Prove Popular Most popular of the craft products arc the hats, handbags, sewing baskets, flower carriers, shopping bags, slippers and ornaments, braided and woven from palmettos which grow profusely in the local swamps. Also in demand are the attractive gaily-striped homespun blankets, which represent one of the oldest of Acadian traditions. For generations each child of an Acadian family has been given a dowry of 12 of these blankets when he or she marries. Carding parties, at which the women prepare the wool for the blankets, are a familiar social event in these southern Louisiana parishes. Louisiana cotton thread, both white and coloured, is woven into bedspreads, curtains, draperies, rugs and even slippers. Fine needlework goes into the making of, infant’s dresses, bootees, and bonnets. Tiny dolls dressed in traditional Acadian costumes make distinctive souvenirs.