Post Cards from Paradise by Gail Carolyn Sirna

Trips to exotic places are the embellishment of life. In Postcards from Paradise I attempt to capture a a small amount of the experience and immortalize it in embroidery. These are postcards to myself, a tiny bit of a grand experience that will live in my home and my memory forever.

When I return from trip I reflect on what was significant about the experience. These are the images I capture in my postcards. The scene may be a realistic one, or more impressionistic. Sometimes I combine elements when they would not be found together in reality.

I offer four postcards in this small exhibit. The first is San Miquel de Allende, a charming town in central Mexico; it is a spot attractive to Americans and Canadians for its language school, and famous for its ubiquitous fountains.

Second is the Galapagos; the images I recall are lava and prickly pear cactuses, the sparse foliage, and especially the animals. One goes to the Galapagos to see the animals; they fear not humans and let you approach. We were especially fond of the sea lions and the blue-footed boobies.

Third is the Maasai Mara in Kenya. This view is from the pool deck of our hotel. From here we could see the vast sweeping plain of the Mara, laden with animals of many species. Here I have depicted only giraffes and elephants but there were many more. One also sees the candelabra tree and acacia. Our rooms were shaped like Maasai huts. Inside the hotel walls all was bedecked with African flowers.

Last is Cordoba, Spain, most specifically the wonderful Avenue of Flowers. The ancient white homes line a winding, twisting lane which is totally bedecked with glorious flowers. They spring from pots, hang from window boxes and balconies and tumble from window sills. It is a glorious site. When one reaches the end of this little lane you turn and see the wonderful La Mezquita, a one-time mosque turned into a Cathedral.