November Letter From the Founder: Makers
Happy fall from the Guide Collective team!
Apologies for being quiet lately, I have been on the road leading tours since the last week of August, and what a thrill to return to some kind of normal. International travel is opening up slowly, and while it isn’t the way you remember it, it is absolutely possible with some flexibility. As you may start making travel plans for 2022 and beyond, remember that Guide Collective is here to help inform and inspire your travels.
This month, our theme revolves around artisans and handcrafts. In almost every country that I travel, there is always something beautiful, local, and handmade to be found. Colorful textiles in Cambodia, silver jewelry in Morocco, handmade soaps in Provence, knitwear in Scandinavian countries. As a visitor, it is always fun to seek out craftspeople and watch them in action. What they make and how they do it is a part of the story of the place, and it gives us an extra way to connect with local culture. Chatting with artisans and makers also gives us an opportunity to engage in conversation and cultural exchange with people who we may not meet otherwise.
I recently took my tour group to a rug weaving cooperative in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. I had been there before, on my last trip. On my previous visit, I had no intention of buying a rug and sat patiently while my group looked through the choices and heard about the process. But then, they pulled out a rug that spoke so directly to me, I had to have a closer view. Of course, I was doomed. The rug was packed up and paid for before I even knew what happened. When I came home, I found the perfect place for it and, believe it or not, it has become a centerpiece in my living space. Every morning, I stand on that rug and drink my coffee, and every day, it brings me joy.
There is a whole school of thought about that, only own what brings you joy. The things that bring me the most joy in my home are the things I’ve bought on my travels. All of them are handmade, all of them speak to an experience and a moment. It is a little like time travel. When I see the Sicilian tiles I bought on Salina last September, I can recall the smell of the island, the pace of our days, and the cozy feeling of a happy vacation. When I wear jewelry I’ve bought from artisans, it is always a conversation starter, a way to connect with other travelers over haggling in markets or meeting a special artist who created something unique. In a world of mass-produced overconsumption, a careful selection and enjoyment of objects from our adventures feels like a drink of water on a hot day.
This month, our guides will present the artists, artisans, and makers in their lives or their regions. You’ll get a peek into the beautiful things we find in our travels and the people that create them. We will also be launching our own homemade crafts fair, The Guide Collective Christmas Market, later this month.
Book Club This Month
A thriller? A mystery? A whodunnit? Scottish Blue Badge Guide Liz Lister takes GCBC on an adventure to moderate this cleverly written detective novel set on the weather-beaten Isle of Lewis. Not a book club member? Email theguidecollective@gmail.com to be added to our events.
From our homes to yours, we wish you a very happy Thanksgiving and a cozy, pumpkin-spiced autumn.
Andiamo!
Sarah