This morning I got up at 4 am EDT to drive up to Tampa and catch a flight home, after visiting old friends in Sarasota Florida. I am still digesting all that I saw and experienced in my week in Cuba.
I have been thinking a lot about Ricky and Lucy Ricardo, and their partnership on I Love Lucy. This mirrored the real-life marriage and partnership of Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. Desi was a Cuban-born actor and musician, whose family fled the 1933 revolution of dictator Batista, coming to America when Desi was about 16.
When I watched I Love Lucy as a kid, I was unknowingly soaking up some Cuban culture and music, which jumped out at me randomly on my trip to Cuba last week. There are whole pages on the internet dedicated to Ricky’s Cuban-English quotes, spoken with that heavy Cuban accent. His Latin band the Desi Arnaz Orchestra gave me a childhood exposure to Latin Jazz, and now it is my favorite type of music to play while working in my studio. (Buena Vista Social Club)
I Love Lucy was in Black and White, but now I am also being influenced by the Afro-Cuban and Cuban-Caribbean colors that are sure to drive color trends in all areas of design, as the US opens up to this island nation.
This is a collage of photos I’ve taken in Trinidad and Havana Cuba, plus some floral fabrics in stock at eQuilter.com
sharing your Passion for Fabric…
~Luana
2016 Calendar:
May 1-31 – The Golden Hour – SAQA Call for Entries
May 20-22 – Quilt Market
July 20-29 – Seville & Granada
Sept 18-25 – Cuba Arts Tour #2 – details here!
Nov 15-20 – Luana’s Polar Bear Tour – 3 spots left!
