Once upon a time, I thought I would like to try my hand at doing something different. I had seen some beautiful pieces at an antique show and wondered how it was done. Having a creative streak that just won’t quit, I began to ask around and was surprised that in my circle of friends, no one tatted or knew of anyone who did. For lace, it was also an unknown art to my immediate creative buddies. We were one of a kind doll makers, we sculpted, sewed and worked with totally different media.
This is a picture of a cover from a tatting book from the 1940’s. In my treasure hunting expeditions, I had seen such a tool and had not known what it was and no one around could educate me either. Now of course with access to google search and other such vehicles, information is more at hand. Tatting is a dying art form, it requires a ton of patience, and a love for working with very fine material and following a pattern.
When I reflect back on what I could have done, and what I in the end, have done…. well …. the methods of applying my gray matter, processing information, working with chicken wire, wire,precious and semi precious metals, sculpting materials like Apoxie Sculpt. or the liquid polymers like Paverpol and Powertex, all gave me creative ways to express my ideas, feelings and thoughts in a visual way.
This is a needle felted dancer that i did during my love affair with sheep, fleece and roving. I like form, movement, and a sense of whimsy, I want abstract so that the viewer can find their own connection to my work.
Here a Victorian “mystery” woman walks away, or if she is in your garden, and you are walking towards her, =^_^= you’ll meet her in a different way. This was done with wire, and fabric so that it could withstand Canadian climate, she does come in during the winter months..
Crocheting a hat so I could display felted flowers was the closest I got to lace and tatting. We all express ourselves differently, what is important is that we do so in a way that will please us, and in so doing bring a smile to others. For all of us who love to express ourselves, visually, vocally, (the written word is to me a visual expression) we are given the skills, and the tools, it is up to us to create our own works of art.
When we do whatever it is we are attempting to do, with our full makoto (sincerity) and focus, our results are usually more positive and appealing to us and others. Right… not everyone will like what you say or do, however, if you have spoken or applied love and kindness into your actions, you have done your best. That is really all you can do.
My father in law is as I write this, is in his final days here on earth. He has lived a long and productive life (99) a man who till very recently was totally focused on what he needed and wanted. He gave love, laughter and life to family and friends, now in the quiet of this journey, I visually see his life, like a piece of lace, beautiful in the making, and his memory will be a reflection of the time, patience and effort he put in to his personal pattern that no one else can replicate.
We create art… however we ourselves …. are works of art….. life is art………….
Namaste – Oyashikiri
*fr.wikipedia.org
knitting-and.com
4,5,6 sculpted by Q
PL Precept # 15 – All is a mirror
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