Susannah's Heirloom

Hands to Work

So I've been doing a bit of housekeeping and re-named the blog after a business I owned twenty years ago, when I worked primarily with museums and historic sites re-creating garments in their collections for display and interpretation. It was one of the most interesting things I've ever done, and I've missed it.

The byline "Hands to work and hearts to God" is a saying of Mother Ann Lee of the Shaker movement in America. As I've grown older I've become less religious, not more so. In fact, I'm not uncomfortable with the term 'atheist,' although I identify as a gnostic Episcopalian. Religion, for me, is more about connection with the best parts of oneself and seeing that, or encouraging that, in others.

But I do gravitate toward working with my hands, and it is in this sort of thing that I find comfort and joy. And if there is anything good in the world that speaks of a higher form of culture, religious or otherwise, it is in doing good work with a purpose. I learn an awful lot about those who lived before us when I study the things they wore. I hope to pass some of that on.

So I'm looking forward to exercising these fingers not only on the keyboard, but among the threads and fiber. In making shirts out of square linen, caps with whip-gathered ruffles, boned stays and dresses, I will keep my hands busy, while my heart sings to whatever goodness or angels there may be.

Susannah at Latta Plantation, Huntersville, NC, c. 1997

 

 

 

 

Artist Economics

It just sounded interesting. I had to explore.

Adapting a Studio to a Changing Economy

Trending items seem to be going toward the more delicate, minimalist, and refined. I've branched out beyond Etsy because I believe one should expand horizons and keep options open. To that end, I've made accounts at both DaWanda and Zibbet.

I much prefer handstitching to other forms of needlework. It serves the dual purpose of occupying my mind and my hands and is therefore a creative therapy as well as producing something useful and hopefully lovely to look at. The economics of this is pretty obvious.

Creative pursuits are easier when one has a touchstone for inspiration. Mine has to do with rivulets, creeks, waterways hidden among verdant vegetation, which is why I incorporate willows and rivers into my online presence. These images help to calm turbulent thoughts and evoke a kind of quiet anarchy. There's a duality at work, as nature knows no bounds, and this reminds me that as water travels over rocks, rough places eventually become smooth. This demonstrates that persistence and consistence result in desired change. And all work results in something transformative, even if we do not know exactly where it is leading, or how things will all turn out.

Nature does not know extinction. All it knows is transformation. Nothing disappears without a trace. Werner von Braun

But back to economics. In its purest sense, economics is the science of choice. It is also a science of change. As is creativity. Art is not the sole claimant here. Art and science are both involved. The synapses and neurons in my brain create and react to choices and direct my actions in creative pursuits. When we separate choice from action all that results is a mindless muddle. Creativity reveals the world behind our choices. We should strive to select those things that reflect meaning in our lives.

Willow Run, by J. Melberg

Knitting Love

Posting links here for tasty things to explore later:

Tunes for a Monday Morning

Jane Austen Knits

A Year at the Wheel

Acornbud's Musings - the little kitten ears hat at the bottom is joyously delish. :)

Mason-Dixon Knitting

Now, all I have to do is learn to knit.

A Handmade Holiday

For many reasons, both sartorial and practical, not to mention pleasant and economical, I've decided to make all my holiday gifts this year. I've a household full of crafts supplies, fabric, things in storage boxes I've not opened in a decade. It's time to do something fun with all of it.

Apparently it's the in-thing to do nowadays as well... so much the better. Here's to a handmade holiday!

http://blackeiffel.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-hip-handmade-holiday.html

Gift and decorating ideas:

Baubles

Candy

Gift bags - easy to make with drawstring ribbon laces!

Upcycling out of bits of cloth cut from colorful clothing 

A Lady's Glove

Silk gloves have always bewitched me. Tiny mitts with Irish crochet roses also tend to grasp my attention. Recently I've begun collecting patterns for making gloves, as I intend to attempt a pair in the not-too-distant future. Winter is such a comfortable time for crafting things, the more intricate the better. Time passes so quickly when thus engaged, and soon you are rewarded with something beautiful to wear, to share, or give as a welcome gift.

Antique Pattern Library has some wonderful reproductions and scans of old patterns. I've linked to their crochet pages here. 

 
Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's 

Jennifer Love-Hewitt on set

Crochet gloves in Irish lace are my especial fancy these days. Hook Crochet offers several styles, handmade from traditional sources. Dakota Prairie Treasures offers this pattern at Bonanza. Elegant long fingerless gloves at Ravelry make me want to pick up my hooks & thread right away! 

 

art journals

A written journal can assist in uncovering truths, but when I think of the inner explorations that would occur if the mind were freed from the constant linkages of words, it makes me happy. The Artistic Onion extolls the virtues of art journaling for stress relief. "No special art talent is required, there are no mistakes in art journaling. You will be amazed at what you come up with. You can bring your happiness and inspiration to your journal. By letting them out there, they can expand.

You can also bring your questions to your journal, by combining words with visual interaction you receive amazing answers from your own intuition. There is nothing art journaling cannot help."

Like art class in second grade, only more so. I remember carefully gluing multicolored strips of paper in forms and shapes as we practiced quilling. This fish looks like fun, too... maybe I'll work in some of this.

http://www.artistsjournals.com/instruction.htm

I'm looking forward to getting started, and sharing what happens.