A Wonderful Gift

A couple of years ago my dh commissioned an iconographer to write an icon of St. Melangell for my birthday. Due to circumstances beyond her control it took longer to complete than anticipated, but time was really not an issue for me, and as I understand after talking with others who had icons written by other iconographers, 2 years is generally about right.

After viewing Denise's work on her website I knew right away she would be able to capture what I perceive, from what little is offered on her life, the spirit of St. Melangell. Upon receiving the icon in July, I see that I was right.

When Denise posted a picture of this, her latest work on her website, soliciting feedback from members of a mutual discussion list I was a bit surprised at the controversy it generated. There was a comment made about the concern over following "traditional guidelines/rules". In this person's defense I understand where he was coming from. I am all for tradition, it keeps us faithful. true to those things that should remained unchanged. Still every now and again trueness is captured in an untraditional style that can not be denied, nor dismissed. I feel this is very much such a case.

Saint Melangell spoke to me, when I became Orthodox, officially, through her love for all God's creatures, great and small, and the importance that she taught by example, of protecting these gifts from God and being a good steward of the environment. One of the criticism of this icon was that she looked a little too wild, and was likened to "Xena warriour princess" or something similar. I imagine that Saint Melangell was probably pretty close to this characterization, in that she did fight for the safety of the little rabbit that found shelter in the folds of her garment while she prayed in a field. Living as a hermit for 15 years in the wilderness one can imagine her hair unbound, moved freely in any breeze....thank you Denise for this wonderful representation.

a Card Idea

Recently one of the nuns celebrated her 50th year as a monastic. I had hoped to make her a special card for the occasion, Onida, on the other hand, had other plans. She thought she would offer some help in the creative process resulting in the loss of approximately 12 rows. I keep telling her she can’t knit with her teeth. This put me a bit off schedule, but I am determined to finish the project …..belated, but offered, still, with love.

To achieve the look and size and fit the space I needed I had to modify the pattern, by knitting only the middle panel only. Lace weight yarn was too thick so I chose cobweb weight cashmere from Colourmart. Trying to find knitting needles small enough was a little more difficult. I had a size #00 pair that still did not lend well to the look I wanted so I ended up using some short blocking pins. I just glued some wood beads on one end of each to prevent the work from slipping off. Working with this small size of pins and weight yarn presented obvious visual concerns, which were resolved with good lighting and high magnified reading glasses.

Once finished I will attach this piecework to the front of a handmade card, either by tacking each corner with string, or finding an adhesive that can be easily removed from the fabric so that the knitted piece can be separated from the card itself and either displayed as a small wall or window hanging, placed on a dresser or small table as a doily, or even used as a marker of sorts. I will use a cardstock in a colour that will allow the piece to display nicely, or use a coloured mat on white cardstock. If this turns out as I hope I will knit, smaller, less ambitious lace swatches and create novelty cards to be sold at the monastery to help with their building fund.

Tha Criosd air èiridh!

With Lent, Holy Week, Palm Sunday and Pascha (Orthodox Easter) celebrations, a time for quiet, prayer, repentance, fasting and finally rejoicing....Tha Criosd air èiridh! (Christ has risen) now just passed for us, though we will continue to celebrate fully for another 40 days, I thought I would share a few pictures ..... gu dearbh, tha e air èiridh (indeed He has risen)

Celebrating new Baptisms and Chrismations

Holy Communion

Still celebrating Pascha @ 3:30 am, it is difficult for the little ones to stay awake.

Hristos vosskresse ; vo iss-ti-nou vosskresse.
Christ is risen ; indeed, he is risen !

Holy Apostles Orthodox Church

Monastic Fibre Adventures

Several weeks ago I was blessed with what has become a wonderful tradition, my annual visit to Saints Mary and Martha Monastery, to spend a few days with my Godmother, the Abbess, Mother Thecla. On these visits I pack the essentials for spending a few days in contemplation and prayer, which includes reading material, usually something by the early church fathers, appropriate dress and of course something fibre to work on. It is no coincidence that I find it most natural to bring fibre projects to work on for a visit to such a spiritual, peaceful sanctuary.

Days at the monastery are filled with busy hands and quiet minds. The nuns are always at work, making liturgical wine and candles for various churches, meals for upcoming retreats and another of my favorite activities that, like fibre crafts, lends well to contemplation…gardening. I have always found having one’s hands in God’s earth, taking advantage of fresh air, sunshine and healthy exercise, that I am reminded of the many blessings God has given us, what better time to offer thanks to Him, our Heavenly Father.

Creating anything using the talents given us with materials of gifts offered to us to care for and use appropriately is, in my opinion, one of the more spiritual activities we can participate in. Spinning, weaving, knitting, embroidery, all these activities are conducive for meditation and prayer, and very therapeutic.

One of my more memorable moments of this visit was sitting in the monastery, spinning fibre while Mother Thecla prepared food for an upcoming Matuska retreat, listening to a cd I brought, Sequentia’s beautiful efforts to offer Hildegarde von Bignen’s music 900 years later, and despite my chronic pain I commented to Mother Thecla that it was moments like this that I realize God’s great blessings. I felt at peace and as it is most times I am working with fibre, gardening, praying or enjoying Saturday Tea with my family, the pain does not matter. Peace quiets it all.

While there, this visit I asked Mother Thecla to pull down a spinning wheel she had stored high on a shelf in one of the storage buildings that contains a small store where they sell books and other Orthodox items with a bookbinding workshop in the back. We have been talking about bringing it out and having me try it out for several years but never got around to it. The wheel was given to her many years ago when a friend of hers passed but, as Abbess, she is so buy and never found time to check it out, let alone learn to use it. It was a handmade wheel and after oiling it I found, despite the years of storage it still worked. It needed some coaxing, at first the drive band kept slipping as the wheel was hesitant to keep turning, and the tension for the bobbin was a little tricky, but once these things were worked out, and despite some very minor warping of the wheel, it spun very nicely. Once it was apparent that this was still a functioning wheel I asked for some wood polish to bring the beauty of the wood, as well as the workmanship to light. While I polished, not only the wheel’s beauty shone but the artist’s, whom the wheel was made for, personality began to surface as well. I could feel her signature left on the wheel. With the oiling, cleaning and polishing complete I sat down once again to spin, it was if her talent augmented my own. The wheel was not the only gift given to the monastery, the owner’s talent was given with the wheel.

When Mother Thecla finished her duties in the kitchen I encouraged her to sit and try it out. I started her, as I do any student, treadling, getting the feel for a rhythm and to how the wheel wants to perform. Then after a few minutes of drafting demonstration she sat down and began spinning. She took to it with surprising ease, and little instruction. I suspect one of the contributing factors that allowed her to take to this new craft so easily was a quiet mind, free of some of the many anxieties most students come with who want to sit and begin spinning perfect yarn right away, frustrated when something that looks so easy can be so illusive.

It is my hope that this wheel, now taken out of storage, will continue to sing, spinning wool, possibly for the prayer ropes the nuns make, taking advantage of the previous owner’s , as well as the current, newer artist’s love, talent and spirituality.

Life goes on....

Recently I received the honour of becoming Godmother to one of the sweetest little boys. Though this is not fibre related it has to be one of the few events in my life that is easily more exciting that has nothing to do with fibre. We fibre enthusiasts can appreciate the magnitude of a statement like that :-) I have had this privilege before, as Godmother to one of my nieces, who is now grown with children of her own and it’s so cool to see one starting her own family and another starting his life. Nothing changes, life goes on.

Weaving the Purple yarn

As an Orthodox Christian and fibre artist, you can imagine my excitement when I first noticed, in this particular icon, that the Virgin Mary was holding what looked like a spindle in her right hand when the Angel Gabriel approached her "announcing" that she would soon become the Theotokos, "God bearer".

The story that the spindle she holds in this icon depicts can be found in one of the so called lost books, the Protoevangelion of James, in chapters 9 and 10, and reads as follows:

And it came to pass, in a council of priests, that it was said, "Let us make a new veil for the temple." 2 And the high priest said, "Call together to me seven undefiled virgins of the tribe of David." 3 And the servants went and brought them into the temple of the Lord, and the high priest said to them, "Cast lots before me now, who of you shall spin the gold thread, who the blue, who the scarlet,, who the fine linen, and who the true purple." 4 then the high priest knew Mary, that she was of the tribe of David, and he called her, and the true purple fell to her lot to spin, and she went away to her own home. 5 But from that time Zachary the high priest became dumb, and Samuel was placed in his stead till Zachary spoke again. 6 But Mary took the true purple, and spun it. 7 And she took a pot, and went out to draw water, and heard a voice saying to her, "Hail, you who are full of grace, the Lord is with you. You are blessed among women." 8 And she looked around to the right and to the left to see from where the voice came, and then, trembling, went into her house, and laying down the water-pot she took the purple, and sat down in her seat to work it. 9 And behold, the angel of the Lord stood by her, and said, "Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor in the sight of God." 10 When she heard it, she reasoned within herself what that sort of greeting meant. 11 And the angel said to her, "The Lord is with you, and you shall conceive," 12 to which she replied, "What! Shall I conceive by the living God, and bring forth as all other women do?" 13 But the angel replied, "Not so, Mary, but the Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you; 14 therefore, that which shall be born of you shall be holy, and shall be called the Son of the Living God, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins. 15 And behold, your cousin Elizabeth, she also has conceived a son in her old age, 16 and this is now the sixth month with her, who was called barren, for nothing is impossible with God." 17 And Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."

18 And when she had wrought her purple, she carried it to the high priest, and the high priest blessed her, saying, "Mary, the Lord God has magnified your name, and you shall be blessed in all the ages of the world." 19 Then Mary, filled with joy, went away to her cousin Elizabeth, and knocked at the door. 20 When Elizabeth heard it, she ran and opened to her, and blessed her, and said, "How is this come to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 21 For lo! as soon as the voice of your greeting reached my ears, that which is in me leaped, and blessed you." 22 But Mary, being ignorant of all those mysterious things which the archangel Gabriel had spoken to her, lifted up her eyes to heaven, and said, "Lord! What am I, that all the generations of the earth should call me blessed?" 23 But perceiving herself daily to grow big, and being afraid, she went home, and hid herself from the children of Israel. And she was sixteen years old when all these things happened.

One down, Three to go

I was finally able to finish the Navy Watch Cap that my DH requested before Nativity. I had to schedule a visit with my Godmother at the Monastery to find time to work on it. Being winter there was little to there do save worship and knit. Not a bad way to spend a few days. I had it all but finished when I left.

As I mentioned in an earlier post I chose an authentic pattern that I found on the Internet. It was an American Red Cross pattern circa 1941, but I am not sure how authentic it is since I chose alpaca instead of wool. And the colour is not exactly traditional either. Still my DH is very happy with it. He wore it the other day and commented on how warm it was. I guess the test will be when it gets wet, how it will respond compared to wool. At least this hat turned out better than my last attempt at a hat, which was actually my first attempt. If you ever question you husband's true feelings, see how well he wears something you make for him, that you would not be caught dead in....he swears he likes it, I just roll my eyes when I see him in it. So now, even though it is not perfect, he has something a little less hideous to wear this winter.

I now have two lace headcoverings and the Celtic cross tapestry left in the works. Hopefully, with the holidays now past, I will have more time to devote to completing these projects. Lent will be starting soon, a time for prayer, meditation and other devotions, which lends itself perfectly to this type activity since I practice prayer while knitting/spinning/weaving and/or other fibre projects. I also enjoy listening and singing hymns, troparia and kontakia when working on my projects. I know I have mentioned this before but I feel in doing so, especially when directing prayer toward the animals, giving thanks to God for those who offer their fibre for my projects, breathes life into my work.

Charities

'Tis the Season when we are constantly reminded through flickering lights, seasonal music with religious overtones, lighted candles, ringing bells, red kettles and white bearded men in red suits, even program specials on television, that promote "Peace on earth, good will toward man", that it is better to give than receive, and Charity is a virtue that should be observed all year.

As a fibre artist, what better way to use my God given talent than to help others? Google "knitted charities", as I did, and you are offered various links including the ones found at the left side of this page under the heading "Making a difference through Knitting". Unfortunately even the best intentions can become calamitous, especially if not researched well beforehand, as I found out recently. In this particular instance what I thought, especially as an animal lover, to be quite sapient, how clever to find an organization that provide people in need animals to better their financial and environmental situation, can, in point of fact, have some rather worrisome obscure concerns.

This particular organization in question promotes itself as a caring group, and on that part I have no reason to dispute, through your donations, they gift a family with an animal that can, and quite possibly will, help meet a more immediate need. Visiting their site you can view a nice slideshow of little children holding cute little baby animals, smiling with captions that include such wonderful, positive and affirmative words like "hope, blessings, disaster rehabilitation". I have no doubt that this organization has indeed accomplished just what they publicize. I remember being very excited when I read about their "Knitting Basket" program that offer fibre animals to households that by spinning, weaving and or knitting the fibre these animals produce they are ablthemselveshemeselves out of poverty and on their way to financial independence. How can there be anything wrong with that? But there is more to the story. If you look more toward long term you begin to see some real concerns, like land management, veterinary support and adequate housing. I suspect this particular organization has helped many families and I am not suggesting that they aren't doing what they feel is best for all concerned, the animals as well as humanity. Nor is it my intention to pick on them, suggesting they are the only organization that does not address these concerns. I am only trying to illustrate our responsibility to ask questions, research and take care where we direct our hard earned monies, resource and good intentions. And when I investigated this is what I found:
Animal rights vs. Livestock Donations
More Hype than Hope
Why giving a goat for Christmas hinders those in Poverty
Critics urge charities to give up the goat

Giving Thanks for Gifts

Last night as I as winding my laceweight mohair off the bobbin on to the niddy noddy to steam and set the twist I began admiring my stash. I know there are other fibre artists out there that can relate and possibly enjoy this activity from time to time. I love to just run my hands through my stash periodically, dreaming of projects that will do it justice. I came across a gift my Godmother gave me recently. I remember when she gave me this brown paper bag full of fibre that she had been given several years ago and asked if I could use it. What was visible was in questionable condition but as I put my hand down into the bag, reaching down below what was visible and feeling something so soft and luxurious that before I knew it I exclaimed, "Oh my God", giving thanks for what I knew I had found, but you can imagine my embarrassment finding I was within earshot of the class just breaking up and our Priest was teaching. He inquired if anything was wrong and I had to have him put his hand into the bag and feel how wonderful it was. He knows how much my fibre crafts mean to me and indulged me my excitement.

What I had found below was a large quantity of soft and luxurious angora fibre. Knowing what I had here I had to ask her if she was sure she wanted me to have this wonderful treasure. I told her I would be happy to teach her how to spin but as Abbess of a local Orthodox Monastery she has resigned to the fact that she may never have time to learn and wanted me to put it to good use.

I gave some to my fibre sister, we share everything, and am resisting the temptation to just spin it up and run with it, using it for the next project I find, but I want to be sure I use it wisely. I want to save it for something special.

My last visit to the Monastery I was brushing one of the dogs and collected quite a bit of downy fibre. I brought it home and spun it up. I was pleasantly surprised how well it spun and the nuns continue to bring me what fibre they collect when they groom her. I hope to weave a nice Icon scarf with it.

As I look at these gifts I have to give thanks where it is due, perhaps better not to offer it by thoughtlessly blurting it out as I did when I first reached into the bag, but a bit more privately, sincerely, mindfully.....

The Spirituality of Fibre Art

As I prepare for Divine Liturgy this morning and my mind is drawn to all things spiritual I consider that this would be an appropriate article for a Sunday.

Any spinner, knitter, weaver or anyone participating in another fibre activity can tell you how spiritual the craft is. Like gardening, canoeing, or sitting quietly, petting any furbaby, you almost immediately slip into a meditative state. Working with fibre is rich in spirituality on so many levels. When I work on a project, using natural fibres I try to contemplate how it can become a representative of the animal or plant that offered it's fibre.

When working on an article that will be used for a more religious purpose, like an altar cloth, icon scarf, even a bookmark, I will pray, recite scripture and, or, sing/chant.

There is even a technique one can use when weaving called name drafting where you can assign letters to different harnesses and spell out words and even phrases by raising the appropriate shafts. If you have ever looked closely at an icon of the Annunciation you may have noticed in the hand of the Virgin Mary, she is holding a spindle loaded with thread for weaving the curtains in the temple where she stayed before she became the Theotokos.

The active rhythm of treadling of the wheel, beating of the loom, raising and sinking of the harnesses, or knitting of the stitch can can slow the breathing, influence the rhythm of the heartbeat, lower the blood pressure, rocking you into promoting good health physically as well as mental and spiritually.

What a wonderful gift we are given to be able to participate in this labour of love. And that is truly what it is , why else would we invest so much time and energy into something that is not economically sound. Because as we all know, and this has been put to me many times, that there is no way we fibre artist could compete with Wal-mart. It is indeed unforturante that people don't take into consideration that we are creating art, not just producing merchandise. And how we would be hard pressed to try to make a living at doing this.