Wabi Sabi Threads

Thoughts on doll making, fiber arts, and creativity.

Big Oops!!!

My first post ever included a definition about Wabi Sabi that I took from the book Wabi-Sabi: for Artists, Designers, Poets; Philosophers by Leonard Koren. I never gave him credit because I intended to review this book on my second post. But I thought that first I should introduce myself, and then show some of my work, and then... inexcusably I never gave him credit. I wish that I could say that I have just remeber about it, but shame for myself, memory and justice come in form of a comment to my post. Leonard Koren himself has found this injustice. I have given him credit on the post, but trying to make up for it I'll like to review this wonderful book.

The book already has been praised by people that is interested on japanese simple aesthetic (read reviews at Amazon.com or your online bookstore), but I have to say that everything that have been said it's true. A quick book to read you may think that it's not that much, but you'll find yourself coming back ever and ever for inspiration and focus. I think of it as my inspirational muse. Whenever it seems to myself that I'm not following a correct path in my crafts, or that I'm without inspiration I open this book. For myself that is much better that browsing colourful magazines or books, because in such state I'm only able to copy-copy or to say no-no that's not it. But reading the book has inspiring and evoking powers. Even when I need to make a change at home I read or browse the book before trying to think about what to buy or fix, and it just works...What's it the secret of this book? It explains easily this complex aesthetic concept, and as it's title says it's written to be used by creative people, so it step backs and lets you think and create. This is not a do this, don't do that sort of book, I think that's also why you keep readindg it over and over.

It has also gave me the tools to love my imperfect crafts, but before thinking that this magic book it's the solution to all your creative wrongs I must say that this book altough  very interesting  and enjoyable for everyone would not be that inspiring to everybody. You must be one of those persons that enjoys the beauty of dry mud, stone with moss and cracked pottery . If you are that kind of person then the book works it's magic.

Visit leonardkoren.com site to know more about the author. I have just found out that he has more books that I will have to put on my wish list.

January 07, 2005 in wabi sabi | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Bird's Nest

I have just received "American Folk Dolls" by Wendy Levitt. It's an out of print book so I ordered it used from Amazon. The pictures are very inspiring. I have just read the chapter on Cloth Dolls and how hard was for the early american pioneers to make and keep her dolls.

They have to make dolls with the materials that were available around, when they could spare a piece of fabric, and with imagination as their only pattern. Wendy Levitt included a quote of Victor Hugo on her book:

In the same way as birds make a nest of anything,
children make a doll of no matter what.
I found this quote inspiring and have been thinking all day about creating a very simple doll, together with some wabi sabi concepts. I guess that I'm in a simplify your life crisis. But is this possible?. Is it possible to simplify dollmaking?.

I love stash and keep telling myself that I need more fabric, more yarn, more beads. I collect patterns, I know that I'll never make some of them, but I read them and study the shapes of the pattern pieces. You have too many things to learn, I keep telling myself. But I dream of making an small doll, modeste and humble yet full of beauty and comfort... like a Bird's Nest

October 14, 2004 in wabi sabi | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

About Wabi Sabi Threads

Wabi Sabi

"Wabi-sabi is a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.

It is a beauty of things modeste and humble.

It is a beauty of things unconventional"

Quoted from the book: Wabi-Sabi: for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers by Leonard Koren

Threads

1.A long very thin piece of material such as cotton, nylon or silk, especially one that is used in sewing.

2.An aspect of an argument, a story or a situation that connects all the parts together.

Iemoto

The head of a school (of tea ceremony, flower arranging, calligraphy, music, dance).

October 11, 2004 in wabi sabi | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

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