Handwork

Dear Reader,

The Woodlands Arts Council is hosting its inaugural Texas Fine Craft Show on November 1, 2 and 3. For many reasons, I think this will be a fabulous event. What’s especially important to me is the value of craft.

I’ve always liked making stuff, especially with fibers. I remember my first clumsy attempts at sewing. My mom taught me to crochet and I was hooked—no pun intended, but it does fit, doesn’t it? I learned to knit, because when I looked for crochet patterns, I found so many knitting patterns that looked even better. Later, I learned to weave, spin yarn, and make felt.

For millions of years, we humans have been making things with our hands. We transform materials to make objects that are functional and often beautiful. There’s something magical about the process. But it’s not just magical; it’s also essential to our well being. The things we make with our hands clothe us, feed us and shelter us.

How delightful that in this complex world, we can still make stuff. Whether it’s planting seeds, making cloth, or molding clay, we humans can use our hands to transform materials, to create useful and beautiful things. And aren’t we lucky that most of us don’t have to make all these things. We have the privilege of doing so, because we want to.

If you happen to be in the area, I hope you’ll come celebrate fine craft with me at the Texas Fine Craft Show. Appreciate and celebrate the value of craft and the highly refined skill of the participating artists.

And, perhaps take a moment to notice the work of your own hands. How many things you do with them every single day. And how many things in your environment are formed by some sort of craft.

If you’d like to join me for some Coaching, Creativity or Feldenkrais, here’s what’s coming up:

Every Tuesday, with rare exceptions, we have our online Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement lesson, and it’s still Free/Pay as You Wish.

In person at the Jung Center of Houston, another Feldenkrais Mini-Retreat: Moving From the Heart, on Saturday afternoon, November 16, 2024.

Also in person at the Jung Center of Houston, Creating a New Cloth: Nuno Felt Technique. This one is always fun, and sometimes surprising.

One more thing: if you’d like to work with me privately, you can Book an Appointment for a Feldenkrais or Coaching session, or for a free consult. You can even set up a time for a private, or semi-private felting session. Or you can simply reply to this email and let me know what’s most interesting to you.

Have all the fun you can!