Handmade
As I reflect on the passing of my Granny, I find solace in the enduring significance of handmade crafts, art, and food. During her celebration of life ceremony, I shared a poem entitled “Granny’s Hands” to illustrate her indelible legacy. Like her, I am a maker.
My grandmother’s hands were the epitome of creativity and love. From stitching together exquisite prom dresses to baking her renowned black cakes cherished by people far and wide, her hands were instruments of both artistry and compassion.
I am a maker like her because in today’s fast-paced world dominated by mass production and impersonal transactions, the need for handmade crafts, art, and food has never been more profound. They encapsulate the essence of human connection, authenticity, and tradition, serving as poignant reminders of the beauty found in simplicity and sincerity.
Through honoring my grandmother’s memory and the legacy of her hands, I am reminded of the enduring power of creativity and the profound impact it can have on our lives. In embracing handmade endeavors, we not only preserve cherished traditions but also nurture a sense of community, warmth, and authenticity that enriches our shared human experience.
Learn the Trade
To make pottery, paint, sew, and pursue other artistic endeavors, you have to cut ties to perfectionism. I’ve been able to focus on the grown aspect so much as I continue to build my repertoire of art.
Strokes in Faith
I love hosting friends for paint nights. I provide the materials, dinner, and enthusiastic encouragement for them to get a little messy and add strokes of paint to the canvas. I love watching my friends release themselves from perfectionism and just have fun with whatever comes to the canvas.
Humbling Mud
I took my first pottery class in late 2021. After watching the Great Pottery Throwdown, I was stoked to build these elaborate vases, matching tea sets, and maybe even my own toilet. However, I could barely get my clay centered and all I could manage were these tiny, wonky walls. However, I loved my first attempts. I love them even more as I see the progress I’ve made since then.
