Crafts of Yesteryear

I’ve often heard the expression “there’s nothing new under the sun.” I wonder how true that is of handcrafts. Did one cavewoman try to outdo another cavewoman by designing a better fastener for their animal skin clothing? Seems to me that lace might be one of the oldest of the needlecrafts. And perhaps variations of embroidery. Ancient handcrafts are not limited to women, either. Working with wood has always allowed our men to be creative. Sailors have long worked macramé because of their ability and need to tie knots. They have also carved works of art (scrimshaw) on whale teeth.

Is it a desire to beautify or perk up our surroundings? Or is it a desire to leave something behind, for future generations to find, a way to say “I was here.”? Maybe it’s a combination of both.

As for how old handcrafts are, the King James version of the Bible mentions lace in Exodus 28:28. Maybe weaving is even older. Wikipedia says there is evidence of weaving a couple of million years ago in the Paleolithic era (I’m not that smart; I’m just sharing what Wikipedia says). This will probably interest my friend, Sylvia, who commented on my May 27th post about the calming effect of crafts. I rather like the idea that I am doing something that has its origins countless centuries ago, carrying on a tradition of sorts. It feels as though we’re all part of a sisterhood or brotherhood, a master plan, that keeps things going. Oh, the tools change; the materials change; but it’s the same need to create with our hands that drives us to do it.

Dear Father, thank you for helping me carry on, for letting me be part of the continuity of life.