Crafted Works of Yesteryear

I was thinking of the handcrafted works from centuries ago. I remember drawings of huge tapestries that kept the chill out of old stone structures in other countries. Folks made beautiful but practical braided rugs to keep the chill off their cold floors. Our own lovely laces came from the works of humble fishermen and their intricate nets.

Today, our practical works are smaller. Cell phone and water bottle carriers. Holders for stashing plastic grocery bags. Doilies, some rugs, placemats, sweaters and shawls and slippers, blankets and hats for preemies and for the homeless. Larger projects are not so visible. I remember my mother crocheting whole sets of curtains for the windows, and both knitting and crocheting huge spreads for the big beds. It’s true that many folks today still make tablecloths and bedspreads, usually in smaller pieces and joined.

A lot of the changes in our choice of projects has to do with time. We try to fill every waking moment with something or other. Sometimes we have no choice, and life fills up those moments. So it is a wonder we are even still doing handcrafted works. We are more creative with our projects today, I think. We find many needs to fill. We then design something to fit that need. That is wonderful. Times change. Craft projects change. But the love of working with our hands is an eternal joy.

Thank you, Dear Lord, for the ability to work with my hands, no matter how large or small my projects.