Three Iranians Bow Down to a Baby Jew...

Felted Nativity by Beneath the Rowan Tree

A highly unlikely scenario these days, don't you think? But, apparently, it did happen a couple of thousand years ago. Christmas is coming and with it, the same stories and images we hear and see over and over again every year. Sometimes it's good to revisit them, poke them a little, and maybe expand the images we carry in our heads.

We think of the three wise men as vaguely coming from the East with flowing robes and large turbans. The Biblical text is found in Matthew:

The Visit of the Magi

Matthew 2 (NIV)

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him. 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 In Bethlehem in Judea, they replied, for this is what the prophet has written:

6'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'

7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him. 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

I was raised as a PK (Pastor's Kid), so I've heard, sung, enacted and seen the story a gazillion times. You know, the pat version that has gotten engrained into our popular culture these last two thousand years. Sermons often do try to address the origin of these three men, what their gifts mean, downplaying the role of magi and making them into kings. Magic and astrology are NOT embraced by Christianity and here it is, smack in the heart of the biggest story in the Bible. So, of course, there is more to it, right?

I went to Wikipedia first to revisit background information. They sure do a good job of providing comprehensive data on almost any subject under the sun! Without getting too deeply into it, here are a few points that caught my eye:

• "Magos" actually refers to a cast of Zoroastrian priests, probably Persian, which is modern day Iran.
• We know them by three names, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. But, there are many variations, including a belief by Chinese Christians that one of them came from China. The three faces that now seem so familiar to us were popularized in the 12th Century and formalized by the 15th. They represent the three stages of life: young, middle aged and old, as well as the three known worlds at the time: Europe, Africa and the Orient.
• The first known artistic images of the three wise men (3rd Century) show a much different picture than what we are familiar with today:

One of the earliest known depictions from

a third century sarcophagus.

Similar attire continued for a few more centuries:

Byzantine art usually shows the Magi in Persian dress (breeches, capes, and Phrygian caps). Mosaic, ca. 600.Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy - restored.

• Finally, the symbolism behind the gifts: "Many different theories of the meaning and symbolism of the gifts have been advanced; while gold is fairly obviously explained, frankincense, and particularly myrrh, are much more obscure. They generally break down into two groups:
  That they are all ordinary gifts for a king — myrrh being commonly used as an anointing oil, frankincense as a perfume, and gold as a valuable.
  That they are prophetic — gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of priestship, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death. Sometimes this is described more generally as gold symbolizing virtue, frankincense symbolizing prayer, and myrrh symbolizing suffering." Wikipedia

Let me sidetrack here. I ran into that Byzantine mosaic several times. It's in the public domain so everybody is using it, I guess. The most interesting version was on this site called The Irish Origins of Civilization, a long, very long rant about how all as we know it started in good old Ireland. I have a tender place in my heart for the Green Emerald... Coming from Icelandic descent, there's a drop or two of blood from that part of the world running in my veins... (Danish men bopped Irish women on the head and carted them off to Iceland, right?) Anyway, if you are bored and looking for something very long to read that plays with the origin of all things, check it out. Here is a snippet:

"The term Israelite has its etymological origins in the term Iesa, the Druidic Christ. A high initiate of the Cult of Iesa was known as an "Iesa-ite" or, as it has come down to us, an "Israelite." The Israelites were worshippers of the sun, stars, and zodiac.

The Three Wise Men (referring to the mosaic above) - the Magi who followed the bright star (the sun) to the birthplace of Jesus (Iesa). This artist clearly shows the three travelers as Caucasian. The number 3 is used in the bible as a symbol representing the Druids and their gnosis. The three gifts they bore are all symbols of the sun. The gifts identify the magi as members of the Solar Cult.

They were the stellar priesthood of Ireland, and closely associated with the Chaldean and Egyptian magi. We find them obliquely referred to in the New Testament "Nativity" story. Apparently, three of their number followed the sun (the bright star in heaven) and visited the birthplace of Jesus, the king of light. It appears that the authors of the bible wished to incorporate information about the Druids early on in the story of Jesus. The references to the "three kings" and "three shepherds" are cryptic references to them, or to members of their worldwide colleges. The bible, however, does not elaborate on the visiting magi or explain why and how they came to a remote inn when Jesus was being born there."

Huh? Sorry, but there's not enough Irish in me to swallow all of this without a really, really big spoonful of sugar... I wondered if the Zoroastrians laid claim to the three men from the East. Sure enough, I found that Farsinet embraced the story, although with a slightly different twist on symbolism:

"While oftentimes conflicting lore muddles the story of the Magi, those bearing gifts for the Christ child are Caspar of Tarsus, Melchior of Persian and Balthasar of Saba. Weary from desert travel, the Magi humbly offer their gifts. Caspar is young, European and offers gold. Gold finances the Holy Family's coming flight to Egypt and also symbolizes Christ's immortality and purity. For his generosity, Caspar receives the gifts of charity and spiritual wealth. Melchior is middle-aged, Persian and offers myrrh. Myrrh is a fragrant gum, which the ancient Israelites believed to strengthen children. This symbol of Christ's mortality was blended with wine and offered to him on the cross, and also mixed with aloes to wrap his body for the tomb. Melchior receives the gifts of humility and truth. Balthasar is elderly, Ethiopian and offers frankincense. Frankincense is a resin used in incense for worship and also symbolizes prayer and sacrifice. Balthasar receives the gift of Faith. And Christ, humbling himself to become man, offers us the greatest gift of all, the light that forever burns in the darkness. "

This version uses similar references to origin as the medieval sources. It also goes on to talk about Marco Polo's reference to a visit he made to where the three wisemen were buried:

"In Persia is the city called Saveh, from which the three Magi set out when they came to worship Jesus Christ. Here, too, they lie buried in three sepulchres of great size and beauty. Above each sepulchre is a square building with a domed roof of very fine workmanship. The one is just beside the other. Their bodies are still whole, and they have hair and beards. One was named Beltasar, the second Gaspar, and the third Melchior."

Wikipedia confirms this and also mentions that the Shrine of the Three Kings at Cologne Cathedral still contains the bones of the three kings.

All very interesting. A Turkotek discussion on Zoroastrian clothing caught my eyes as I travelled the Google road. Turkotek is a wonderful resource for any textile enthusiast, especially concerning Central Asia. Expert members share their knowledge over different textiles that they find. In this discussion, they examine a pair of brightly colored bridal trousers, beaded and embroidered.



Apparently, women by the 19th Century wore these bright colors, while men unadorned costumes, much more subdued than the women. The mosaic suggests richer garb for the men of Jesus' time, but perhaps styles can change quite a bit in several hundred years...

This was about all the time I was willing to give to expanding my thoughts on the three wise men. Perhaps it is a big mind boggling to think of Iranians giving a baby Jew any kind of obeisance today. But, let us remember two things. In the first place, there was strife in the air two thousand years ago, too. After the wise men left, Herod had all babies under two killed as he was afraid the infant Jew would threaten his throne. Secondly, that whole region of the world shares much more in common than they do in difference. I believe that despite the blood shed of recent history, the people want peace. They are cousins and with good leadership (their own!), they can once again find not only tolerance, but prosperity and good will. At least that is my hope. And, I believe that is the gift the wise men saw in that little baby, the King of Peace.

Three Iranians Bow Down to a Baby Jew...

Prayer Rugs, Kilims & Suzanis, A Few of My Favorite Things by Catherine Salter Bayar

When I was a very young girl, my mom took my brother and me to the movie theater to see “The Sound of Music”. We loved it so much that we left the theater, drove over to pick my dad up from work, and went right back to see it a second time. The best part of the story was Julie Andrews cheering up unhappy children by singing, “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…” I learned then that remembering the little things I most loved was a great way to lift my spirits out of the doldrums. Perhaps that’s why I collect vintage textiles – they remind me of the best things in life.

Turkish Prayer Rug

Like this small prayer rug, probably woven by a girl not a lot older than I was when I saw that movie. Turkish village girls would start learning to weave practically as soon as they could walk and talk, so that by the time they were old enough to marry, their dowries would be complete.

Prayer Rug Tree of Life Medallion

Prayer rugs were not only good training for larger carpets; they were something every person in the home would need for their prayers five times a day. This central medallion is full of Tree of Life symbolism, to remind those who saw it to appreciate their connectedness to all those relatives in the village who nurtured their roots in life.


Hearts, floral vines and zigzags of fresh water were other reminders, along with the waxing and waning moons over the mountains as a sign of how fast time flies.

Long Kurdish Kilim Runner

Near Mount Ararat in Eastern Anatolia, Kurdish tribes would weave pairs of animals into their colorful wool kilims to recall the story of how Noah was commanded by God to collect two of every animal on the earth and take them along in the Ark.

Animals Depicted in the Kilim,
Important in the Weaver's Life

Chickens and ducks must have been an important part of this weaver’s daily life, though all sorts of farm animals are depicted here.

Woven Flowers, Representing Beauty and Abundance

And of course, flowers were almost always woven in, as a sign of appreciation for abundance and beauty. But my favorites are suzanis, especially this one:

40 Yr Old Suzani

Embroidered in Central Asia more than 40 years ago, it is a veritable Garden of Eden. Comprised entirely of flowers, leaves and tendrils in hot pinks, oranges and pungent greens, just looking at it makes me smile.


The embroiderer who drew the pattern was ambitious in the amount of detail she added. She and the friends who must have helped her did not complete stitching all the curling bits and pieces, so ink marks are still evident.

Ink marks still evident on this Suzani from the 1960's.

What fiber artist can’t relate to starting such a large project and never getting it all done?

I marvel that the backs of suzanis look nearly as good as the fronts:

The backs of Suzani embroideries are almost as solid as the fronts.

The edges are bound in a contrasting color cotton and machine stitched, but in controlled wavy patterns that would not be so easy to do.


The embroiderers did manage to stitch outlines around the border leaves. My favorite details are the chain stitched bands that enclose the border, so precisely executed they look knitted.

Scorch marks from an iron add history and character to this suzani.

Alas, someone once took a too-hot iron to the heavy sateen that I think is silk, though it may well be cotton…I’ve never snipped a piece to burn and find out. Much of the pale background is covered with scorch marks, and there are occasional stains that show that I’m not the first woman to love this suzani. Though disparaged in today’s world in which everything and everyone must be without flaw, to me, this suzani’s imperfections give it an extra layer of character on top of the beautiful embroidery. Like my favorite things in life, I’ll take the bitter with the sweet.

These three treasures can be found in my Etsy shop, along with lots of other vintage fiber art finds. Click on their names to visit the listing:

Prayer Rug

Ararat Kilim Runner

Suzani

Catherine Salter Bayar lives with her husband Abit in Selcuk, near Ephesus, Turkey, where they own a vintage textile shop and a water pipe & wine bar. A regular contributor of this blog, Catherine is also a member of our Fiber Focus group. She is currently working on a book on Turkish textiles. Visit Catherine and Abit at www.bazaarbayar.com or www.bazaarbayar.etsy.com.




Visit us: Ataturk Mahallesi, Siegburg Caddesi, 3 Selcuk 35920 Izmir Turkey
Phone: 90.232.892.6508

Prayer Rugs, Kilims & Suzanis, A Few of My Favorite Things by Catherine Salter Bayar

Fiber Turkeys on Etsy! Plus, Some Fun-and-not-so-fun Facts on the Bird...

Turkeys

Credit: Jurek D.
Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution

"Some 46 million turkeys will be eaten on Thanksgiving Day, about the same as in previous years, said Sherrie Rosenblatt, spokeswoman for the National Turkey Federation." (Gator Sports)

I like animals, all of them, and in my head I am a vegetarian. But, in real life, I am a weak carnivore and deeply ashamed by it. I don't really have an issue with animals being eaten, at least not philosophically, in an environment where they are also deeply valued as esteemed fellow beings- you know... old fashioned farms where they get to exercise, frolic, get nipped by a herding dog, mate, have their young ... or shot with an arrow by a sinewy native who then says a blessing as the animal's light fades from its eyes... (romanticized versions, of course!), but I do have a moral problem with the meat industry and how animals are treated in order to meet the quotas our society demands.

I was just going to write a cute post about turkeys on Etsy. There are some wonderful turkeys there! Like this sock turkey! Isn't it just the cutest toy for a kid?

Sock Turkey

SOCKstar $20

Or, look at the elegance in this blockprint! The artist said she was inspired by the wild turkeys that run around where her parents live.

Blockprint Turkey Towel

artgoodies $15

Turkeys really are, even with all the fleshy head stuff they have going on, beautiful birds indeed. Here's a dandy from the 1800's:

1867 Turkeys

PetitPoulailler $19.85

Meanwhile, back at the turkey ranch...
"More than 255 million turkeys were slaughtered in 2006, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service. That means the average American consumes about 17 pounds of turkey meat each year. ...

Most of today's turkeys are intensively confined in crowded, dirty sheds with no natural sunlight, let alone fresh grass or woods to forage in or trees to roost in. Millions of tons of waste from these farms pollute nearby waterways and cause other environmental damage.

Selective breeding and growth hormones have been a boon to the meat industry, causing turkeys to grow very large over a very short period of time. But the birds, unable to withstand this unnatural size, suffer numerous chronic health problems."(ABC News)

And, good ole' PETA, of course runs in defense of the turkey. Their Peta Files, listed Top 10 Reasons to Pardon a Turkey. The first one is because turkeys are really smart birds who love to play. They compared it to eating your pet cat. Number eight might be more convincing to the health conscious:

8. Turkey consumption might kill you.
"Turkey flesh is brimming with fat and cholesterol. Just one homemade patty of ground, cooked turkey meat contains a whopping 244 mg of cholesterol, and half of its calories come from fat. Turkey flesh is also frequently tainted with salmonella, campylobacter bacteria, and other contaminants. And a vegan meal won't leave you sprawled on the couch, belt buckle undone, barely able to move."

Sigh...

On the brighter side of life, fight all that bacteria with a nice turkey sachet:

Turkey Spiced Pumpkin Sachets

lynchgirl 2 for $5

Some things I didn't know about this poor bird, culled from baltimoremd.com:

- Turkeys originated in North and Central America, and evidence indicates that they have been around for over 10 million years.

- Until 1863, Thanksgiving Day had not been celebrated annually since the first feast in 1621. This changed in 1863 when Sarah Josepha Hale encouraged Abraham Lincoln to set aside the last Thursday in November "as a day for national thanksgiving and prayer."

- In Mexico, the turkey was considered a sacrificial bird.

- Domesticated turkeys (farm raised) cannot fly. Wild turkeys can fly for short distances at up to 55 miles per hour. Wild turkeys are also fast on the ground, running at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour.

- Only male turkeys (toms) gobble. Females (hens) make a clicking noise.

- The heaviest turkey ever raised weighed in at 86 pounds -- about the size of a large German Shepherd -- and was grown in England.

- Mature turkeys have 3,500 or so feathers. The Apache Indians considered the turkey timid and wouldn't eat it or use its feathers on their arrows.

- More than 45 million turkeys are cooked and 525 million pounds of turkey are eaten during Thanksgiving.

- Ninety percent of American homes eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day. Fifty percent eat turkey on Christmas.

- North Carolina produces 61 million turkeys annually, more than any other state. Minnesota and Arkansas are number two and three.

- Benjamin Franklin, the great American statesman, thought the turkey was so American it should have been chosen as our national symbol rather than the eagle.

- The fleshy growth from the base of the beak, which is very long on male turkeys and hangs down over the beak, is called the snood.

Would you like some turkey feathers? Get them from Rana Muck, who harvests them sustainably. Lots of other great bird feathers can also be found in this shop.

4 Wisconsin Turkey Feathers
RanaMuck $4.25

As I was traveling around Etsy, looking for cool turkeys, lo and behold! I found something in my own shop! I had completely forgotten about this mola, and I must say, it really is a nice one!

Turkey Mola

Rayela Art $24

So, tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the United States. 46 million turkeys, put out of their misery, will be hacked and consumed. I heard someone say once that if we eat happy food, we will also be happy. But, if what we consume is misery, than we will certainly be miser-able. Hmmm... an interesting play on words there. Get it?

Without any more dampening of the celebration, we do have much to be thankful for, at least I know I do! And, in that spirit, I wish you all a wonderful time with family and friends. Enjoy your pumpkin pie, your corn and squash, pass the rolls and give me some of that cranberry sauce...............

......gobble, gobble!

Fiber Turkeys on Etsy! Plus, Some Fun-and-not-so-fun Facts on the Bird...

Flying Messages to the Dead by Erin Stoy and John Barrie

Kite Flying in Guatemala Honors the Dead

Communication and contact with ancestors is an important part of life for people in communities throughout the world, who often put aside a time each year to commemorate and honor this connection. In Guatemala, as in much of Latin America, this commemoration takes place on the first and second days of November, with the first (El Día de Los Muertos or ‘Day of the Dead’) being the focal point. Among many activities that take place across the country, one of the most striking can be found in the town of Santiago Sacatepéquez, situated at a distance of 25km from Antigua.

A Gigantic Circular Kite with its Barrileteros

An amazing spectacle appears in the first days of November: Gigantic circular kites up to 15m (50 ft) in diameter, bearing designs of breathtaking intricacy and color, are exhibited by their proud creators. Other kites of up to 5m (16ft) in diameter fly high above the crowds. The giant kites are constructed over a period of three months by groups of barrileteros (kite makers), who compete on November 1st for prizes in different categories. The prizes received are modest, but the honor and respect gained by winning are great.

The practice of building giant kites in Santiago Sacatepéquez is now in its 109th year, and -- while its origins are somewhat hazy – many people there view the tradition as symbolizing the communication between this earthly realm and the elevated sphere of the dead. Another popular view is that the flapping of the kites’ tails in the air scares away evil spirits, giving good spirits the freedom to enjoy the day with their still-living relatives.

Guatemalan Kites Communicate with the Dead
and Scare Away Evil Spirits

The great majority of those involved with building and flying kites in Santiago are Kaqchiquel-speaking indigenas (indigenous people), and many traditional Mayan spiritual ceremonies take place around the creation of the kites each year. The process of creating, showing, and flying kites in Santiago has become an integral part of the identity of the indigenous people of the town, something that is rightly regarded with enormous pride. The residents of Santiago are happy to share this tradition with outsiders, both Guatemalan and from further afield, and every year on November 1st the town is filled with visitors eager to witness the spectacle for themselves. Visitors are also welcome to attend the wider range of events leading up to November 1st. The people of Santiago Sacatepéquez invite you to witness their colorful festivities first-hand!

Erin Stoy, John Barrie and Little Azucena in Guatemala

Erin Stoy, a regular contributor of Fiber Focus, owns La Chapina Huipil Crafts. She is an American whoʼs lived in Guatemala for over a year and a half, caring for the daughter she and her husband are in the process of adopting. During her time in Guatemala,she has developed a passion for Mayan textiles. She has been selling arts and crafts she makes from used huipiles (traditional, hand-woven Guatemalan blouses) since October 2007. Her blog is http://huipil-crafts.blogspot.com/ and her Etsy shop, which is stocked full of treasures, is http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5857359. Visit her!

Flying Messages to the Dead by Erin Stoy and John Barrie

Dead Muses: Tombstone Rubbing Silk Scarves by Alissa Sorenson

"Infant Mortality" Silk Gravestone Rubbing
by Alissa Sorenson

“Over here!”

I heard her voice – excited and breathless – and saw her waving her hands to catch my attention: all in my head, of course. Leaves crunched under my boots as I walked, stopping at each grave stone, waiting to sense a presence, and then moving on to the next. It was a large white obelisk marked “Olive,” the only word still legible after 170 years of erosion.

"Olive" and her tombstone

“Quick! Take it!” she cried, as if I were photographing her, or sketching her portrait. Take her likeness, I thought. I felt her anxiety, as if once her name were completely worn away, she knew she would be utterly forgotten.

I traced the remnant of a word with my finger. “Wife.”

“Yes, wife.”

“Buried by a loving husband,” I thought.

“Yes.” She seemed very still.

“Age 27 years,” I read. “Young.”

She seemed to be sitting under the nearby, ancient tree, dressed in a white gown with the full skirt and petticoats of her era, waiting for someone, perhaps the husband who had buried her.
My mind was flooded with stories as I draped the silk over her monument and began moving my fabric crayon over the raised letters. Did he remarry and move on? Did he die somewhere else? Away at war? Are they forever separated? I'll never know. I can only imagine these things. Perhaps I am imagining all of it.

"Olive" Detail of Tombstone Silk Scarf
by Alissa Sorenson

But I see Olive in my mind's eye: dark hair, fair skin, pretty, young, and patiently waiting under the tree by her tombstone at Greenlawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.

My desire to take the likenesses, as it were, of the long dead may seem strange to some. My father died when I was young, but I have sensed his comforting presence as long as I can remember. Perhaps this closeness with one spirit helps to develop the ability to sense the presence of others. I am no medium, and I never see the dead with my eyes, but I sometimes hear their voices and see their faces in my mind when they are present.

"Nouveau Decay", full length of the silk scarf and detail below.

As I enter a cemetery, I proceed slowly. It feels like most of the dead are slumbering, and I wait to be called by someone. I've noticed whenever there is a persona involved with a piece, the work will go more smoothly, and the finished silk will have a strange and unique beauty.

As I meander through the old sections of cemeteries, I watch for tombstones with optimum potential: raised letters, large graphics, and less erosion. Once I have developed a sense for who wishes to be remembered, I will usually complete the work using imagery from other grave stones, asking permission first of anyone who might linger. For example, with Olive, I used simple, floral designs to complement her sweet, endearing personality.

Floral details of "Olive", tombstone rubbing on silk.

Respect is my ultimate goal, along with remembrance. This is why I choose the oldest sections of cemeteries, making sure all markers were placed prior to WWII. What a horrible thing it would be to find a tombstone rubbing scarf for sale on Etsy of your beloved family member's head stone.

I am often asked how I came up with this idea. I had wanted to create my own textiles, and purchased Habotai silk, fabric crayons and rubbing plates. The plates did not interest me, however, and my supplies sat unused. This autumn, I went on the annual leaf gathering walk with my children. We bring the fallen neighborhood leaves of maple, elm, and oak home, and make leaf rubbings with crayons on paper, just like I remember doing in primary school. I realized I could do this with my silks and fabric crayons, and enjoyed the process of imprinting something real – contact with nature, more than just design.

When I began trying to think of something for Halloween, I realized I could use the same technique with tombstones, as I had done with chalk and paper in my youth. On my first cemetery outing, I wasn't sure what to expect. The call of the dead surprised me, but it felt comfortable. I enjoyed spending time with them and flexing my 6th sense, or imagination, whichever it happens to be.

"John Grim"
Details of tombstone rubbings on silk.

Sometimes I worry I might bring someone, or something, unfriendly home. After returning from my first visit, I felt a little uneasy, but decided to ignore it. I reasoned that any spirit so closely attached to a location wouldn't be able to stay with me for long. When my children came home from school, my oldest son, who has always been sensitive, walked into my studio and asked, “Who is in here?”

“Just me,” I replied.

“Oh. I heard someone say hello to me, and it wasn't you.”

“Was it a woman's voice, or a man's voice?”

“A woman's.” He looked around as if he might find someone else, sure of his senses, but then shrugged and walked away.

"Hannah Died"

I never told him where I had been or what I had been doing.
I had been to Hannah's grave that day, and I wondered if she might have followed me home, curious about my activity at her grave site. I feel she didn't stay long, though. Once the oil from the crayon has dried, the spirits seem to rest again, perhaps more content to be remembered a little longer.

"Olive" by Alissa Sorenson

You can read more stories and see more tombstone rubbing scarves on my blog: creatrixjane.blogspot.com.
Scarves are available at my Etsy shop: creatrixjane.etsy.com.

Note: Alissa is a member of our Fiber Focus group on Ning. Visit her page for more photos of her work. She also started the knitting group on Fiber Focus. Fiber Focus is a gathering place for people who are passionate about fiber art and its place in the world. Many of us are artists with stores on Etsy, but we also have interior designers, collectors and just people who want to be around fiber art discussions. We welcome new members!

The slide show below is of more of Alissa's work:

Find more photos like this on Fiber Focus

Dead Muses: Tombstone Rubbing Silk Scarves by Alissa Sorenson

Posada's La Catrina: Dancing with Life and Death

Posada's La Catrina

The happy-go-lucky skeletons have made Mexico's Day of the Dead big business all over the world. This ancient celebration coincides with Europe's All Hallows Eve by a couple of days (November 2nd instead of October 31st). Both have roots in harvest rituals and in preparation for the change of seasons, when night becomes longer than day. FullHomelyDivinity has an excellent page with articles comparing the two, but for this post, I want to zoom in on La Catrina, the dandy lady who has become one of the most recognizable symbols of the Day of the Dead.

Jose Guadalupe Posada in front of his workshop
(furthest to the right)

La Catrina was brought to life by Jose Guadalupe Posada Aguilar, Mexico's famous engraver and illustrator. Commonly known as Posada, he lived between 1852 and 1913, a time of great change, turmoil, revolution and importance in Mexico's history. Gifted with the ability to capture both events and humor, Posada popularized the Day of the Dead by depicting skeletons in every day attire. By the 1930's and 40's local artists took his lead and started a folk art industry that would soon gain the attention of collectors such as Rockefeller and the Mexican elite.

Mexico has long had a rich culture of handicrafts. Whole villages dedicate themselves to one technique or another depending on their natural resources and local traditions. Handicraft production fits neatly into agricultural lifestyles where the family rotates into seasons of production and rest. But, the Day of the Dead has captured the imagination and admiration of people from all over the world.

Papier mache La Catrina

What is it about La Catrina and her fellow skeletons that make us want to join in the fun? I believe that part of it is our fascination with death, but also a disenfranchisement of how Halloween has become a morbid, disgusting, free-for-all worship of blood lust, gore and dehumanization. I wond lots of "best costume" prizes at Halloween parties as a kid. I still like going to costume parties, but I shudder each year when the blood and gore movies and costumes start hitting the screens. I find it appalling that parents let their children dress up in costumes that elevate rapists and murderers into national icons.

The Day of the Dead centers its belief on our common ties between those who are living and those who are dead. It is believed that on November 2nd, the line between the living and the dead is at its finest, so some beloved friends and family who have passed on might just be hanging around, and if they are, it's a good idea to let them know that they are missed. So, altars bearing their favorite foods, trinkets and photos of them remind both the living and the dead about the things they shared. The Day of the Dead in Mexico celebrates life and recognizes that we are all skeletons inside, walking around. The Day of the Dead is poetry, a song, a ballad of life that also honors death.



La Catrina is a dandy. She is a Victorian poof. But, take the symbols of her vanity off, her clothes, her hat and what happens? She becomes a skeleton, just like anybody else. This is such an important reminder that our skin color, our beauty or lack of it, our possessions, are really temporal symbols.

Sabrina Zarco's quilt of La Catrina.
"Remembering loved ones doing things they did in this life."

But, even though she might have been a Victorian snob, La Catrina survives today mostly as someone who calls the living to enjoy life, to not fear death, and to embrace all of what each has to offer.


In a culture which demonizes death and old age, I find La Catrina and her friends to be a breath of fresh air. Yet, I am not Mexican. I am a big, white Viking girl with no blood ties to Mexican culture. Is it right for me to accept La Catrina's invitation for a dance? Or, should she only belong to Mexicans? Google around for Day of the Dead products and you will find lots of non-Mexican artists using the imagery. Shouldn't I be delving into my roots of runes and Norse mythology?

Novelty Creations, La Catrina Bag on Etsy

Well, that was a long time ago and I really don't have as much of a living connection with those old Vikings (although there are some great stories) as I do with my Mexican friends or all the other people I have met from many other countries. I'm one of those products of our time who has no real roots anywhere.

As a Christian, I also have ties to other cultures that have nothing to do with my blood roots. Jesus was a Jew, the Old Testament is filled with influences from Abraham's travels through pagan lands, and so my memory context is diffused into a bizarre blend of pieces from here and there. I have always been intrigued with the curses and blessings in the Old Testament, where generations are cursed or blessed for this or that. Often it happens to be seven generations. I have come to believe that perhaps that's about how long it for one generation to lose its connection with the past. Isn't this our modern challenge? To look at where we come from and what is around us, to sift the good from the bad? If that is so, then I have no remorse in sending today's Halloween out the door and replacing it with the Day of the Dead..... Will you dance with me, Lady Catrina?

Related Amazon Products
(Purchases help support this blog)

Posada's La Catrina: Dancing with Life and Death

Just A Hat? Hmmm... Dreamwoven Makes Art for Your Head!

Art For Your Head - 'Tendril' - Wearable Art with ATTITUDE

When I first saw DreamWoven's hats on Etsy, I drooled all over my keyboard.  Oh, yuck!  Well, OK, I didn't really, but I felt like it.  I wanted every hat I saw.  "Oh, this one is nice..."  "Hmmm...  this one is really cool, too...."  "Oh, but this one!  Gasp!..."  DreamWoven's hats transcend function.  They are headpieces intended to transform the wearer into art themselves.  

Several months later, I contacted her about something or other.  I didn't think I would hear back.  In my mind's eye, I imagined her to be part of the fashion world elite, a gorgeous model-like young black woman (probably because of the dreads in the hats), maybe like Tyra Banks:

In other words, someone way too cool to take the time to get back to some unknown chick like me.  (Kind of looks like one of DreamWoven's mannequin heads, doesn't she?)  Well, she did get back to me and she is wonderful!  Accessible, funny, helpful, joyful, and thoroughly happy with what she does.  We even share the same name, Rachel, so that was something to chuckle about, too.

Inca 'Winter Sky' Hat

DreamWoven's hats come in two basic styles: soft, crocheted or knitted, drapey, comfortable ones that often have long tassles or dreadlocks built into them, or ones that are more tightly constructed out of felt, also highly embellished.  The crocheted and knit hats are roomy, easily accomodating big hair.  She also weaves, so a combination of all her skills end up in some of the hats.  (Talent, talent!  Tsk, tsk...)

'Stellar'

I've made many hats over the years, too (but mine don't make me drool...).  It's always a joy to me when people wear hats, especially when they know how to give them just the right angle or tip to accent the eyes.  Sadly, many of my customers have been cancer patients who have lost all of their hair.  DreamWoven's hats would make great head coverings and much more comfortable than wigs!  So, if you have a baldy friend who needs a soft, fashionable perk, you can be assured that a DreamWoven gift would be a wonderful boost in the time of such suffering.

'Musique'

The felted hats are beautiful constructions often reminiscent of the 1920's or 1930's but with that DreamWoven twist.  Rarely is a DreamWoven hat predictable: one side may be longer than the other, pleats and embellishments come in unexpected places, and every angle means a different look.  You really have to go into each listing to see all the different ways a hat can be worn or how it looks from different perspectives.

'Amelia' 

DreamWoven's hats sell almost as quickly as she can make them, so if you see something you like, do not hesitate: buy it!  Be sure to explore her sold items on Etsy.  If you see something that you want there, ask her if she can make another similar one for you.  Also, check her blog as she may have new ones there that might not be listed yet.

'Ambrato'

DreamWoven occasionally also offers some pretty wild accessories: neck pieces and wrist cuffs.  Now, how cool is this feather tickler?  It can be worn up, as shown in the photo, or with the feathers draping down.  Wonderful fun!

'Black Dahlia' 

DreamWoven is also a member of our Fiber Focus Group on Ning.  I now count her among one of my most cherished cyber friends.  This is the wonderful side of working with handmade goods.  A real person is behind the product and when that person has a heart of gold, you know that your money is well spent!

Here is how Rachel describes her journey:

Rachel (DreamWoven) was born in an era where she was told that life must be led a certain way. Of course she believed that she could do anything she wanted and so she went wandering. She went terribly astray and far off the beaten path... but always ended up on her own two feet in a place where she was mostly understood. Rachel learned that if she wanted to do something badly enough, all she needed to do was try and even if things didn't come out just like she had thought they would, they could still be wonderful. Textile/fiber work has always been present in her life, in one form or another. And so it goes.....

Just A Hat? Hmmm... Dreamwoven Makes Art for Your Head!