Hand-made by olivetreeann

Hand-made

I am always fascinated when I watch someone knit, crochet or make lace. I think it's amazing that they can push and pull those needles and form loops and twirls that eventually turn into something beautiful, useful or decorative. I don't know how they can read a pattern and figure out what to do. It's beyond my comprehension. It has always amused me that the term "hand-made" had a negative connotation for some time. As if some impersonal machine had a heart and better intentions in its motorized production of the article you were about to purchase! How could a machine possibly have the intellect and loving thoughts that the person who made the doily in my picture did? How would a machine know (unless it was programmed to know) that the lighter green blends so smoothly with the darker green and that the flower would look so pleasant with varied shades of magenta, rose and pink? It seems to me that something handmade is of higher value and finer quality than something mass-produced. It seems to me that when there is a Designer, a Craftsman, that those hand-made items reflect the one who made them and their importance to that person. Each stitch, each loop, each crossing of yarn or thread, speaks of care, of thought, of time invested and of art. If I can see this in the craftsmanship of lace or mittens, why not in the way I am made as well? Am I not in some ways as complex and intricate as a lace doily shaped like a flower? Am I not more than merely a conglomeration of atoms and cells held together by flesh and bones? I do believe that Someone designed this pattern of the human body with its complicated and interconnected systems and the organs that keep me functioning day to day. Yes, I do believe that I am as fearfully and wonderfully made as the vintage heirloom doily that graces the end table in my living room.
awesome shot
January 6th, 2012  
@bk12racing Thank you Mike!
January 6th, 2012  
Wow! Are you sure that you don't want to be a writer, Ann. And a photographer too?!! Beautiful comment. Wonderful photo . . makes me want to go to an antique store and buy an old doily. :)
January 6th, 2012  
I want the option to like karenann's comment. She is right. Both your words and picture are touching
January 6th, 2012  
So very true. So many hours so lovingly invested. I love my crafts and am grateful for the crocheting skills I've learnt on YouTube (of all places). Lovely shot
January 6th, 2012  
That is so pretty - I have something like this from my Mom.
January 6th, 2012  
I agree 100%. All the little intricate details of our lives, it is so amazing to think about.
January 6th, 2012  
Very pretty
January 6th, 2012  
Well said and photographed.
January 6th, 2012  
@karenann Thank you so much for your kind words Karenann- yes I would love to be a writer/photographer. And in some ways I already am- and in many ways I'm not- at least not professionally. I feel like both have improved immensely the first yr. of 365. Who knows where God will take it from here. Oh- and you don't need to buy a doily. You have all those lovely quilts!
@pandorasecho Thank you so much Dixie! I take that as high praise from a published author! I don't know if 2012 holds that for me yet. I haven't pursued it before. Maybe I will now.
@kezzam Thank you Kerry!
@friendie Thank you Carole!
@digitalrn Thank you Rick! It is amazing! Ps. 139:14
@kerristephens Thank you Kerri!
@httpgeffed Thank you Colleen!
@bk12racing

Thank you all for such encouraging and uplifting words. This has made me realize I have some thinking to do as to other options I could be looking into while I am unemployed!
January 6th, 2012  
Thanks for the little seromette. This is so true. I also agree totally with your thoughts on something that is handmade as opposed to mass produced. Thanks Ann for sharing this with us
January 6th, 2012  
@bkbinthecity Thank you Brian- sometimes I start to write and these things just come pouring out. I'm glad you enjoyed my musings!
January 6th, 2012  
I love hand crafted things like this, its beautiful
January 6th, 2012  
I love what you said, Ann. So true. I often look at my dogs and am always amazed at just how perfect they are in every way.
As for hand-made goods, it seems to be a dying art. I have tablecloths that my grandmother crocheted and other items that my Mum made that were created with love, and these are some of the things I treasure most.
January 6th, 2012  
and beautiful picture too.. =)
January 6th, 2012  
beautiful ...............
January 6th, 2012  
Stunning doily - the colours are beautiful! I used to be able to knit following patterns - these days I think I could make a square if I really tried...
January 6th, 2012  
Great photo - my mum is one of those people who knits, sews, quilts, crochet etc, she is amazing.
January 6th, 2012  
Each cell, each person, each family, each community of human beings DO seem a planned miracle, don't they? This is so pretty. NEver thought about that "handmade" connotation....I guess it was because first, everythign was handmade so they did not even use that word. Then, when industrial era hit, with factories and such, people just jumped on the bandwagon that that as better. And sometimes, maybe it was...like I am listened to this book "Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress" and the villagers marveled at how FAST a machine could sew and how tight a nd even the stitches were compared to their sewing. That makes sense, but decorative things like quilts and doilies....certainly etter hand made I think! Now, when we are used to poor quality goods (coming mostly from CHina...how ironic) we want handmade again. So interesting.
January 6th, 2012  
Your sure have a way with words, Ann, in additon to your wonderful immage(s)
January 6th, 2012  
first i admire you for your photos and now i admire you for your prose. why, you could have fifty of your best photographs, weave stories or commentaries like this on each one, publish them in a book and you are guaranteed at least 100 units sold (i'm going by the number of your followers). i'm going to buy more, of course, to give my writers group and tell them this is how we should write, peeps!

in grade school, i couldn't make a loop in crocheting during home eco class i had to borrow someone's to show the teacher. when i did learn it in high school, i did for my project a coverlet for my bed. wowsa! too heavy for washing so coverlet got sent to a relative in the u.s. then here, there was one time in my volunteering days when i had to teach young girls how to crochet. go figure. nice shot and i love those colours.
January 6th, 2012  
Your picture does justice to the handwork and the sentiment. If we spent time together IRL, you could be certain I would be trying to teach you needlecrafts. They are a wonderful outlet for expression.
January 6th, 2012  
Just the reasons I learned to sew!
January 6th, 2012  
@sarasdadandmom Thank you Terry!
@kloud Thank you Bonnie! All life is amazing in that way. I learned about these amobes once that have little propulsion motors in them to get around. Motors!! These are supposed to be "simple" life forms!
@inertie Thank you so much Inertia!
@sarah19 Thank you Sarah!
@alia_801 Thanks Alia- you are too busy "knitting" magic on the dance floor now!
@nicolecampbell Thank you Nicole!
@espyetta Thank you MaryBeth. I think it became fashionable to call something handmade again as the quality of mass produced items went lower and lower. Is it interesting though on how some items were out of favor and now are back in favor. That is the more subjective aspect of art and creativity. Good food for thought!
@photobutton Thank you so much Siv!
@summerfield Thank you so much Vikki! I am toying with the idea of putting it together in a book somehow. Just not sure what to do, where to begin, theme- who knows. It takes a while for these ideas to germinate for me. But I was certainly thinking of tying it into my first year's journey on 365. As for this piece- this one came out rather easily as some of them do. Others find me walking around the house and talking to myself and God a lot trying to figure out what's attempting to bubble up from deep inside. Whether it's shaping a picture or forming words, it is a process! lol about teaching crochet. Although it's a totally different scenario, that's what happened with my Worldview class in seminary. Took it because I had to, ended up teaching it for the two years when I was employed! Boy was I glad I paid attention even though it wasn't my cup of tea!
@dmariewms Thanks Marie. I did do cross-stitch for a while (the pre-printed kind), but then I got into photo-scrapbooking and I've stuck with that. I have made a few baby bibs in the last two years, but that's the extent of what I have the patience for!! I do admire anyone who can do needlework of any kind without a pattern!
January 6th, 2012  
Lovely work
January 6th, 2012  
@sgoodin1 Thanks Sara- and good for you! Sewing is a great hobby! I've had several friends who were accomplished seamstresses. Their work was absolutely beautiful. One even designed her own clothes.
@steeler Thank you Howard!
January 6th, 2012  
This doily is ery intricate and beautiful..your words gave it even more meaning. I' afraid I never learned how to crochet. lovely picture and comment.
January 6th, 2012  
@bruni Thank you Bruni- netiher did I! I tried knitting a LONG LONG time ago when one of my cousins was starting, but gave up rather quickly. I enjoyed the texture and colors of the wool, but not the knit and purl of it all. Years later I took up weaving for a while and my enjoyment of yarn was better suited for that! My daughter-in-law inherited all that stuff when we moved to this house. But with 2 little ones and a 3rd on the way, I have a feeling it will be awhile before she actually gets around to setting it all up!
January 6th, 2012  
Bev
I'm bad with yarn. I'm a lefty and nobody in my family could teach me to knit or crochet. I love all the things people can make from just a few balls of yarn. This is really well done. And you captured it beautifully.
January 6th, 2012  
A beautiful photograph to illustrate your thoughts. I've recently started doing some embroidery again and would like to photograph (other people's) embroidery work.
January 6th, 2012  
@olivetreeann wow weaving....at least you someone is getting some enjoyment out of it soon I hope..too bad when one downsized some has to stay behind so to speak...are you really feeling at home now where you moved to?
January 6th, 2012  
my grandmother used to do loads of those, even when she was not bright anymore. I like the way you composed and processed it
January 6th, 2012  
@prttblues Thanks Bev. My mom was a lefty too! So was my grandmother (dad's mom). I remember my mother telling me that she was allowed to write lefty, but for everything else her mother insisted on using the right hand! I guess my mother's mother didn't want to deal with it at the dining room table or in social settings! I don't remember if my mother did any knitting, but she did do "smocking". Many of my dresses in early childhood had her handiwork on them but I don't know what happened to them all. Such a shame, I'd love to have one now!
January 7th, 2012  
That is a beautiful photo of a beautiful piece of art! Nicely done! Thank you, also, for the vote in the family theme! It really made my day!!
January 7th, 2012  
@louisefrance Thank you Louise! That's a great goal- both to embroider again and to photograph it. A wonderful blend of two creative expressions and passions!
@bruni Oh yes, we're well settled here. We've been here 8 years now. I really didn't mind giving the loom etc. away because I hadn't really touched it for years and I knew Becky would care for it and use it. My arts and crafts favorite had become photoscrapbooking and that keeps me busy enough, so I really don't miss the weaving at all.
@woot Thanks Davide! I'm sure your grandmother must have done some lovely work!
January 7th, 2012  
@mtol Thank you Maria! I vote them as I see them and feel them and I believed you deserved it! (o:
January 7th, 2012  
How lovely!!! I also admire hand-made items and agree with you. It looks too complicated for something I would ever consider trying, although I might some deay. Photography and some of my other hobbies are difficult enough, so I try to keep everything I do simple. "Jane of all trades...master of none" approach in other words.
January 7th, 2012  
@cimes1 Thanks Carole. When my boys were little I had started collecting all kinds of craft projects to do, but at one point I realized I wasn't happy doing things that way. I finally settled in to photo scrapbooking and have been doing that as my hobby ever since. I occaisionally do a cross-stitch baby present, but nothing I count out myself- it's always pre-printed!
January 7th, 2012  
Wow! I love the photo but I love your reflective, well-written and thoughtful words just as much!
January 7th, 2012  
@potsbypam Thank you Pam! Sometimes I think about what to write ahead of time, and sometimes the words just come out as I type the commentary. This time it was the latter. Hadn't really planned for it to head in the direction it did, but I really liked how it turned out.
January 8th, 2012  
this is beautiful
January 8th, 2012  
@alicardwell Thank you so much Ali!
January 8th, 2012  
Beautiful
January 11th, 2012  
@sanera Thank you Samantha! Especially since I know you're strapped for time!!
January 11th, 2012  
OMGosh! My made some that look exactly like this. Colors, everything! That's crazy!
February 6th, 2012  
@annaruth There was a time when this was very popular. I don't know who made this, but it was in my grandmother's house.
February 6th, 2012  
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