books and boots
Christmas morning dawned dark and snowy
nobody could remember when we last had snow for Christmas
the excitement was very real
and knowing that it can melt rather quickly
I went out in my pj’s to get some pictures
it had all melted by the evening!
the book is finished – just in time!
I filmed a video of the pages but now can’t get it to play
the beginning
and the end
a friend, who is downsizing – like me – passed this on
a very old Japanese bobbin winder
a kiwaku or itowaku with one square bobbin (itomaki)
I just could not say no
look at those hand cut gears – and they turn like butter
so if I take in one thing I have to give up two – what goes?
but then she gave me a book
those of you who are regulars here know I don’t need more books
but I couldn’t turn this down either
and I know who I can pass it on to
such beautiful work – all hand done
amazing!
and how to make a pair from caribou hide
just in case you have the materials in your stash
a wonderful surprise at the end of the year
the BOOK!!!!! oh, well done! maybe someday i will give it a read. the book, the boot book and the gizmo, these are three pretty wonderful objects. i have our boots, it’s a gem.
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Velma – I thought you had posted “Our Boots” a long time ago, lovely book. Thinking of making a box for my book… Hope you are managing in the cold.
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yes! make a box for it. if so, will you weave the cover fabric, or use book cloth or paper??? snoopy me.
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Velma – thinking about it, woven might be too heavy. If I use dyed cotton, sandwich it with double-sided interfacing and a very light mulberry paper it works well. Just have to decide on the cotton and perhaps dye it.
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Jean! These boots are wonderful. Happy New Year to you. I can’t do the caribou hide but I can manage a moose hide. Does it have to be raw hide or cured. I will be working on a cow hide in the spring, and I possibly could get some moose as some friends were lucky and got the draw to hunt one. Thank you for the posts always very inspiring. Best Monike
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Hi Monike – Happy New Year, lovely to hear from you. Hope all is well. Thanks for your generous offer but I don’t think I’ll attempt making boots, the ones in the book are true works of art which took years of skillful practice to achieve. It would be like learning to spin, weave and dye with new materials and starting all over again. I already have too many things in the unfinished cupboard!! Keep in touch, thanks again.
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Your book looks great and T.S.Eliot at the end, how appropriate, Four Quartets is my favourite book of poems. Great friend as well, how could you not accept such gifts.
I am trying to downsize as well, its hard.
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Debbie – yes, downsizing is very hard! I’ve always loves that T.S. Eliot quote, it seems like the story of my life.
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SO many treasures! Seeing the book finished is wonderful–what an undertaking! And the bobbin winder found its perfect home–I can’t imagine anyone who would appreciate it more than you.
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Kerry – I need to stop accumulating stuff but the bobbin winder is so special. I think of the hands that must have used it in the past and all the silk it must have wound. (isn’t that a crazy English word!)
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A lucky lady. The snow would have made it extra special. I own two of the old bobbins,, one with lemon coloured silk, the other with violet but no wonder. Very special indeed. I wait with bated breath until I see your hand made boots here. Did you decide what to throw out or recycle elsewhere. Too late in the year for decisions!
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Judi – funny lady, nope don’t think I’m going caribou hunting or tanning. As a kid I always wore double walled deerskin moccasins made by an elderly aboriginal man. Got my last pair when I was in nurses training when he was in his 90’s. Have never been able to replace them. As I received 2 things I have to dispose of 4 things, that will teach me to say no! I’m going to reel a skein of Bryan’s silk onto the itomaki.
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Awesome Caribou book – I hope I can have a look at your hand made one some time!
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Kjerstin – anytime and I think you would enjoy the boot book, I haven’t started reading it yet but it is quite exciting.
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