handmade

Back in January there was a chain letter of sorts going around on facebook where the first five people who commented on one’s status would be the recipients of a handmade gift. In turn, those five people were required to repost the status and make the same handmade promise. I’m usually not a fan of chain letters but there was something endearing about this one. So, I decided to comment on another photo major’s status of whose work I particularly enjoy and re-posted the message onto my status. After I posted it, two things happened, my mind went into overdrive about the things I wanted to make and I became regretful about re-posting it. I loved the idea of the chain status but didn’t like the conditional aspect of it. I didn’t want people to have to participate in this chain letter in order to receive something handmade from me. So, I toyed with the idea of randomly selecting 5 people from facebook to make things for but I also wanted to make things for my family and friends. After some thought, I decided to delete the status and instead dedicate myself to making mostly handmade gifts this year. Towards the very end of February, I started on my first handmade gift for the year, a Korean pepper stuffed toy for my friend’s birthday. 

dome cleaner

 
This has to be one of my favorite sights that I saw at my uncle’s 70th birthday lunch at the Space Needle a few months ago. I think I was the only one at the party that was captivated and obsessed with what I saw. I was absolutely fascinated with the progression of their work and kept checking back to see how far they’d come. I also don’t think it helped that the distance made them look miniature with my affinity for miniature things. This is one of the many pictures I took. Lately, it’s been reminding me to pull back and look at the bigger picture as it were. I have a tendency to forget to look at the bigger picture or do so sparingly, because oftentimes it can result in insensitivity and can diminish the individual. However, I think in this moment it’s important for me to follow this line of thought because like the dome cleaner I am making progress, it’s just difficult to see past that expanse. Hanging from a thread, I would imagine it would be difficult not to focus solely on the space in front of them. Those weary arms becoming wearier from all the work that seems to lie ahead and it’s impossible for them to see that they are in fact halfway there.