At least that 's what I was doing thinking of how to start the book, when it hit me (or at least rolled in to me): circles! As the patina of age glosses over the scrapes and sparkles of my early days, I become more aware of circles and the cyclical patterns in our lives. So my start in crafting has, perhaps, come full circle.
Mom was only trying to keep me occupied during the long, lazy summers we spent at the lake with my grandparents, but the project she introduced to me almost 60 years ago started me crafting, one of my greatest passions today.
What kept me busy for hours was rolling long triangles of shiny magazine paper into beads and stringing them to make colorful braclets and necklaces.
That memory was brought into sharp focus a few months ago when I ran across an article about "Beads for Life", an organization based in Uganda that sells beautiful "paper bead" jewelry made by women who are working to overcome the poverty that ravages their lives.
These photos are of some of the treasures I purchased from them and a couple of simple items I was able to make from their loose beads. What you cannot see is the nostalgia that washes over me! It's almost as if the circle begins again.
All or part of this entry may be added to the beginning of the book!
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5 comments:
What a great story. I think this kind of repetition and closure happens a lot if people look for it.
wow - beads out of paper! What an interesting post - reminds me of something I saw on TV, about women in Africa starting businesses of their own. Wonder if it is the same group?
I've think I've heard about those Uganda women. I think they made a documentary on it? Anyway, nice post. :D
Interesting post!
Looking back into our childhoods, we begin to see who gave us a nudge into the creative people we are today - Sometimes the intention was just to keep us busy, silly how that works.
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