mary jane dodd
yesterday staci posed the question 'why are you drawn to handmade jewelry?' ... it had me so tied up all day that i decided to answer in my post...
i am personally drawn to handmade/soulmade anything... where a person's imagination, energy and hands have traveled is where i want to be... we all have a voice - and are given different gifts by which to express ourselves... it isn't always easy to find the gifts - we may stumble around trying lots of things until we do... but once revealed, the authentic blossoms...
'when we discover that the truth is already in us,
we are all at once our original selves.'
~ dogen
for me personally, my actual voice had been silenced for a rather long time... my work became a safe place for expression, reflection... words became a key part of the designs...
'words are the voice
of the heart.'
~ confucius
a number of years ago i enjoyed integrating the work of multiple people into one design... i loved combining the energies into cohesive pieces... it was like collaborating with friends... and i still love that... but now, the goal is to make everything from beginning to end... the piece then reflects my voice completely - my hands have touched each component... i have made every decision...
but why? because my soul is in each part - concentration, feelings, intentions (or not)... the finished pieces are testaments to my being alive - living, thinking, feeling... i will not, in fact can not, work if i am in a poor mood... i have to come around to it in peace or excitement...
so welcome to the group, staci...
and thank you for the thought provoking question ~
10 comments:
I so wanted to answer the same question i Staci's post, but simple words did not, could not justify how I felt about why I am drawn to handmade.
You summed it up so eloquently here in your post. Thanks!!!!
Sing it strong Mary Jane. I love to hear your voice and see your expressions of beauty in your work!
How beautiful! You all had me speechless with your answers, and its been a great way to get to know you. I think for me, its a little of everything. I love using pieces that others made in my deigns, because its like bringing friends together. I love getting to know the heart and soul of the person who made it, and combining our work to create something totally new. And I love that so much thought and love goes into handmade jewelry. It is truely art to wear! GREAT post Mary Jane! Your words alway speak to me!
I love things handmade because a piece of the person's heart is in it. I also love vintage, because I feel I'm rescuing the soul of a time.
“All paths are the same: they lead nowhere. However, a path without a heart is never enjoyable. On the other hand, a path with heart is easy—it does not make a warrior work at liking it; it makes for a joyful journey; as long as a man follows it, he is one with it.” ~Carlos Castaneda Handmade/soulmade is my heart path.
Your voice is clear, strong, and beautiful Mary Jane. :-)
And thank YOU for the thought provoking answer. It is the exact soulfull expression that I see in your work and why I love the pieces you have made and that I am honored to own.
Much Love to you.
There is no limit to your height now that your spirit is free.
xx, Carol
I love this especially: "I have to come around to it in peace or excitement." That's just so lovely and so apt -- and so beautifully said. Words to live by, for sure! Thank you.
And you have much to say, much to share...
What a special way to share so much of yourself in so many ways. Your creations will continue to go on to make a difference to other women, whether it be in a handmade component, a completed piece or in your way with words.
MaryAnn
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