Extolling the Expressive Life

Libby Brooks had an interesting article in the Guardian on the 9th. Bookended with a look at a thriving London knitting store, her piece really addressed the concept of "expressive life." US writer Bill Ivey coined the phrase and envisions "... creativity and heritage as the fabric of our society that gives meaning and value to our lives." (Ivey's introduction and the entire group of essays called "Expressive Lives" can be downloaded on the Demos site.) These essays raise the hope that out of our current economic woes and many people's disgust with consumerism, a new rebirth of the arts and crafts movement may come about. "The old manifesto has serious contemporary traction," Brooks notes, "respect for nature, dignity of labour, importance of long-garnered skills, access to beauty for all." Brooks likes that fact that craft is slow ("You cannot Twitter a cushion cover," she observes!), has a meditative quality, and is egalitarian.

I hope that these predictions are true and that many more people find a way to make their lives expressive. My expressive life helps me bring together the disparate elements of my life and make a sensible, cohesive whole of them. It also provides me with a strong sense of satisfaction in making something beautiful and meaningful with a practiced set of skills.

Owls

OK, I'll admit it. I'm vamping because I haven't had time to finish quilting either of the two pieces I'm working on, but at least it's a new post. These are some of my favorite owls in the collection that I keep at school. The one above came from Hawaii and was given to me by a friend and co-worker in Indiana. She went to visit her stepson in Hawaii and carried it back in her purse so it wouldn't get broken.

This is a fantastic Arts and Crafts tile from Motawi Tileworks in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I love just about anything from the Arts and Crafts Movement on both sides of the Atlantic!

This is a lovely little glass ornament of an owl in flight. Originally intended as a Christmas ornament, but so wonderful that I display it always.

Kathy over at Pink Chalk Studio fed my fancy for owls the other day when she posted about a new pattern she was offering called Little Owl. You can make a little quilt or a bag. It arrived yesterday and I haven't decided which to make first.

I know Robin of Simply Robin has posted about liking owls and Susan of Incremental Victories posted a fantastic picture of a barred owl that visited her yard. Any other owl lovers out there?