Crafts have
always been a part of the history of our country. Pottery making, basket
weaving, furniture, as well as glass blowing and metal crafting were born out
of necessity; today our fascination with and love of crafts reflect our
appreciation of the artistry that goes into creating an object of beauty.
Crafts take
on many forms, from painting a piece of pottery or making a piece of jewelry to
works of art that took years of training and application to produce. From a
child’s handprint in plaster of Paris made in nursery school to the most
intricate piece of art, they all reflect the heart and hand of the creator.
My husband and I have lived in many
states during his military career and have visited several foreign countries. We
have accumulated boxes of pictures of these various sites, but nothing stirs
the memory like a craft purchased there. The painting of birch trees from a
street fair in San Francisco still graces our dining room wall. On display are a piece of pottery
from Washington State, an angel carving from Salem, MA, and a painting of the
beach near our last home on Long Beach Island, NJ. A series of watercolors from
a Russian artist who spent ten years in the Gulag under Stalin brings back
memories of the artist who, in spite of the many hardships he faced, painted
beautiful scenes of his native city in the Ural Mountains. A sparkling bunch of
glass grapes from Murano, a carved cross from the Black Forest in Germany, and
a carved chest brought back from China, remind us more than any photograph of
the beauty of those countries.
A desire for
a retirement community led us to New Bern. We frequently stayed “in town” on
our house building visits. Those stays always included strolls through town, browsing
through the many shops. We never missed looking in the enticing windows of Carolina
Creations, our favorite spot. During one visit, I spied this beautiful mirror, framed with
a mosaic of jewel toned glass. How
I loved that mirror! But I hesitated, knowing we were in the midst of house
building. Several weeks later, on a return trip, the mirror was no longer
there. “Well”, I thought, “I had my chance”. Of course we went inside and there was the mirror on the
back wall. The next day, my
husband shows up with a wrapped package containing…the beautiful mirror!
Carolina
Creations has such an amazing collection of crafts that it seems more like a
gallery. I continue to find unique
gifts for family and friends; glazed goblets for my sister’s new home, evening
purse for my New York friend of over 60 years, a Sticks carved wooden plaque
for a granddaughter, a piece of jewelry for my sister- in -law. My friend, who
writes an environmental awareness column for the local newspaper, was having a
birthday. What better gift than a basket made from chopsticks and cocktail
napkins made from recycled paper? I have been known to gift myself. I couldn’t
resist a whimsical metal lizard that now is propped against a window in the
Carolina Room, gazing out into the garden, much to the amusement of friends. A bronze
butterfly of beads, twigs, and leaves on hand made paper by Kathleen Masters
hangs above a painted piece of papyrus, brought back from Egypt by our daughter
and son-in-law; different works of art on hand made paper from countries on
opposite sides of the earth.
If North
Carolina in general, and New Bern’s Craven Arts Festival, Art Walks and
Carolina Creations in particular are any indication, crafts in the United
States are alive and well. It is heartening to know that the love of hand made
pieces of art will always be with us. There may be trends that come and go and economic
ups and downs but, like our beautiful mirror, love of artistry will win out.
Thank you so much Joan!!
from all of us at Carolina Creations
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