Hello friends! Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! Today (January 4th) is the 11th Day of Christmas. I'm here with a project and post that represent the collision of several of my favorite and most beloved things, including the 23rd Psalm, spinning (wool, the sheep and the Shepherd!), stamping/card-making, and growing up in Louisiana!
I recently had a conversation with a friend about a book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, telling her about how learning to spin has deepened my understanding of the words of the 23rd Psalm and of my relationship with the Shepherd. She's a friend from Louisiana where preparations are underway for the arrival of 12th Night tomorrow night, which is the big kick-off of the Mardi Gras season.
The book is wonderful, explaining the relationship of the sheep with the shepherd, much the way an infant is dependent upon its mother and father. Then there is also the reverse, the shepherd and his family depending upon the sheep for clothing and even for food. Becoming a spinner has really taught me to appreciate natural fibers, of the renewability and sustainability of wool. There is so much Life to learn here!
Last week I mentioned the significance of 12th night and Epiphany in relation to my Louisiana heritage, but here is a little more to the broader story. Historically women worked as spinners and took off the 12 days of Christmas, those days between Christmas and Epiphany, returning to work on January 6th, the day after 12th night, which was also called Distaff Day. (The distaff is a staff used for holding fiber from which it is drafted to spin with a spindle or wheel). With a loaded distaff, a woman could carry her spindle and fiber supply with her as she went about her other daily chores. Fiber preparation, spinning, knitting, weaving, and sewing were only a portion of the way she would spend her day. It is really mind boggling to contemplate and comprehend!
Here's a photo of my ready-to-be-dressed ring distaff (made by Enid Ashcroft) and my Mardi Gras support spindle (made by Allen R Berry). The fiber is in Mardi Gras colors of purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power).
Modern spinners enjoy spinning as a hobby and often purchase special "12 Days" fiber sets. You can see some of mine in the background of the table-top photo above. I'm traveling on Friday to a Distaff Day weekend gathering in Orlando, and looking forward to hanging out with other spinners and knitters. And can I just say...I am so glad that nowadays we spin for fun and not because we need/have to! Being required to would take all of the fun out of it imho!
OK, so that was a really long detour, but it explains why these words and images speak so significantly to me. It was the convergence of all of these things that lead to the idea for this simple card. I believe that the love poured into your card-making from the things that you love in your life will find its way to the ones who receive your thoughtful creations. So put your heart into it!
I used two Stamp Simply sets to make the card. One is an older Sympathy set which includes the words of the entire 23rd Psalm, and the other a newer set which includes the praying hands image and the sentiment that I used on the inside of the card. I stamped directly onto the designer paper with inks that could be used safely with Copic markers.
And here it is with one of my Turkish spindles (also by Enid Ashcroft) and a beautiful wool/silk blend of fiber from one of my 12 Days of Christmas fiber sets. I've been spinning daily for quite a while, but for December joined some Advent and 12 Days spins, #spin15aday and #100daysofspindlespinning
Supplies:
- Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Pray Without Ceasing
- Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Deepest Sympathy
- Craft Consortium Bloom & Wild 6x6
- Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Gray Flannel
- Petaloo Botanica Minis - Fuchsia
- May Arts 5/8" Faux Linen Canvas Ribbon Sampler - 27 yards
- Kaisercraft Self-Adhesive Round Pearls - Pearl
My hope is that this post will prompt you to think upon the details and be reminded that the Shepherd cares so deeply about yours! The most basic and the most intricate. There's something to look forward to in that for this new year!
So next week you'll find me spinning Mardi Gras colors, baking (and eating) gluten-free King Cake, celebrating the Shepherd/King and gearing up for the next holiday! 💜💛💚
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