Search This Blog

...a glimpse into life on Vancouver Island, needle felting, photography, food, gardening, etcetera...etcetera
"Happiness always looks small when you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and at once you learn how big and precious it is."
Maxim Gorky

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Song for Friday...adios amigos...


My sister had planned a vacation to Mexico last July
but never got a chance to go.
This would have been the first time the family had ever been on
a plane together to a foreign country.
Steve and the girls asked Tom and I to go with them in her place
 so that's where we'll be for the next week.
We will take some of her ashes with us and spread them
somewhere warm and pretty.
She'll be with us in our hearts and of course
her spirit is always shining through those beautiful children.
It's a bitter sweet trip but means so much to the girls.
I must admit, with the cold, wet weather, I'm
looking forward to some hot sunny spells with
a cold Corona by the pool.
Have a great weekend and a fantastic week...
Adios!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Embracing my inner 'Sami'...

Today I want to talk about the Sami people.
Some people call them Laplanders.
This is not quite right according to this native Sami man:
"Lapp" means a patch of cloth for mending, thus the name suggests that the Sami are wearing patched clothes, a derogatory term and one that needs to be replaced. The word "Laplander" is also problematic since that could mean any person who lives within this region, also those that are non native. Finally there's a part of the Sami population who always have lived outside the region of "Lapland" such as the Sami's in Swedens, Jemtland and Härjedalen.

They are the only aboriginal people of Northern Europe and are known
for being nomadic reindeer herders.
File:Saami Family 1900.jpg
This photo was taken in the early 1900's of a typical Sami family.
Present day Sami people have lost their habitat due to mining,
hydroelectric dams and general increase in population and pursue
other careers but there are still some out there who live a traditional lifestyle
in rural parts of Northern Europe.
They are the only people in Europe who can legally herd and practice reindeer husbandry.
The needle work of the Sami people is beautiful and intricate.
I am working on a piece right now and have been keeping these people in mind.
Can you guess what it is?
I was also inspired by this little throw rug I have...
...and then the doodling began on a piece of scrap tissue that was lying around...
I am taking some artistic license in the designs and going a bit more swirly
and Swedish...
I feel that this sculpture may take a while given the detail but
once again, through research, I am learning about something
I didn't really know much about.
I leave you with this beautiful short video of
one Sami man's relationship with his land and his reindeer.