Slightly obsessed

Well, I've finished Sheila Paine's book on amulets and talismans which has led to me becoming ever so slightly obsessed.  Regardless of whether or not you believe in the power of these objects to perform the tasks they claim to - and as I said in my previous post I'm a skeptic - amulets and talismans are fascinating from an anthropological perspective.   The rich stories that accompany them have a great deal to tell us about the situation of the people who created them - their hopes, fears, beliefs and the threats they face in their everyday lives both real and  imagined. They are also, many of them,  incredibly beautiful.  


I noticed that triangles are a common amuletic motif and, for my latest piece I have borrowed from this tradition.   I have a beautiful old Persian salt bag - along it's side runs an eclectic fringe of plastic and metal buttons, keys, tassels and pom poms.  This inspired me to similarly embellish a piece of salvaged kilim.  Whilst I don't think I could hope to capture the raw beauty of some of the talismans on display in Sheila Paine's book I am rather pleased with the result.

I'm really looking forward to receiving Melinda's package of materials (she has made some lovely things with the bits and pieces I sent her - check out her gorgeous etsy shop at www.BeesonPie.etsy.com and her blog at www.beesonpie.blogspot.com/).  I know Melinda's worried that the package hasn't arrived yet but I am sure it will get here eventually (it's probably been delayed in customs) and it's rather nice having something to look forward to.


'til next time.