Tonight the Wolf Moon hangs close to the horizon and lights up the winter sky. The idea of wolves at the door is too close for comfort for so many people these days. But wolf medicine is powerful in Native American and shamanic lore, bringing great loyalty, integrity and intuition, and a strong need to protect the family and community. Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone Park in 1995, and you can learn more about that here.
I've decided to make a small postcard-size textile piece for each full moon this year, so I will work on that tonight, though I'm also knee-deep in deadlines for the current market research report, which keeps the wolves away (just barely) from my door, so this is a working weekend.
I do have a few links to share. Arcadia is back from hiatus with several new posts on Fibercopia, and I'm so glad she's back, as she always has some amazing textile discovery. Her newest post is on Lost City Products, and do go read her posts and then visit Lost City's site. These fabrics are exquisite. The company was founded by Afshan Durrani, who studied at FIT and then looked for a way to use the textile traditions of her native India that are in danger of extinction; here is a part of her manifesto:
Lost City is driven by the desire to create the most beautiful hand embroidered fabrics in the world by employing artisans who would otherwise lose their livelihood. We believe that the extinction of the rare skills possessed by families that still earn their living working with needle and thread would deprive the world of a highly evolved art form that has existed for over five hundred years.
Most especially, visit the Process page on the site. There are several slideshows of the design and embroidery steps, and I dare you to watch them without being almost irresistibly moved to get up and draw or stitch.
Here is one Lost City fabric, called Jewel, with this note on its inspiration: "16th C. Mughal writing set. This stylized floral spray is taken from a Nephrite jade writing set embellished with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds set in gold. Northern India, circa 1700. Embroidered on a black silk ground in tones of ruby red, emerald green and gold wire."
Doesn't that infuse this ordinary day with astonishing beauty and romance? These fabrics are luxury purchases. . . just one pillow would be a treasure. Oh, and Lost City has a blog, too, that will take you to some magical places.
There is more beauty to be had at Ruth's new and improved Impulse of Delight Web site, where she sells her lovely handmade jewelry and hand-dyed yarns. I especially like this Fire Within necklace, and this Ancient Eye necklace has me imagining an entire belly dance costume designed around it, in layers of turquoise and lapis blue and coral and gold.
It's hard to come back to reality from these sites, but I must . . . I have another fun link but I'm waiting for permission to post the pictures, as they're not commercial.
In honor of the Wolf Moon, I leave you with lyrics from the wolves themselves, Los Lobos. I met these musicians in my long-ago days working at e-town, and they are some of the most talented, soulful, generous and down-to-earth humans I've ever had the pleasure of meeting -- you can hear all of that in their music.
Standing in the pouring rain
All alone in a world that's changed
Running scared, now forced to hide
In a land where he once stood with pride
But he'll find his way by the morning light
Sounds across the nation
Coming from your hearts and minds
Battered drums and old guitars
Singing songs of passion
It's the truth that they all look for
The one thing they must keep alive
Will the wolf survive?
Will the wolf survive?
-- Los Lobos, Will the Wolf Survive?
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