Soulful Stitch: Finding creativity in crisis
We live in a climate where we openly divulge our lives, our everyday, on such platforms as Instagram, Facebook….a ‘status’ often played with, to give another a reason to contact us - why are we sad? Why are we “feeling grateful”? Yet there are still some of us who may hint at the backstage behind the set of the theatre that is our very lives - there are others who hide it entirely. What am I getting at? Within Soulful Stitch, both authors have carefully chosen how they reveal and conceal the challenges, traumas and what could have been seen as brick walls - not used as excuses to not create; rather creating has been their way forward, a way of making sense. Most of us do not sail through life without a happenstance, we don’t live sainted lives - we will all have…something. So lets see how we can use our somethings….
I would like to draw your attention first to the actual title of this book. It is not called “Finding creativity within crisis”; if it had been, I personally would have expected some pitter patter, where we were expected to feel sorry for these two authors. No, this is finding creativity “in” crisis. This is a positive book, full of resilience and as Holmes alludes to right from the very beginning in the dedication, ‘making the best’ of things.
I would now like to bring your attention to the overall feel which a book can create - one may finish a book feeling either deflated, elated, sad, happy, strengthened….I came away from this book feeling empowered, that is they had got through lives ‘challenges’ then I could too. I have known Cas for a long time, yet I never knew a lot about her life, just her work. That tells you something straight away - there was no in your face, tell all narrative going on and there is not in this title either. Yet knowing a bit more about these artists, makes me appreciate them more, value them more.
They give nod to the Japanese word Wabi Sabi - the imperfect beauty that can be found. This is the exact feeling I resonate with on reading this book.
I have talked only so far about the idea of the book rather than its content. Within Soulful Stitch, you will find a marriage of Holmes and Beverly to some extent yes, yet to be its more like a tandem, where both parties clearly have their own voice already. They don’t need each other to put it more bluntly. They have deliberately chosen one another. They are not new artists, each has their own following, this adds to the titles strength.
If you have had experience of the artists works before this title, then you will know both are quite different, yet I did not feel like they clashed. The difference made the book exciting.
They have selected fellow like minded artists to feature. A highlight for me was that of Jo Smith. I like Beverly came across her first at The Knitting and stitching shows where she was exhibiting at an Embroiderers’ Guild Scholar. How she has grown and continued. (Page 60,61) her work has matured, yet she always has a magic even back then. This shows to me insight and forethought in Deena - she saw this artists potential, what Smith could become.
The first review I have read by a reader noted a point that I myself noticed - we can all echo in some way. Within her review she calls this book ‘encouraging’ as she has her own set of challenges (which she does reveal in her wording) but this title has shown her that if they can, she can.
To be honest, with most titles I review, even those I have been waiting for, when they finally are published, I enjoy them for what they are, then I put them down, or they are elected to one of two scenarios - shelved in my book wardrobe of never-give-away books; or taken to someone who will enjoy them. This one will, once I bear to lose its grace for a while, be a keeper and I wager you will feel the same. I sat and read it cover to cover, all in one sitting.
Again talking content, there are five big chapters, not taken as one for each artist, they are shared. Then of course dappled with their chosen artists who are all well known to them - so every page has real depth and educative understanding. I never felt that Cas Homes and Deena Beverly had quickly chosen artists as fillers for the pages. All incorporated add to the book, they don’t appear to stand out. (you will find Shelly Goldsmith, the late Louise Gardiner and Sue Stone amongst others as contributors)
I loved how at the end of this book, each artist had written a page under the title ‘How was it for you?’. Lets’ put it out there, it cannot have been easy for two artists who of course have different experience and ways of working to write a book together. They speak honestly, but kindly of each other. If it was a challenge, it is one which they have come out of stronger.
No, I have deliberately chosen not to give the finer details of this title away. I think it is worth reading too much to spoil. Why would I tell you the end before you begin? Trust. Trust in these artists. You won’t find them telling you how to heal or develop. The visions and insights we glean are enough to make us know intuitively how to act. This is maturity.
Wabi Sabi - I will leave this title feeling closer to these artists and more grateful for their place in our world.