Channeling My Inner Hippie

  I have a nephew who calls me his Earthy Crunchy Aunt.  I take this as a compliment merely because Erik is one of the nicest young men and I feel certain that he would never say anything to hurt my feelings.  I think this description has something to do with my more "back to simpler times" lifestyle and, if so, then I suppose the title fits.  I do try to live a simple life.  It pleases me to do so. Here lately, I have sort of reverted back to my younger years in certain areas.  I did a lot of things during my teenage years that are all the rage these days.  The homemade soaps, cast iron cookware and homegrown food (which I look at as necessities) now make you with the "in" group.  Good thing..I have never been "in" before in my life!  

  As I was sitting on the front deck trying to cool a bit, my hands were working on a macrame plant hanger.  It was nothing fancy being just a few knots that I recalled from my teen years.  Macrame was a huge fad back in the days along with tie-dyed shirts and braids.  I had forgotten a lot of the knots but, being bored, made me start working on something that sort of fit right in with that Earthy Crunchy bit.  The project reminded me of my high school days.  Most days could find me with a mass of cords tied around my jeans leg just above the knee. This was so I could tie friendship bracelets during class whenever our teacher was not keeping a watchful eye!  Yep, it seems as if these types of activities all come full circle.  Macrame, itself, is making another show in the craft world.  The wonders of knot-tying will once again captivate me and projects will spill for with a vengeance! Earthy Crunchy Auntie is here to stay as she channels her inner hippie days!

"Knot" again!

  I have been sorting a good bit of "junk" (otherwise known as treasures) that has accumulated in the craft room.  Michael, Elizabeth and I have begun our work on the next annual clue hunt and a lot of our supplies lie buried beneath everything that we do not need at the moment.  The craft room seems to be the handiest spot to stash anything and everything. Things are now being pulled and put in their proper places.  

  Chalk it up to serendipity, but I found something that has inspired a new (yet, old) craft.  Macrame!  Yep, that lovely hippy thing we all did back in the seventies.  As I lugged out a wall hanging that I made years...no decades..ago, a renewed interest in the craft spawned.  I shall now be in search for cords to knot!  The macrame piece that I found fits well with the Little Bayou House and for years has hung as a curtain on the front door.  It is an unique piece that acts as a backdrop for seashells, starfish and sand-dollars.  

  Macrame, as a skill, has evolved into some mighty intriguing art pieces.  The art has been around for centuries and has ties (pun intended!) to all regions of the world. Some archaeologists have found evidence dating pieces back as far as the 13th century. It seems that most cultures at some point delved into knot-tying for decorative and utilitarian purposes.

  As an art, macrame comes into vogue for a while then falls from favor with the "in" crowd.   My love for it has never wavered. This is perhaps due to my granddad teaching me the skill so many years ago.  The man was amazing!  It was his intention to teach me all sorts of skills and macrame was one of the first.  He explained how while he was in the navy, he and his fellow sailors would while away their off hours creating knotted masterpieces!  I learned knotting from a man that knew his stuff! My new interest is not quite the same as the retro pieces that I used to make.  I want to try new things!  Still, what is new is old and, for some strange reason, we just keep going in circles. Art is fun.