Matryoshka Stones

A few weeks ago I offered a sneak peak of something I called my matryoshka stones. Here is what I said about them . " I am using that word not in the literal sense of a stone within a stone within a stone but more in the sense of layers each with a different tactile emotional response. The idea came from a blog post I read just over a week ago by William Horberg. If you recognize that name it is because he is my amazing friend Elsita's husband. His post that day was about a review written by Tom Hall about the movie Bill produced , Synecdoche that was at the Toronto International Film Festival. In the review Tom said "Synecdoche is a film predicated on the power of loneliness and longing, the deep and inarticulate desire to connect to life, to the universe, and it is this desire that delivers the film's dramatic thrust. Each emotional misfire, be it feeling overwhelmed by loss during sex, say, or humbling oneself in the face of a great untruth in order to receive forgiveness from a long, lost loved one (and have to have that forgiveness revoked), provides a new layer of meaning, another box within a box, a matryoshka of tears and triumph." I haven't been able to get that line from replaying over and over in my head since reading this. A matryoshka of tears and triumph . Brilliant!!!! So what does this have to do with stones you ask. I am working this out still but my idea is to start with a cold smooth stone , layer it with a complex , delicate lace pattern and then with a warm, soft layer of felt or to reverse the layers. I then want to leave small opening where you can catch a glimpse of what lies underneath ." When we were small these openings were large and all our emotions are laid out in the open but as we experience life the openings become smaller and the layers more numerous and complicated until sometimes the tiny openings are barely visible except to those that are very close to us.  These are my stone interpretation of this concept. They are made with sea stones collected from Cape Breton , hand made wet felting and crochet with vintage cotton.I guess I had gotten so wrapped up in writing tutorials in September that I forgot to post the finished projects. <b><b> Thank you all for your wonderful tips for aromatherapy inside and out to treat my cold. With your help and that of my youngest daughter I no longer feel like this. Here is a totally unrelated cartoon I saw in one of my medical magazines.

Comments

[alice]

Your stones are so beautiful :)

[Alex]

I like your interpretation.
And the results are so beautiful.

[saganaga]

The fuzzy ones turned out lovely, they look so soft...

[karyn]

these stones are beyond amazing! i'm in complete awe with their gorgeousness.

[Patricia]

Your matryoshka stones are beautiful!

I like what you said about the openings being larger when you're a child, and then closing up as we get older, with only a few people being able to see all the way through to the core. So true!!

There is a Dickens quote from Oliver Twist that resonates with me, and with what you have done here:

"The persons on whom I have bestowed my dearest love, lie deep in their graves; but, although the happiness and delight of my life lie buried there too, I have not made a coffin of my heart, and sealed it up, forever, on my best affections. Deep affliction has but strengthened and refined them."

Have a wonderful week!

[Rane]

I am glad that you feel better.
Did you try the ginger tea, or the cloves? Or just stuck with soup? Anyway I am happy to see your creativity! Very beautiful! I think that Doll is visualy shocking and I might have nightmares! LOL!! Where did you get such a thing???
Rane

[marni]

These are so beautiful, as you explain them in concept and as objects. I really admire your ability as an artist to successfully represent such complex and human concepts in tangible form. And I love how you keep things so simple: rocks and fibers. Just awesome.

[Crafty Gardener]

I love the stones in their crochet outfits.

[rebekah]

i'm glad to hear you're feeling better! (and i agree, that doll is frightening)

love

[mrs. french]

words cannot express how much I love this post and those stones...oh how I wish I were talented in this way...I would make a room full and the meaning behind them gives me goosebumps.

[karen]

Peepholes into the human psyche....perfect portrayal.

[Tiel]

whilst reading this, I felt like stripping the layers down. then I wanted to break open a stone to reveal what was inside.

looking forward to more developments...and layers!

[Kristen]

Your work is beautiful!

Thought I would leave a link to a recent Threadless t-shirt (couldn't find on the Threadless site so this is from a blog:

http://images.nevitsky.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SLO7CgoKCBwAAD6rsic1/russian-doll.gif?et=lENc9OeQsIfsaJoR4ERBpQ&nmid=0

[Chula]

Admiro mucho tu trabajo y tus piedras. Para mi la naturaleza es también un a fuente de inspiración. Te he dejado en mi blog un pequeño homenaje. Espero no ofenderte y haber hecho una buena interpretación de tus creaciones. Felicidades por tu blog.