Creative Log: Introducing The Wilsome Knots Collection
Note: I started this post almost exactly a year ago today when I quietly launched my first collection of knotted fiber art. And then, I got pregnant just a couple of months later and my whole creative process got thrown for a loop. As it turns out, I’d end up circling back to these knotted pieces for the long haul after all. Story below…
About four-ish years ago, I woke up in the middle of the night with the WORST pain in my wrist. After scans, doctors, and physical therapy for my hands - I made the decision to give up knitting. It was that or surgery, which in my particular situation could possibly have been counter-productive or just a waste since what was causing the pain could just have reoccurred.
Did it sting having to give up a craft that I love? Sure, but everything else was still on the table. So in the end, it was the right decision for me.
So, I gave up most of my yarn stash and all my tiny needles (been keeping the large ones for future hope I might be able to knit again.) But there were some skeins, mostly ones purchased on my travels that I just couldn't imagine letting go of.
Then, on a trip to Washington D.C. I visited the National Building Museum and in the dollhouse exhibit - I noticed some little miniature god's eyes in one of the modern houses. That ticked off an idea that maybe I could still work with yarn, just in different ways.
Instead of testing small ideas, I dove in head first back in 2016 and grabbed a four foot piece of drift wood and essentially knotted up a tapestry of about three feet by two feet. Sadly, it's now in storage and needs to be blocked - but I was super happy with it and can't wait till I can get it back out & hang it.
In the few years between then and late 2018, I dabbled in more wall hangings but when my third trimester arrived and painting was out of the question - I happened upon a new idea to stoke my creative needs. What if instead of knotting yarn off pieces of driftwood, I knotted much smaller sections off of metal to be used as jewelry? And thus, after searching for just the right supplies and a touch of trial and error - the Wilsome Knots Collection was born!
Why Wilsome?
Well, first it’s our son’s middle name and the idea was prompted as I was looking for a craft to do while I was too big to sit at a table to paint and easy enough to pick up for a few short moments while caring for a newborn. It also holds a special meaning to us, as after giving up on finding just the right family name to use, we opted to find something unique that was personal to the two of us. Now enter a book by one of my favorite authors, Robert MacFarlane; Landmarks. It’s essential a book of short essays and forgotten language from the British Isles describing the natural world. I found the word wilsome in the chapter about the very northern part of Scotland - one of our favorite places in the world. Here’s it’s meaning;
wilsome (adjective)
of way or path: leading through wild and desolate regions
Trekking through those wild and desolate spaces is where we feel the most at home and the most alive. Wilsome is a wish for our new little family member to experience the same joy and feelings of peace that we do in those spaces.
Introducing The Wilsome Knots Collection
So today I find myself here, launching a new idea out into the world. I do so hope you enjoy these one of a kind pieces. They are truly a joy a to make and brought me some major moments of happiness in the not so pleasant days of late pregnancy and life with a newborn. What I love the most about these pieces is how light weight they are - ideal for traveling and for those of us who are somewhat heavy jewelry phobic. Also, the North Kingstown pieces are made with a hand dyed yarn of which the color-way is called “Rainbow Fist Fight” - SO GOOD!
Enjoy and snag some free shipping on any Wilsome Knot piece through the end of this week! Use “SHIPWILSOME” at checkout!