hook & purrrrl

"To sew is to pray. Men don't understand this. They see the whole but they don't see the stitches. They don't see the speech of the creator in the work of the needle. We mend. We women turn things inside out and set things right. We salvage what we can of human garments and piece the rest into blankets. Sometimes our stitches stutter and slow. Only a woman's eyes can tell. Other times, the tension in the stitches might be too tight because of tears, but only we know what emotion went into the making. Only women can hear the prayer." ~ LOUISE ERDRICH, Four Souls

wonder | wander | women were educated by Benedictine German nuns in a Catholic all girls campus on a tiny provincial island where ora et labora was the pervasive dictum and practice.

new dawn panganod (cumulonimbus) clouds

This largely shored up the prevalent charity approach, rather than the more expansive concept of philanthropy. Though both are directed toward humanitarianism and public spiritedness, one perpetuates more inclusivity, equality, and equity than the other.

A given on an island where sugarcane ruled long after its conquerors fled. Creating an ever growing gap between the haves and the have nots.

wwwomen homemade crochet projects

Our school also had a sister vocational school where we served in outreach and grass roots programs as part of our curriculum and improvement. We had vocational classes to enhance our skills and crafts - designed to make us better home makers or provide us with a means to earn our living.

That's where we learned to knit and crochet. Which we rediscovered the fun of once more after returning back to our hallowed stomping grounds. Even if we have long since forgotten how to decipher their convoluted coded instructions YouTube and their huge throve of tutorials are a godsend.

wwwomen homemade crochet coasters

We started with some simple coasters, mostly using left over spools of thread by household help who were much better skilled. Then we graduated to pitcher covers and sets, which was fun even when more challenging.

We don't aim to create complicated thread art or turn into crafty artists and figure mavens like the ever inspiring and inspired Yulia Ustinova.

the artist & her crochet figures

Her plump and plush soft crochet sculptures are both whimsical and purposeful. There is nothing granny about her figures - they are bold and direct, earthy and filled with humor.

Formally trained in art at the Moscow Polygraphic Institute her work incorporates skilled training along with the old craft of crochet to sculpt her big women or tetki – Russian for salt of the earth ungroomed women.

some of her tetki sculptures

An alternative translation for tetki is "aunt" - in much the same way we Filipinos refer to our titas and some of their old time outlook or wise cracking behavior. 

These stitch bitches are happy to hook and purl away in comfort and relaxation - working our way through our own designs and patterns. This is our current home therapy. Whatever works, right?

wwwomen homemade crochet blanket

We wish all the joys of your own discoveries!