Hands and Hearts

I learned how to knit today using only my fingers and yarn. Olivia, who is seven, taught me. This wasn't my first attempt, but it was the first time I was successful at it. Liv had patiently taught her dad and Papa the simple steps, though their fingers were large and clumsy. I just couldn't get the hang of it. Today she declared that she would be holding a very special, one person class so that I could try again. I did it! I have no idea what earthly good a long, skinny length of loosely "knitted" yarn might be, but I know I can produce one if I need to.

Liv learned how to finger knit at camp this summer. She was introduced to the craft by some grandmotherly type who was there with her grandchild. Another kind soul showed her how to knit using knitting needles, but the finger variety was much more appealing to Olivia. Erin learned how to crochet at the same parent/child camp. She has been turning out scarves at an alarming rate. Guess what we are all getting for Christmas.

Earlier in the summer Liv attended another camp, at a private girl's school, where she was introduced to weaving. She was quite taken by that. In fact, she is requesting a loom for Christmas. Busy little hands.

Seems our little bohemian girl is quite taken by producing textiles. Perhaps this will be her niche in the art world. She comes by her love of hand crafted things honestly. Her Grandpa Ross is a skilled woodworker who produced a beautiful accoustic guitar for Dan last year. Her dad is always creating something in his shop from jousting lances to beautiful furniture pieces. Her mom is an accomplished tole painter and loves to make pottery. Her Papa is very skilled with a camera, and I like to dabble in all kinds of paper arts. Yes, Liv comes by her artistic bent quite naturally.

Kelly came to visit this afternoon. She had just gotten word about the passing of a friend who also had breast cancer. Though she tried to hide her sadness, it was obvious that she was feeling distress and probably a little vulnerability. When asked, Kelly explained to Liv about why she was so sad. Liv took it all in and then suddenly disappeared. She came back with a beautiful little card she had made on the spur of the moment with a simple message: "Kelly, it will be all right". It was just the right thing to say.


Kelly had brought along a project she was eager to complete. She asked Liv to help her. Another member of Kelly's on-line breast cancer group is hospitalized and very ill. Kelly was making a collage for Courtney to display as a reminder of her strength and the need to keep fighting. It was a pleasure to watch aunt and niece cut, paste and then adorn with loads of curlicues of sparkling glitter glue. Liv created her own poster for Courtney to help cheer her up. Flowers and colors and sparkles galore. Certainly Courtney will understand the love that is a part of these two great works of art. Little hands; big hands. And lots of heart.