STITCH YOURSELF A BOYFRIEND
I was in the library helping a friend
hang her textile art in Toi Tangata.
On the shelf close by,
I spied a book by Carol Meldrum called
"Knit Yourself A Boyfriend".
I chuckled at the title
and brought it home.
There were instructions to knit a fireman or a chef or a rock star.
I started thinking about the qualities I would like in a male partner ...
I had wanted to explore doll making with the male form
and designed a pattern which was broader and taller than its female counterpart.
MOBY
Moby is the first of five.
As he was created from a scrap of donated fabric,
I realised that I appreciate a person comfortable in their own skin,
not pressured into becoming what someone else would like them to be.
ee cummings wrote,
"It takes courage to grow up
and become who you really are."
Moby is the first of five.
As he was created from a scrap of donated fabric,
I realised that I appreciate a person comfortable in their own skin,
not pressured into becoming what someone else would like them to be.
ee cummings wrote,
"It takes courage to grow up
and become who you really are."
RICHARD
As I lay out the pattern for Richard,
I was thinking that this should be a character of delight;
a person surprised by joy in the small things;
a person who is as delighted by the rising sun and a tank of colourful guppies
as by the awesomeness of a solar eclipse.
Delight is a cause for pause,
a moment to be enveloped in wonder and awe,
a time to smile.
Rumi wrote,
"Every object,
every being
is a jar full of delight."
As I lay out the pattern for Richard,
I was thinking that this should be a character of delight;
a person surprised by joy in the small things;
a person who is as delighted by the rising sun and a tank of colourful guppies
as by the awesomeness of a solar eclipse.
Delight is a cause for pause,
a moment to be enveloped in wonder and awe,
a time to smile.
Rumi wrote,
"Every object,
every being
is a jar full of delight."
PERCIVAL
Percival is a free-wheeler.
He has one hand on the ground,
building on a firm foundation, remaining grounded.
But he is not intransigent.
He is open to opportunity and possibility and change.
He welcomes new experiences,
which reveal a new way of being.
Percival is vulnerable but wonderfully strong and resilient.
I smile whenever I pass him by:-)
Percival is a free-wheeler.
He has one hand on the ground,
building on a firm foundation, remaining grounded.
But he is not intransigent.
He is open to opportunity and possibility and change.
He welcomes new experiences,
which reveal a new way of being.
Percival is vulnerable but wonderfully strong and resilient.
I smile whenever I pass him by:-)
WILLIAM
Thich Nhat Hahn wrote,
"When we learn to love and understand ourselves
and have true compassion for ourselves,
then we can truly love and understand another person."
I believe in the wonderful, empathetic healing power
of the wounded healer.
Out of our pain,
we are able to reach out to others.
When we share our authentic story,
we enable and empower and encourage others.
William embodies this as he lays naked, vulnerable, wounded.
But he is still able to reach out and connect with others.
Thich Nhat Hahn wrote,
"When we learn to love and understand ourselves
and have true compassion for ourselves,
then we can truly love and understand another person."
I believe in the wonderful, empathetic healing power
of the wounded healer.
Out of our pain,
we are able to reach out to others.
When we share our authentic story,
we enable and empower and encourage others.
William embodies this as he lays naked, vulnerable, wounded.
But he is still able to reach out and connect with others.
HARVEY
Harvey is the final chap in a series exploring the desirable qualities in a male partner.
He walks in a relaxed manner,
carrying only what is necessary for the journey,
leaving baggage and expectations behind.
As I stitched and pondered,
I came to realise that the qualities I admired in a man
were the same character traits I admired in any friend,
and even more so, the qualities I hope I can grow in myself.
Harvey is the final chap in a series exploring the desirable qualities in a male partner.
He walks in a relaxed manner,
carrying only what is necessary for the journey,
leaving baggage and expectations behind.
As I stitched and pondered,
I came to realise that the qualities I admired in a man
were the same character traits I admired in any friend,
and even more so, the qualities I hope I can grow in myself.
