Can the very act of working with fibres serve as an avenue toward peace within an individual?
Fibre artist and licensed counseling psychologist Karen Lohn asks this question at the start of her beautiful book Peace Fibres—Stitching a Soulful World. The Grand Marais author then proceeds to answer that question through a series of thoughtful essays. The tales range from a colorful and interesting international journey—including an elephant ride! — to the deeply personal story of a delicate aqua scarf and a mother’s unconditional love. Especially poignant is Stitching Through Crisis a tale of fibre and friendship, of love, life and death.
Serving as transition from chapter to chapter and tying the book together are Threads for Thought, Connecting Activities and finally Projects. Between each of the 12 chapters, Threads for Thought offers tiny bits of fibre trivia and inspiring questions.
Lohn has created a wonderful collection of self-care ideas and exercises for Connecting Activities. She explains that the activities are aimed at integrating mind, body and spirit. The exercises range from participation in Qiyolet and creative writing to meditative walking and simple, yet thought-provoking questions. One Connecting Activity exercise asks the reader to consider: Which fibre characteristic best describes your temperament? …Are you rough and sturdy, like burlap? …. Do you wrinkle easily, like linen? …. Are you warm, as wool?
Projects complement each of Lohn’s essays and offer wonderful suggestions for fibre projects that can be done with family or friends— from felting to fabric frames, twig figures to family crests, to batik and braiding—these are activities that can be enjoyed by novice or experienced fibre workers.
The book, designed by Maryl Skinner and Denny FitzPatrick of M Graphic Designs of Grand Marais, is tied together like a beautiful quilt— decorated with prayers for peace from a myriad of world religions and amazing photography. The text, written by Lohn in collaboration with Catherine Zdechlik, is enlightening and entertaining.
In the chapter Ripping Out, Resilience, Lohn writes: Few of us will ever weave a perfect cloth from birth to death. There will be the dropped stitches, the broken threads, the cuts and tears of illness, accident and loss; the challenge is to pick up the pieces and create anew.
Peace Fibres will surely inspire readers to face the challenge of picking up the pieces and stitching a soulful world.
Published by Integral Press of Grand Marais, Peace Fibres—Stitching a Soulful World is available online at www.peacefibres.com and at local bookstores.
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