Last winter while the wind and seas just wouldn't quit I picked up an old but familiar hobby, embroidery. As earthy and comforting as it was, sitting on my couch or favorite chair, warm and dry, my inclination was still to capture the ocean and it's creatures.
finished embroidery based on Celtic salmon painting
sketch based on Celtic salmon artwork
While seeking inspiration for my projects I came across the Celtic folklore regarding the Salmon of Knowledge.
The salmon abided in a Well of Wisdom sheltered by nine hazelnut trees. When the hazelnuts matured and fell into the well the salmon ate 9 of them. The hazelnuts were full of knowledge, and when the salmon ate them it received knowledge. Fionn mac Cumhaill was helping to prepare the salmon for someone who had worked for 7 years to catch it. He innocently licked a drip of fat from his finger and recieved all of the worlds knowledge. He then became a leader of famous heroes.
I love the idea that salmon could be the conduit of this knowledge. I have always appreciated Celtic art and knotwork, in this case represented as the rolling waves of the sea pictured on the salmons body.
Brents magic Octopus apron
Brent is a classically trained chef and last spring he decided to enter a professional kitchen once again. I was so excited for him that I made him a "magic" apron so that when he was cooking his wonderful food in another kitchen he would have a sense of our home with him as well. His love of Octopus inspired the idea that amongst all of the chaos a kitchen offers, there just might be an Octopus (or some other surprise) stuffed into the Chefs pocket.
2016 Craftiness update: Ocean waves Sashiko coinpurses!