I inherited DRIVE from my parents. I have learned laughing out loud, loving completely and appreciating a motorcycle ride. From my family I learn unconditional love. Now I learn to carry on. Of little sleep, I feel the need to fill each day with accomplishment. I have a zest for life and a curiosity to know about anything and everything!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
my patu
I've been really interested in bone...for years, actually. I collected some beef leg bone and copied some pages of a bone carving book...if you've followed me you might vaguely remember my description of the smell of working with bone--like what you may have experienced in the dentist chair when he was drilling your teeth....
Nowadays, I realize my "attraction" to this is because bone is "'iwi" and represents the ancestors. It also happens that I'm influenced by my brother Dave, who is a master carver in the Maori or New Zealand art form. I think the Polynesians have such a connection to each other and who knows who came first to Hawai'i...or travelled up and down the warmer part of the Pacific Ocean!
Bone starts out as white...and as you wear it, it takes on your body oil and begins to be ivory in color (hence why I'm wearing it so much just now). Patu is a hand held war club. As my life is filled with challenges I sometimes feel like a Hawaiian Zena-type warrior (did I say PRINCESS?...eeeuw yukh!)..not a Disney or Barbie princess type, I assure you.
Nope, I did NOT make this....if I could, that would be a new career for me! I found a Tongan artist and with the help of Terry, my sister-in-law, and a few well-placed Tongan phrases I was able to purchase this patu at an excellent price.