Tomorrow is
Remembrance Day in Canada. It is a day to remember the sacrifices of
the Canadian soldiers who have served and are still serving during
times of war and conflict to help establish and guarantee peace.
To commemorate those
who died in war, the red-flowered corn poppy is used, which became
popular due to the famous poem "In Flanders Fields" by the
Canadian surgeon and soldier John McCrae. Did you know that poppies
are a symbol of sleep and peace? This connection comes from the
possibility to extract opium from some varieties of the flower. In
Western civilizations, red poppies often symbolize death in Western
civilizations. The color of the poppy changes its meaning. White
poppies are considered a symbol of peacefulness, while purple, pink,
and blue poppies symbolize imagination, luxury and success. In
Eastern civilizations, a red poppy is a symbol for love and success.
This summer, I
created red poppies with a group of ladies. We created these flowers
by dry felting wool rovings with the help of specialty needles that
have very sharp, barbed blades. These needles are repeatedly stabbed
into the wool fibers, so that they get tangled and compacted creating
three-dimensional felt sculptures.
This repetitive
movement is not only very relaxing, it also help you to get rid of
frustrations and anger. If you have never tried felting, and are
looking for an activity that is fun and offers limitless ways to
express yourself, I hope the photos inspire you to learn this old
craft. A word of caution: it is highly addictive; just ask my former
students.
When I look at the
poppy on my coat, I am reminded of the sacrifices the soldiers and
military families have made throughout history and to this current
date, so that we can live in peace. They are still making a
difference not only in the many areas affected by war, but also help
in cases of disasters. I would like to take this opportunity to thank
all of the Canadian soldiers and their families.
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