2009-02-15
The Gift
On February 8, I received this email message:
Aloha, Amma Vicki!
Your new works are an inspiration. They inspire me to make bold. We frequently serve a simple green tea to special visitors here in the press building, as you know from experience. But we have nothing decent for the gesture. What if we had a simple tea pot and four or five cups from your hand? I would feel so proud to bring them out. And they would carry your amazing gifts of design and finish. Something tropical? Or Asian? Or fusion? Am I too bold?
Om shanti, Palaniswami
By way of explanation, my youngest son is a Hindu monk living on a monastery on the island of Kauai for the past 11 years. Paramacharya Palaniswami is my direct contact there. He is one of the most twinkly people I know.
I accepted this request and have thus far begun 4 teapots. My hope is that when they are all completed, I can choose the best teapot and bring it with me when I travel there on March 3. I am working fast and I hope I am working smart.
You may wonder at the title of this post. This is a gift for me as well as my gift to the monks. There are times when the skill and love I put into what I do are just a titch (technical term) more precious than other times. This is one of those times and I am grateful.
I began with the parts of 2 teapots and 2 sample teacups.
I then continued with 2 more teapots. Teapots 2, 3 & 4 will have woven reed and willow handles. Teapot 1 will have a thrown clay handle.
To be continued….
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