I've been blessed to have met a series of really wonderful folks these past few months, who have been on Workaway visits to Guardia Sanframondi - and whose paths have crossed mine in the most co-creative and celebratory way... If you don't know about Workaway, it's a great networking site for folks travelling the world, to connect with hosts of all kinds of properties who need help of various kinds. I've used it over the years to get practical help with my chopping wood and carrying water, plumbing and electrics, and the general maintenance of my medieval Italian abode - and though it can be a little hit-and-miss at times, for the most part it's an easy way to have an informal arrangement with enthusiastic volunteers, who want to experience a more authentic immersion in a culture, language and community.
The most recent guests that I enjoyed communing with - and from whom I was gifted this gorgeous utensil - were taking care of a neighbour's cats and house, and we when I heard them speaking English walking in front of my house. We soon became close friends, and their month here involved multiple adventures, celebrations, and collaborative projects in my house and gardens. As well as some lovely sewing sessions, tea parties and one random dramatic pub crawl (!) I donated various particular pieces of natural and manmade materials towards their efforts in the neighbour's house and their private creative passions... We then exchanged food, beverages, healing and crafting wisdom - and tools and materials - the most significant of which was this great lump of (probably) chestnut that had been taken out of a bizarre wall feature in my Arthouse cellar.
the bizarre wall feature in my Arthouse cellar - minus the lump of wood which became the spoon!
The lump of wood had been sitting there for a month or two since I had a not-so-successful visit from a Workawayer, who nevertheless managed to wrangle this blessed piece of timber out of its prominent position in the corner of the room (think it had been used historically to block up an old chimney) - so I can now finish that corner off with some cement and stucco.
the lump of wood was similar to this one: very munched-on at one side, but beautifully solid within, perfect for utensil making!
Madeleine's incredible spoons, currently travelling with her!!!
Though we talked about the process a lot, I didn't specifically observe Madeleine working on this spoon (and so it was all the more surprising to receive it), but was already really enthused about the spoons I'd seen of hers, and by sharing our mastery of slow workwomanship, of listening to the material, and of following how a crafted object 'wants' to appear...
She had also picked up a very interesting piece of old wood from a wood pile in the mountains which I did see in process, but it was clearly not shaping well, as it was too full of mould and cracks once it dried out... (it went to feed the fire!)
The special one that I was gifted 'suddenly' appeared as if by magic and had me completely awed and wowed by its greatness: I hadn't been expecting such a special and laboured-over gift... It is precisely the kind of tool that I will treasure for a lifetime, and it even makes me feel that it has literally mystical properties of sisterhood, natural-skills-expandingness, healing and connection with my own home. I know it to be the most valuable kind of spoon that one could own: by and Art. creator for an Art. appreciator - created and gifted freely and meaningfully, from heart and hand to heart and hand. It was symbolic of all that we have shared this rich month of fun and play, exploration and learning, exchange and cultural intergifting.
I love symbols like this of our loving each other in this challenging world. I said goodbye (for now!) to Jan and Madeleine this morning, as they bike off down the valley towards Napoli and the Amalfi coast - and the spoon kind of rings fondly of their beautiful faces, gestures, voices and stories - which have woven with mine for the past few weeks. I look forward to another time when I can cook a very blessed meal for them, and serve it with this glorious implement, and we can again pick up this most divine of friendships.
