As I began to think about the elements I want reflected in my carpet, the first thing that came to mind was ancestry, particularly the women.
I feel a strong connection to my matriline even though I have little in common with them. With the exception of my mother, all generations before me raised children on the farm. They lived simply and with few luxuries. They carried their children through droughts, depressions and pandemics, and they sustained their families as they migrated to new lands every few generations in search of religious freedom. That’s not to say they had no pleasure – music provided a soundtrack and, if the last couple of generations are any indication, there was great humour.
As other women of their times, they had little agency. I suspect none of them would have been able to imagine the beautiful life I’ve cultivated for myself. But I feel them cheering me on and believe that my life well lived can begin to heal their wounds.
I’m fascinated by the fact that, when women are born, their ovaries hold all the eggs they will ever have. That means that as my mother developed in my grandmother’s womb, I was also there in ovum form. And my mother existed in her grandmother’s body and so on.
The matriline is strong.
I’m still mulling over colours but I imagine something like this running up the centre of the carpet.
