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Wabi Sabi is a Japanese term that means to find the beauty in nature's imperfections.



I was shopping for gourds to work on at the gourd festival in Arizona and found this one. It was just what I was looking for. The guy taking the money pointed out to me that it had a large crack in it. I said "I know. That is why I want it". He gave me a strange look and then said he wouldn't charge me for it. I wanted to transform this "imperfect" gourd into the beautiful gourd it was meant to be.

Here is the finished Wabi Sabi gourd...



There is also a Japanese word of "Kintsugi", meaning Golden Joinery, is the art of repairing cracked or broken pottery with Gold or Silver. As a philosophy, if an object has been damaged then it has more of a history and should, therefore, be celebrated and highlighted, rather than hidden or discarded. As a philosophy, Kintsugi is similar to the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi – an embracing of the flawed or imperfect.

Barbie, I love the gourd and the meaning which makes it even more special.

BarbaraRose wrote:Wabi Sabi is a Japanese term that means to find the beauty in nature's imperfections.

I was shopping for gourds to work on at the gourd festival in Arizona and found this one. It was just what I was looking for. The guy taking the money pointed out to me that it had a large crack in it. I said "I know. That is why I want it". He gave me a strange look and then said he wouldn't charge me for it. I wanted to transform this "imperfect" gourd into the beautiful gourd it was meant to be.

There is also a Japanese word of "Kintsugi", meaning Golden Joinery, is the art of repairing cracked or broken pottery with Gold or Silver. As a philosophy, if an object has been damaged then it has more of a history and should, therefore, be celebrated and highlighted, rather than hidden or discarded. As a philosophy, Kintsugi is similar to the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi – an embracing of the flawed or imperfect.

Barbie, you put a big smile on my face with your Wabi-Sabi gourd. It is beautiful - and *perfect*.

Very nicely done!

Anne

That looks gorgeous! You need to get more of these imperfect gourds and focus on them.

it is beautiful Barbie
what are your plans for it?
sheila
Anne hi!!!!

Hi Anne! Good to see you.

Barbie, your gourd turned out beautiful.

Anne, your jewelry is beautiful.

Martha

Thanks for the compliments! I sent the photos to Gloria, the gourd artist I spent the gourd festival with. She loved it too, so that was really encouraging! Maybe I found my niche!

Sheila, I will be keeping this one. I plan to eventually use the name "Wabi Sabi Gourds", if I end up making and selling these, so this will be my mascot of sorts.

Anne, love your jewelry! I love copper. Very pretty!

Your gourd is georgous! So perfect in its imperfection. While living in Morocco, I learned one of the tenets of their faith is, only God (Allah) is perfect, so everything they make has a purposeful mistake or imperfection in ot somewhere, because to make something "perfect" without mistakes or imperfections would be an affront to God/Allah.
Velda

BarbaraRose wrote:Thanks for the compliments! I sent the photos to Gloria, the gourd artist I spent the gourd festival with. She loved it too, so that was really encouraging! Maybe I found my niche!

Sheila, I will be keeping this one. I plan to eventually use the name "Wabi Sabi Gourds", if I end up making and selling these, so this will be my mascot of sorts.

Anne, love your jewelry! I love copper. Very pretty!

Thank you for you kind comment, Barbie. Much appreciated!

I removed the link to my Etsy shop from my above post, because I suddenly realized it was a bit rude to step on your thread in that way. Apologies!

I work on my jewelry hobby nearly every day; maybe when I get a few more pieces made I will start my own thread.

Barbie, I really love your most recent gourd!

To me, gourd art is very unique and beautiful - especially this Wabi-Sabi one. I definitely think you should consider starting your own Etsy shop. It is really easy thing to do, the most bothersome and difficult part of the whole thing is trying to take decent photos with my smart phone.

But you are also (obviously!) a better photographer than I am; this photography thing might be easier for you than it is for me.

Happy also to hear how much your home has appreciated in value since you have lived there. Good decision not to sell!

Thanks again!

Anne

Velda, in Japan, they do that too, where they put a small intentional flaw in their artwork.

Once I have enough gourds to start selling, I will get an Etsy shop.

I love this gourd Barbie. Beautiful in its imperfection.
Sandi

Barbie, the gourd is beautiful and very meaningful

it is also something that the American Indian do... I don't deliberately put in a mistake on my crocheted afghan's however if I make an error I don't always 'fix' it ... as long as it doesn't change things in the long run...
it is beautiful Barbie
Anne I will need to look at your jewelry
sheila