Crafting with Love

Helen Keller once said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” But, I was fortunate enough to experience the beauty the coconut shells hold. In their raw form, they may not look great from the outside. Yet, when we apply enough pressure (not literally), they reveal their true self. We can easily get amazed at the transformation they undergo from nothing to something. 

How it started?

Out of curiosity, of course. A simple question we ask Google (out of curiosity) can lead us down a new path which we never dreamt of exploring. And that’s how it started, with asking Google a simple query, “Coconut shell crafts.” The results revealed that something could be done with the shells without any advanced tools or expertise. In most cases, a sanding paper and a coping saw is all that required to make basic crafts.  In a very short time, working with shells has become one of my favorite hobbies.

How’s the working?

The fact that we are creating something new from what could possibly be thrown away inspires us to work with greater energy. Working with shells has really inspired me in the same way. In the process of working with them, the transformation they undergo in each step surprises us. The endless to and fro motion of sanding provides us the calmness. The sweat it generates provides us the aroma of pleasure, of excitement that something amazing is going to reveal itself. As each shell is unique, one can easily cherish the beauty of natural variation. Working with shells also expands our imagination, providing us the endless possibilities to explore and incorporate them in our daily life.

How’s the end product?

Marvelous, one would exclaim. The wonders of nature can easily be observed on the shells. The patterns they hold are breathtaking, each carrying a soul. Different patterns tell different stories. It’s like an artist has portrayed a masterpiece on it, a poet has written a beautiful poem on it. The aesthetic feeling we experience by touching its surface is out of words, embodying the perfect touch of nature. They are the perfect examples of carrying the inner beauty regardless of its outer appearance. All it takes is one small effort to discover its beauty, hidden beneath the layers of fiber. Don't judge a shell by its cover. 

OK. We got the shells, shining. What do we do with them? If you think the shells are amazing, crafts made out of them can be breathtaking.

Google “coconut shell crafts” or wait few more days to find out what I have done with them.

Curious???

Title image source: cscorp.co.jp