WHY A HAIRWORK
Hairwork is not only a craft which allows to remember someone departed, or a way to keep and cherish the memory of a loved one. As noble as it is, it is even more than that. It also celebrates life, love, joys as well as friendships.
Hairworks can be commissioned on many different occasions.
It may be for the pleasure of having a hairwork made from one's own hair. It also can celebrate life, joyful life events such as weddings, christenings, special anniversaries, or sometimes even loss.
Also, I want to add, that antique hairworks are not all mourning hairworks. It’s far from it actually. First, it was known as a token of love, especially in the 18th century, but also in the 19th. The mourning part is what we remember of it, as it grew in popularity with Queen Victoria after the loss of her beloved husband. She mourned until the end of her life.
But let’s not forget lovers exchanged locks of hair as a promise, young women wove watch chains for their fiancé, girls made little albums with elaborate locks of hair of all their girl friends, and families made elaborate family trees with hair of each member. These are just a few examples.
And this is a point I focus on: making the craft of hairwork is not only one that remembers someone departed or a way to keep and cherish the memory of a loved one. Which is beautiful. But it is not only that, it is also an art form which celebrates life, love, joys as well as friendships.
I truly feel honored you trust me with your project, and I will treat it with due respect. I fully understand sometimes it may bring back many memories or emotions. It can be part of the process.
I work with human and animal hair.
You may send me your own hair, a loved one or a friend's hair. Alive, or departed. I even worked with hair naturally fallen from a shrunken head (tsantsa) !
I also work with pet hair or horse hair as well as the ashes, claws, teeth and whiskers of your furry companions.
Naturally, I can work with multiple people/pets hair in one hairwork.
Hair may be as short as 3 cm (1,2 in). Or even shorter, depending on the techniques used. Contact me so that we can discuss your project.
I usually need around a large tablespoon of ashes. A mix of ashes from the top and from the bottom of the urn, as the ones at the bottom usually are finer.