Stars of the built environment

The found or built world holds such beauty!  I am hardly the first or the millionth to realize this, but it is a continuing source of wonder and joy to me.  The great thing about this computer program is that I can take a found or built item and turn it into something new which I could not do on my own.  Yes, I am experienced enough in all types of craft work that I know how to do such things.  But at this time in my life, I do not have either the strength or physical ability to do such things. 

Take a look at the first star, created from a length of barbed wire and see what I mean.  Isn't that a wonderful thing?  And yet, if I were able to find a length of barbed wire (and if my tetanus shot were up to date), I am not sure I would have the hand strength to bend the barbed wire into the shape required.  Whatever the cause, I love this picture and am delighted to have been able to construct it. 

There are all sorts of stars in quilting and the following is one of them.  It is perhaps hundreds, maybe even thousands of years old as a motif.  In Scandinavian and Eastern European knitting and craft work, the eight-pointed star is ubiquitous, doubtless being an ancient sun sign.  When this star moved to the Americas, the Native tribes picked it up and used it as well.  In this way, it became everyone's star and a lovely thing it is, too.  I hope you will enjoy this version, taken from a festive photograph of celebration.