Ashwelle Fiber Works
I've decided it's time to retire 'Teleologie'. While the name is still of importance to me, it's time to move on! Let me explain. The word "Teleology" finds its roots in the Greek language. "Telos" describes an end or purpose, while "logia", as you might guess, describes a branch of learning. To put these words together describes an action that has a final cause and can be used to describe 'the big picture' of that action. I first came across this word while reading through Carl Jung's psychological theories and it just stuck. Teleologie - a spin off the root word - described to me the nature of the artistic process, the production of crafts, and where the efforts ultimately arrive.
While this name still fits my artistic endeavors, it doesn't quite tell my story. Ashwelle Fiber Works is a play on my given name, Ashley, which means "one who lives in the ash tree grove."
The ash tree was of importance to the ancient Celts, who saw the tree as a symbol of growth, expansion, and higher perspective. It's a perfect fit for this new direction in my creative endeavors!
This shop is a careful combination of my two loves: crafting and photographing. One thing I absolutely love about making things by hand is the repetitiveness of the actions invested to make the items come to life. The click of the shutter on the camera and the placement of the subject to create a compelling image. The click of my knitting needles as I watch yarn materialize into a usable object. Many times during my work sessions, I tend to get into a flow so much that I forget the outside world and feel calm and focused on the task at hand. This is incredibly helpful and important to me as a freshly-graduated student who takes solace in the tedium and labor of love tasks involved in craft-making and photographing.
This shop represents my hope to be able to find more quiet moments and times of relaxation through the joy of making items that are inspired by the events we come across on a daily basis. The lip balm holders featured in my shop were born of a freak laundry accident involving a tube of tinted lip balm, an industrial clothing dryer, and a few unsuspecting clothing items. It is in events like the 'lip balm incident' where I find my muse for the creations in my shop.
In terms of the bigger picture and the end purpose of my work, it is simply to bring beautiful handmade goods into the life of others and be conscious of the ways in which I go about it. Most of the items I use to make my goods are locally sourced. The colorful wool I use to make my ID holders and lip balm holders comes from a farmer in the U.P who raises goats and sheep and uses their wool to make gorgeous hand dyed yarn. Being conscientious about where my products are sourced from is of utmost importance to me. I want to give people the chance to own a truly unique item that will never be replicated. Even if I were to make two similar items, they would hardly be identical in truth. It is my great hope that others appreciate the need to help small business owners by purchasing products that can't be found anywhere else. If you are one of those people, look no further than in this shop.
Thank you for reading my story and have a wonderful day!
