Bone Carving Class aka Sanding 101-501...and some weird karma

Per the suggestion of our lovely host Vanessa, I signed up to take some classes through OUSA's Clubs & Societies Centre and through UniPol, the University's recreation center.  More to come later about my Clubs & Socs (pronounced 'socks') class...

Through UniPol, I signed up for a five week bone carving class.  Not surprisingly, of the 10 people in the class, there were no Kiwis but instead 6 Americans, 2 Mexicans, and 2 Japanese.  All were students except yours truly.  (Yesterday, at our last class, one of the other Americans - from New Hampshire and attending American University in DC go figure - asked me what school I went to!!  I had to tell him that I graduated many  moons ago, but the brief moment he thought I was near his age was lovely.)

Our instructor was a really fabulous guy named Pav Pawlowicz.  Check out his website at http://www.wickedcarvings.co.nz/.  By the second class, he knew everyone's names and remembered something about each of us.

We each started with a bone from a cow that Pav had kindly already boiled a million times, so it was not gross.  Thank you, Pav.  The first thing we all had to make was a fish hook (click on it to see some examples), and we had to give the finished product to someone we loved.  After class #1, it was very clear to me that Todd would soon be receiving an ugly fish hook.  However, after carving for about 30 minutes and then sanding and sanding and sanding and sanding and sanding and sanding for two 2 1/2 hour classes, with the addition of a little polish, I had a not-as-ugly-as-I-imagined fish hook for that lovely hubby of mine.

The fish hook or hei-matau represents strength, prosperity, and respect for the sea.  They are also said to provide good luck and safety when traveling over water.  All things I wish for Todd.

Being the logical decision-maker that I can't help but me, I jumped on Pav's suggestion for my next piece, because it sounded like I could complete it in two classes.  I wanted to make a koru, and he suggested that I made an adze pendant with a koru at the bottom.  The adze, a tool used for woodworking, is said to represent strength, control, focus and determination.  Ironic that Pav suggested it for me considering those adjectives may have been used to describe me at least a couple times before, eh?  The koru, probably the most popular symbol in New Zealand, represents an unfurling fern frond.  It represents peace, tranquility and spirituality along with a strong sense of regrowth or new beginnings.  Combining these with my need for/traits of strength, control, and determination has been trying and exhausting at times, but in so many ways, this whole trip and experience and life in New Zealand has been about new beginnings, regrowth, and personal peace.  Maybe I'm looking for symbolism where it isn't, but I think it's insane how this ended up in a bone carving hanging around my neck.

If you would like a bone carving, please order one online.  I don't have the patience to make anymore.  Patience, as you may know, is not one of my strengths.  :)