Creativity reflected

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Today we visited the Cape Town Design Indaba. Each year , for the past three years, we have taken our boys to the indaba. it is the one thing we try and get to visit. The wonder and creative ideas that fellow South Africans display in their creations is truly fantastic. This year was no different. There is something for everyone. We love to start somewhere, anywhere and then weave our way through the different passages. This year Doug went off with the two reluctant viewers in one direction and I went off with the other two, in another. We began with the young innovation section. Jethro, our youngest had so much fun looking and chatting about the bead work, the beautiful paper jewelery,  The hand made necklaces and the art exhibition - my journey in a suitcase. We looked at each one and read the name of each and decided if they were really any good. The best suitcase was the one full of smelling bottles. Tiny bottles , each with a different smelling something in it and each meant to bring to life some memory linked to a smell. A great idea.

We loved the fashion especially the Lesotho Blanket creations. We saw cardboard furniture and plastic sculpture. We met an old acquaintance who has made the most beautiful bags out of tyres.The use of recycled things is becoming more and more poplar and yet I think and hope it could be a lot more prevalent.

We saw Mohair blankets in shades of colour that boggled the mind. Soft and feathery, light and almost edible.

We saw bags in felt and fabric. We saw puzzles in board that fitted together to make a shape like that of the endangered Rhino - to be used and in doing so remind us of our job - to take care of God's creation.

All this and much much more......

The art of thinking and creating in an aesthetically pleasing way and at the same time functionally workable way, is in my opinion an art - in itself a gift from the one who is the source of all creative thought. He is the one who was the first to breath life into anything and from nothing make something. God is indeed the great designer. The master designer and the ultimate creator.  I am always reminded , when we visit the Indaba, and when we see all the clever and beautiful things our fellow South Africans plan and make; I am always reminded of God. The one from whom all things beautiful come. He is the one who began to make and he will the the last one to create all things new, again. Thanks be to God for creativity, art and the ability to think and make. In doing so we reflect our God image.

To make and create. To think and build. These things come from him. 

Thanks be to God.