 Finished painted mirror in dining room vignette. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021. During a recent trip to my local Goodwill, I found this really sturdy second hand mirror with a nice wood frame. The mirror was marked 9.99, but I think I only paid 4.99 for it, which is quite a steal because mirrors this size (26” x 18”) go for close to $100 or more brand new. There was just one issue—it was the wrong color for my dining room! But no worries…That’s what paint is for!
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 Celtic Motherhood Knot. Artwork done by Diane M. Lilly, 2021. So I Googled Celtic Mother’s Knot…thinking I would find THE Celtic symbol, break it down into its components, and do a quick sketch or two and explain my process…Not so easy! Turns out there are many variations of mother’s knots, some more modern than others. Some knots are more artistic expression than actual Celtic symbolism, but symbolism can be in the eye of the beholder anyway. So long as the symbol expresses the appropriate feeling and meaning, it’s all good.
 The Tree of Life…There are not too many symbolic icons that stretch so far back into the mists of time and mean so much to so many cultures. It’s a symbol that represents anything from the afterlife, the bond between heaven and earth, the connection to the earth, and the cycles of life (birth, life, death, and renewal). The trees were sacred to the Celts, and different trees held special meanings to the people of the time.
So, of course, I had to create an art piece with the Tree of Life! In this video, we will explore "breaks" in knotwork construction. This design starts like the last knotwork design, with a 4 x 4 grid and a diamond pattern with the circles. This modified design, however, will need to work around a break in the center of the grid. A break is a line that cannot be crossed by a thread, forcing the thread into a different direction than it would normally go. The break for this video is an X in the center of the grid, which will allow us to create a Celtic design called Four Linked Hearts. It's a beautiful design signifying love and is perfect for weddings or Valentine's Day. So, I hope you enjoy this video, and feel free to leave a comment, like, or share this video! (A special thanks to my son, Christian Lilly, for helping me with the video editing! Music from iMovie.) Related blog posts you may want to read: Basic Celtic Knot tutorial part 1 Celebrating Irish Celtic Art for St. Patrick's Day The Celtic Motherhood Knot, a symbol of love Celtic Tree of Life A foray into customizable artwork Getting out of my own way Today, I'm sharing short tutorials on creating--and modifying--a very basic weave or knot, which can be used as the foundation for any Celtic-inspired design. Part 1 walks you through creating a simple weave pattern using a 4 x 4 grid. Part 2 modifies the same knot pattern using a "break" to create a different design!
 Celtic Tree of Life Wood Burned Decorative Plate by Di's Studio Designs As March 17 approaches, the world becomes obsessed with all things green. The internet is flooded with imagery of shamrock pots of gold and leprechauns. Everyone gets caught up in the fun of St. Patrick’s Day, and anyone can be Irish for a day! Young people re-enact a time-honored tradition to hit the town and down pints of Guinness (or other alcoholic equivalent) until the world spins. You know there’s something special about being Irish when EVERYONE wants to be Irish! |
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