In this object I am binding raffia with handspun wool. This is an interesting juxtaposition between the commercial and handmade; the handmade is of such a quality that it initially appears to be a commercial product due to the uniformity and consistency in how it has been spun, and it is only on a close examination that the subtle traces of hand can be perceived.

A reading of this in regard to mimicry is that the raffia is a commercial and synthetic product that is simulating a natural product whereas the wool is a natural product that has been handspun in such a way that it is mistaken for an industrially spun fiber.

Like my previous object raffia is viscerally bound with a handmade yarn. However, the two handmade yarns are from different worlds: a women’s co-op in India and a fiber artist in North America. The juxtaposition of these worlds could not be more different, yet the material produced by each has a purpose in craft.

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