Sandra Crighton- Ocean Lace

Found Object:

Tiny lacy brain coral

At wave edge on Kanomi

Undulations on the ocean floor formed a shelf of sand and rocks, the prefect place for a coral garden. Here in aquamarine waters, cradled midst shells, weeds and corals, grew a small, lacy brain coral. Caressed by clown fish and tickled by anemones, it flourished; until the cyclone.

Wrenched from its rocky host, the little coral was thrust into churning waters and thrashed by waves. It was buffeted, tumbled and swished, thrown then withdrawn to sand on the shore of Kanomi, sands of Kanomi. Tiny golden sand specks inserted themselves into crevices in the coral. Sun dried it. Sand covered it. High tides lifted it again.

On a pale autumn morning, a young designer dabbled at the water's edge. A trickling, frothy flurry of wave licked around her toes, lapping, curling back to reveal the delicate coral. Her eye drawn, she picked it up and marvelled at the smooth marble like edges framing coral lace curtains.

She held the sea object in the palm of her hand, rubbing her thumb over the smooth, polished surfaces. Spiderwebs of hard coral radiated from within each opening.

Yes, she thought, she would submit a design for the textile awards. This coral would be her inspiration.

Is a talisman for good luck or simply to love, to cherish, to hold, to admire? Whatever, this small coral, complex in design, creamy in colour, full of soft neutrals became her focus.

Sometimes the coral object was perched atop a window sill or propped against a book. It was used as a page holder, a paper weight. Often it was simply held in her hand.

Drafting drawings well into the night, the designer saw patterns of coral in her dreams, in her sketches. Page after page churned from her busy fingers. Some she would keep, others discard. She photographed the coral from every angle. Her designs were transferred onto swathes of material: linens bold and summery, silks in subtle tones and onto lace, heavy medallion inserts resembling hand made lace on a background of tulle. She even translated her images into magnified prints to adorn walls.

Eventually, the entries were submitted. Design guruus loved it. Judges praised her work. Orders flocked in from Sweden, France, England and America. People admired and replicated her submission, the coral design on her prize winning textiles.

Almost a year later, the newly successful designer found herself once more on the shore of Kanomi. Bathed in silvery moonlight at wave edge, she reached almost reluctantly to a pocket and withdrew the tiny coral. It had been her constant companion. She held it against her cheek, kissed it and placed it gently on the damp sand. The sweetest of silver waves trembled over the coral, covering it, welcoming it home in bubbles of ocean lace.