Peppercorn Mala Beads

My mam is Buddhist and lives in a Dharma. This year, she has asked for a string of 108 mala beads for her birthday to help her pray. Its not her birthday until November, but I wanted to make her beads right away as a thank you present.

My mam has given me the biggest gift anyone could ever give. She has helped me both practically and emotionally through some terrible times. Thank you mam, I love you xxxx

P.S. These beads were made and strung on 09/09/09. Numerology teaches us that 9 is the number of compassion.

Ianthe! you are call'd to cross the sea

Ianthe! you are call'd to cross the sea!
A path forbidden me!
Remember, while the Sun his blessing sheds
Upon the mountain-heads,
How often we have watcht him laying down
His brow, and dropt our own
Against each other's, and how faint and short
And sliding the support!
What will succeed it now? Mine is unblest,
Ianthe! nor will rest
But on the very thought that swells with pain.
O bid me hope again!
O give me back what Earth, what (without you)
Not Heaven itself can do--
One of the golden days that we have past,
And let it be my last!
Or else the gift would be, however sweet,
Fragile and incomplete.
Walter Savage Landor

Drying on the line supported by a bamboo blind

Mostly dried, on the line to air

And again, hung above the lavender, rosemary and thyme, and alongside my rose arch which supports honeysuckle, jasmine, vine and clematis. I wanted nature to lend her best perfumes and aromatherapy for this piece. I like the way the shadow of the honeysuckle and vine reflect upon the felt in this picture.

And here is the finished piece laid out on my bed. The lined effect is a result of most of the wet felting be done on top of bamboo blinds.

Whilst making this piece I was trying to achieve the effects of natural hand made paper. hand made paper can be so beautiful. I have been very influenced by the beautiful works of T whilst making this rug. T has been musing over curves in nature and prefers all things natural, thus using natural dyes where ever she can. Unfortunately the minimal use of colour in this piece, is not from the use of natural dyes however I have been blackberry picking and my next piece will be!

This rug/blanket weighs approximately 0.7kg (I will have to weigh it again before posting it to the 'Art for Trees' appeal. Approximate width 101.6cm (40"). Approximate length 134.6 cm (53"). I have used a combination of natural Merino wool, Shetland, Gotland and Blue faced Leicester wool in this project. the ragged edges that you ca see in the pictures of this blanket hanging on the line are intentional. I wanted a rippled effect to continue throughout this piece. Nature does not hold too many straight edges. I also wanted to create a fleece style shape as the rug/blanket is 100% wool. The project was predominantly wet felted but I have also used needle felting to reinforce the edges, working with the natural flow and direction that the wool has taken. It is my first attempt at needle felting and I am pleased with needle felting as a medium.

I would like to thank the felting forum for all of the tips and techniques it has genrously shared. I have not always left comments but do read. I am also incredibly thankful for the positive response the needle felting forum has given to the Art for Trees appeal. Please visit the felting forum by clicking on the name and here.

Attika SOS - Art for Trees

Last weekend mainland Greece was ravaged by fire. Thousands of homes were evacuated. Agriculture and pasture land was scorched, trees were burned, wildlife and nature were harmed. The tragedy of the situation is that it is probable the fire was man made.

In the immediate aftermath of the destruction Manya and others within her community have worked together to organise an exhibition of arts and crafts to raise funds for the reforestation of the area.

The environmentalists amongst you will be all too aware of the importance of reforestation. Not only for ecological, environmental and economical reasons but also to prevent desertificaton which is becoming a very real threat to European countries.

A blog has been created to document the progress of the 'Art for Trees' campaign and to provide information about how you can help. Press releases will be made this week to advertise the campaign and most importantly appeal to the creative folk of our shared planet asking for donations of arts and crafts which will be exhibited and sold to raise money needed for the reforestation of the afflicted land.

Please help the 'Art for Trees' project. I have listed some ways that you could help below:

• Donate arts or crafts
• Follow the blog 'Attika SOS'
• Forward the blog link to any friends, family or colleagues that you feel may be interested in this project (but please only send the link to those you believe will want to see it)
• Write a post on your blog informing your readers about this project (never under estimate the word of mouth or power of the metaphorical pen)
• Write suggestions or messages of support on 'Attica SOS'
• Post the link to your myspace, facebook, twitter, bebo or other networking site homepage
  

The picture used at the head of this post is 'Athena' by Gustav Klint. Mythology tells that Athena struck her spear into the earth and an olive tree sprung in its place. The place that the olive tree sprang was named Athens after the Goddess Athena. Olives through the ages have symbolised prosperity, health, wisdom, civilization and peace. Now, when I think of an olive tree, my mind pictures Manya's olive tree full of birds. The green pocket that sheltered the wildlife displaced by fire.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Thank you to everyone that has already made kind offers of support. I will email you personally over the next few days.

Invoking the Muse

This photo was taken in a Nature Reserve near Stourport. It struck me that the bark was naturally shaped like the tips of asparagus spears, reminding me of strength and love. To me, nature is so divine, beautiful, crucial, inspirational...

The whole world should be a nature reserve where nature is respected, loved and cared for by all. I look at this tree and know there is a Dryad, an Elf, a spark of magic connected to the essence of its being.

A little over a week ago I posted this picture under the heading 'Beginnings'. I did not know at the time this piece would be an offering to just that. Beginning's. New life, reforestation, the next chapter. When this piece is complete it shall go to Greece to help spark a new home for wildlife, a legacy of nature for the young and an act of defiance to the monsters who created the fire.

My daughter has been helping. Quite the inventor, she has come up with yet another technique for making felt. She has been rolling old roller skate wheels over the bubble wrap. Its amazing her creativity saves my wrists and fingers from wear and tear.

The obsession of felting has made my mind one tracked. I now see hidden meanings of wool, fleece and felt where they never lived before...

To and fro we leap
And chase the frothy bubbles,
While the world is full of troubles
And anxious in its sleep.
William Butler Yeats

Today, I braved the contrary weather and set up out doors. I think I felted for all of 20 minutes before the clouds loomed in and rain began to drop from the skies. After a couple of hours of rain the sun shows her face, the clouds dispersed and the sky is blue. I look for the rainbow. In England we have so much rain. If only I could share it with Greece so that the tender droplets could gently kiss and sooth the scorched land, lending a natural hand in subduing the remaining flames.

This project has been slow in the making, so many things have crossed my mind. The potent melody of Saul William's has played over and over through the speakers of imagination.

Dear goddess, can you hear me now
Clear the way and prepare me now dear goddess, can you hear me now
Dear goddess, we made this break
Beat just for you as an offering, can you hear us now
Dear goddess, we made this
Break beat just for you as an offering, can you heal us now
Saul Williams ~ Our Father

And as I listen, I hear myself repeating; Dear Goddess, can you hear me now? I make this felt as an offering. Dear Goddess...

For I believe in the Divine Feminine, Mother Nature, The Muse... I make this felt as an offering to Mother Nature in the hope that we can help her heal. Reforestation. Art for trees!

I will post again about the Greek Fire tragedy. Buzzing bees are busily working to present an exhibition of art to be auctioned in Greece. All proceeds will go to the reforestation of the area. The children of the land will plant and name the trees and learn of the importance of connection to nature. If you would like to donate a piece of art please let me know. Manya of mythcolour will keep us updated of where we can send our offerings to. There will be press releases.

Miina Savolainen - The loveliest girl in the world

A few days ago Ruthie reviewed Miina Savolainen's book, 'the lovliest girl in the world' on her inspirational blog '5 precious things'.

The book is a community project which has been developed over a number of years. The ethos behind the book is to empower young women, teaching them how to become visible and accept themselves. The images have a Pre-Raphaelite, Aesthetic quality that transports me to another world, a kinder world.

The book has struck a chord with me so deeply that I must share it with you. For many years I have worked within the homelessness sector. It is something that I feel very passionately about. Each of my clients has had extremely low self esteem. The impact of a project such as 'the loveliest girl in the world' would have upon my client group is invaluable.

I can only thank Miina Savolainen for her vision and exceptional talent and sharing it with the world, and most importantly her models. Miina is the loveliest girl in the world.

I encourage you to click n the links above that will take you to the web page for 'The Loveliest Girl in the World' and also to Ruthie's blog where this book is reviewed much better than it is here.