Back Online Soon

Excuse the hiatus.

I am doing much better. Well enough to do a little radiation,
Trying to stay upright.

Will post lots of pictures.

More Feather Basket

I am working on a raffia and iris frond coil basket.

Using some of the feathers from my feather collection.

Harvesting the Rust Gardens

rust garden in a gold pan

rusty garden tools

silk crepe and rusted objects

kosher salt garden in a gold pan

layering rust staining on silk crepe

deep rust on cotton

 I have been playing with rust gardening and dyeing again.

Watching the constant metamorphosis is such a visual reminder
that everything changes. The process of this change is startling and beautiful. Something as strong as iron can be rendered to soft powder.

Laboratory

I have little labs set up wherever I am working.
There collections of natural objects live to inspire the pathways.

The rust is developed intentionally. Little rust gardens blossoming everywhere.
This lab was in the burn shed on the balcony in Vancouver.

I remember having discussions with a mover who was furious about moving small boxes of rocks.
"These aren't rocks. They are inspirational objects from all over the world."

Feather Baskets And Collage

Nothing is more satisfying to me than basket making. Comforting repetative action that allows for a meditative state. Sometimes you just wander off and get yourself where you never expected.This is a simple coiled basket made with raffia and iris leaves. Playing with feathers all week.

Working on a little series called "Gonna Have To Borrow Some Feathers To Get Me Outta Here!". And thinking lots about the responsibilities around mortality. And chickens.

Beautiful Package

This is the beautiful parcel I recieved from Deb Lacativa.
The colour, handwork and deliciousness of the piece is lighting up both my life and a little corner of my house.

Deb's work is so fearless and full of so many little tiny details. I have been thrilled by her work for years and years. I have only seen images on the internet and in magazines.

My little post box in the forest just near Sweethaven on Mayne Island B.C. throbbed with the energy of this piece. A wee package poured out and I opened it while standing there. A gasp doesn't describe the breath I took in when I unfolded it.

Deb Lacativa is a textile hero of mine and a friend through this little box. She has a beautiful blog called
http://morewgalo.blogspot.com

Beautiful Deb Lacativa textile that fell from my mailbox.

Six Weeks

Six weeks ago, at the beginning of my recent trials and tortures, I threw a small piece of cloth in the |rust bucket just outside the greenhouse. It sat forgotten throughout the fall and stained and rusted away. I have mostly been out of commision creatively and almost forgot it. But I am up imitating someone who can walk once again.
There was the bucket sitting there in a fairly accesible place and everything was floating on the top. A little swish revealed a very rust stained cloth. Thrlling to have the creative process and nature proceed without direct action.

A quick decision and the cloth was rinsed just a little by garden hose, laid on the lawn and plants close enough to get too were placed on the cloth in a haphazard configuration, Spontaneous and impatient. Like with most things lately. Design decided by pain tolerance. The closest available leaves , branches and berries included arbutus bark, arbutus berries, buttercup leaves, euculyptus leaves, pear leaves and bark and fig leaves for the wrapping. Haphazard. Poorly placed. All wrapped up tight together around an unknown twig and fastened with my braid elastic.

I brought the drippy thing into the entry and found the big dye pot that just made it's way home from the studio in Wells and emptied the tea pot, the coffee pot and grounds, three half drunk water bottles and a bowl full of rain water. Plus eight pre-used black tea bags and  threw it on the stove to simmer for the afternoon. More fig leaves and embroidery threads were added later as an after thought.

This morning revealed a lovely cloth that my efforts didn't deserve. And pretty thread to stitch it with.

A photograph when the sun comes out again.