Fabric emerging....

Strange, but there was a space between the feeling I had when inspiration burned and my physical body. If only the two could walk together they would touch the Earth gently like dew on parched skinks tongue. The memory of a time they were united calls to me with whisperings of potential, but my fingers are unsure of the precise stitch to use to reweave the frayed umbilical threads. Still, I begin like a spider to work my web for catching a future of rainbow hue, trusting that sustenance will follow my hours at the loom. Sometimes cramps, discomfort, settle in my bones. I rise, stretch, return to my work. Only I see the loom and it's fabric emerging but others see a subtle change in me and wonder at it's source. For though we are all weaving, each of us use different tools and materials. Wood, bone, others blood, barbed wire, paper money, silk in the raw, river washed stones, garlands of flowers, concrete, glass, the wind, sound, fur, hair, silver, wolves claws, spirit, waves, negativity, pain, love, tears of salt, peace..........

Medicine bag....

When i reread 'Clan of the Cave Bear' i so loved when Iza, the clan medicine woman, gave Ayla, her adopted daughter and apprentice, her first medicine bag, that I decided to do the same for myself. In the tale each pouch of herbs is identified by a series of knots on the cords holding them, which is also an image I dig. So, I made mine one  from a possum skin, but u could do something similar just with a piece of fabric if that freaks you out. As u can see its a simple pattern that folds over and has drawstrings running up the sides. So far its got bush flower essences, meditation and emergency mix, motherwort tincture, rosehip oil and space to add more. Not really enough space for much dried herbs, but tinctures or vinegars yes. My dried herbs live in jars but Id love to make them calico bags with patterns and symbols relating to each plant on them....and the funky knot thang to identify whos who.

Owlwise....

When Soloman the wise was given a wish, rather than choose gold n riches he went with being able to understand the languages of animals. There are entire schools of martial arts whose moves are based on specific animals patterns and indigenous folks all over the globe dance their totems alive. Over the eons we have built up associations, memories and regaled tales charactered by them. This has become a kind of symbology that can be represented by an individual animal that crosses our path, or we theirs, depending on your perspective. Take the wise owl, whilst chowing down on mice aint so romantic, its ability to see in the dark is a pretty funky skill. Its stealth as a hunter must have inspired our ancestors as they sought for similar ability. Have you ever tried to move silently through vegetation, every sound becomes amplified, but if you called upon owl you might just be in with a chance. I love thinking of animals as divinationatory beings as I go for a walk pondering life, the universe and my own navel. The deeper ones connection to someone the less easily they can be harmed without conciousness and we have a long history with animal folks to tap into. How dry life would be without them. Perhaps they look at us in the same bemused way, but somehow I reckon their symbology is based on avoiding us buggers. Helps if your nocturnal eh wise owl?

mermaiden....an ode to the ocean...

one use for boxes....little red riding hoody..

installation....

This was created accidentally in our move and kinda says something about humanity shuffling stuff around. Like the antithesis to zen, its a mini altar to the things I valued enough to pack em in found boxes, bring em 13 hours in a truck and then unpack em. Beacuse theyve been in boxes, not my life, its been a process of rediscovery to open them up again. Surreal to be sitting in a space recently empty and see it chloeised. Good but surreal. Now if i can just find a gallery to exhibit this I wont have to work out another way to dispose of the shed wrappings kindly! Aaaah itll probably all just go in the recycling bin but cool shot eh....