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....

Nomad.....

Stuff comes today! Cant wait to unpack and play with things, nesting, arranging and rediscovering whats been in boxes for months. Setup studio and have access to materials and library 24/7. Last night ad libbed this drawing on the inside of a book cover I was in such desperation to draw....  

Nomad and Chloe have a noo HQ!

Well 12 months on we have found our noo home!
Its a wee walk from a long ocean beach, has a bloody decent garden space (and shed :)) and all in all rocks. Fly up on tuesday and stuff comes on Thursday....
There have been times I thought it was never going to come, but now Im at the other end of the process I can be philosophical about why I didnt get all those other spaces. Im pretty sure Im not the only one pleased, all those fellow travellers whove kept my hope levels tickin over can relax too! Im not real good at goodbyes and Im having to say a few in this shift to a different life, some natural, others by the wayside but I trust all is as it should be in the now. So no gloom but lovin and growth to all....
ps.WWooooooo Hoooooooo