Assorted Handicrafts and Whimsies
Having grown up surrounded by home-spun makers and all-around crafty folk it’s no surprise that I am most comfortable within the realm of creativity. I have spent my life exploring my creative whims and in recent years I’ve been reminded of the profoundly healing qualities of spending time crafting something meaningful.
A lot of my creativity is expressed through fibre arts and paper collages. In childhood, my dad taught me how to knit and this is by far my most consistent practice. Knitting was the gateway into the wide woolly world of all things fibre. Paper collage began as a way to keep a diary without using any words and it quickly became my favourite way to keep track of my musings. Collage allows me to be uninhibited with my expressions while keeping my sense of safety intact.
The source of my materials tends to be found, upcycled, and repurposed for a variety of reasons. For one, I’m concerned about the state of our planet and am committed to reducing my consumption of art supplies. Also, I am mostly housebound with disabilities and thankfully find inspiration in what I have on hand. Furthermore, I live in poverty and happily make do with what is gifted to me and/or thoughtfully purchased. I don’t see these things as limitations and even if I did have access to unlimited art supplies I’d still dig around in my recycling bin or unravel an unworn sweater to make something new because that’s where I find the magic of re-creation.
Hexagrams
There’s an annual gathering at our local cemetery called All Souls and it’s a collective recognition of grief and mourning. It’s an absolutely beautiful response to our society’s extremely unpracticed and inhospitable stance towards grief. My little string windershins are both a plea and prayer for peace. Equal measure of despair and trust.
Ephemeral Grief Shrines
Have an empty tea box? Maybe make yourself a little shrine. These are a few examples of grief shrines I’ve made over the last few years. My inspiration is from Marina Szijarto, an artist who makes “Loving Memory Shrines” and organizes the All Souls night at Vancouver’s Mountain View Cemetery.
Neurographica
Part doodling, part meditation, all kinds of fun. Neurographica is a mindful art practice designed by Russian psychologist Pavel Piskarev. The general process is to put your concerns on one side of a blank page and the drawing on the other side. There are no rules other than rounding out all the intersecting lines.
Weave Through Winter w/ Helen Hiebert
For the month of February 2022, I participated in Helen Hiebert’s “Weave Through Winter” paper weaving study. It was a terrific experience – I learned a lot, tried out new techniques, and was endlessly inspired by the others in the cohort.
A Woman Conceives of Being Not Afraid
Mixed Paper Collage
Inspired by Mary who was told to “be not afraid” by the angel Gabriel. She took that to heart and stepped upon a remarkable path.
Imagine being not afraid? Imagine a world where no one is afraid. Where everyone is safe and at ease. Imagine that!
Peace Pebbles: Sticks & Stones
Jute Wrapped Rocks
A meditation on ancestral wounds, spiritual aching, and broken dreams. The rocks were gathered from my father’s land and the sticks are from where I’ve landed; both are bound up with rough ties. Perhaps they’re mended. Perhaps not. Time will tell.
Yarn Mandalas
Yarn Weaving
Little woven whimsies where the play between sacred mathematics and yarn is alive.
Time becomes unbound and my imagination soars when I combine my love for math with my affinity for yarn.
Goddess Eyes
Mixed Media Weaving
Much beauty can be found in a simple thread of yarn. Repeat a geometric progression and witness the emerging pattern.
The spiral dance of life. We’ve been here before, seen this before, done this before. Haven’t we?
Mending Moon
Stitched Paper Collage
I made this piece for someone I don’t know as part of a gift exchange and to be honest, I’m not too sure what it’s saying. Sometimes the message is none of my business or not yet apparent.
Bijou Baskets
Hand-dyed crocheted wool
Rustic little baskets to hold your various miscellany. Keys and coins? A wee potted plant? They cast a beautiful shadow with a jar and candle nestled within.
No two are the same and I’m always surprised by the variety of textures and hues.