Le nid de Colibri

Quote of the day

2011-10-29T06:51:00.000-07:00

"They who in trouble untroubled are

Will trouble trouble itself."

Thiruvalluvar, Tirukkural, Verse LXIII.3

Vaste progamme :o)

Magic feathers project

2011-09-19T06:39:00.000-07:00

I sent two... Won't you join us ? :o)

Hobo Codes

2011-08-05T03:24:00.000-07:00

A very interesting article about "hobo codes" who are now available in "QR" meaning you can read them with your mobile phone :

http://fffff.at/qr-stenciler-and-qr-hobo-codes/

Another blog post on traditional hobo codes.

An exhibition at MOMA on the subject of hobo codes.

And an article in French on rue89.

My mother always claimed that our house was protected by some secret code left by hoboes and gypsies. That always intrigued me because I could never find them.

Children and cloth

2011-02-22T01:07:00.001-08:00

I cam across this online exhibition which reminds me of Jude Hill's work. Threads of Feelings presents bits of textile that were left with abandoned babies in the 18th Century.

On a different note I read this very nice article on cloth as medecine for children.

2011-02-02T03:52:00.000-08:00

I need to reorganize my house. For this I need to sort out my beads and craft magazines and textile scraps. I have to start by this.

But every morning I think I will do it in the evening, and every evening I don't do it...

And so last night I dreamt about a woman who showed me an embroidered textile in Morristown where my sister lives (in the dream) : a crying snake with a veru white shiny tear.

"Oh, typical Mexican tribal art" said I (in the dream).

Hm... I need to stitch... but for this I need to sort out...

I found exciting embroidery blogs

2010-09-17T01:38:00.000-07:00

Great inspiration found on the web :

Mr X Stitch - contemporary needlecraft. There is a great article about kantha by Arlee Barr.

http://www.mrxstitch.com/

Feeling Stitchy -

http://www.feelingstitchy.com/

This and that... my random thoughts. A master embroider from India.

http://deepashome.blogspot.com/

Enjoy !

BJP 2010

2010-07-07T13:27:00.000-07:00

I am still working on the 2009 BJP - still missing a few months. It is very difficult for me to bead someting about the months where I felt so horrible. And I can't start 2010 if 2009 is not finished... same old story. However at the B&B show I met a new friend, a 70 year old lady from Florida, and she is a great coach !

After one year working on red/white/black, I have felt compelled to change. I took all my pieces out and realised that what I gained in unity in the 2nd year of BJP, I lost in spontaneity. My favorite piece ever is till the first one I did (the howling coyote). This weekend I am meeting my dad, back from a long US trip where he met a lot of American Indian tribes. Apparently he asked the jewellers if they would take a student (me ?). They said yes. Wow. Wait till I tell my boss ! lol

Anyways, I know that the 2010 BJP for me will be about blues and greens. And boxes. One's place in society. And maybe feathers. I have been wondering about feathers for more than one yar. Maybe because for the last 2 years I've been walking through a park to go to work, and have found many feathers on the ground. Then Jude of Spirit Cloth did a whole embroidery research about feathers.

Sometimes I wonder how "reality" is linked to dreamwork/arts & crafts reality. Today I read in the newpaper that scientists are worried because snake population is declining in Europe. They say snakes are a tough species and if they suffer it means many species are probably in danger of disappearing. I know that snakes and bees and frogs have been wery important symbols for mankind for centuries. All 3 are threatened species. Never mind biodiversity, what does it mean if symbols disappear ? (or is it past bead time for me ?).

I meant bed time of course...

Bead & Button show

2010-07-07T13:12:00.000-07:00

Milwaukee was great... incredibly nice relaxed people and many talented people. It was thrilling to be able to see with my own eyes the work of the bead artits I usually read about.

Nice food, nice drinks... and a surprise : I was still following my friend the Monkey's trail (tail ?) !

Exotic sights (post office) - exciting !

A revelation ; I love metal work.
Lady in the background enjoying all the hammering is a psychology professor at University.

Disc cutting. Then dapping, piercing into earrings. I have had a fascination for copper since I was 12. Only this June did I start working on it. Bliss !

Metal forming : flattening silver wire

Shaping square wire into bangles

I am so happy I took all these classes !

Birthday present

2010-06-05T00:33:00.000-07:00

I m off to Milwaukee for the Bead and Button show !!!!!

I ve been waiting for this for 4 years and treated myself to this for my 40th birthday.

I m a little scared, but happy and excited.

Take care.

2010-04-23T02:56:00.000-07:00

Robin Atkins invited anybody who is interested to take part in this challenge...

The idea is to go back in blogtime to your earliest posts and identify the 6th picture you posted. The next task is to critique your own photo, explain what you would do differently now, and then pass on the challenge to 10 other bloggers. I'm not big onpassing along, because of the sense of obligation that might be felt, so the challenge is extended to anybody who's interested!

I started blogging in 2007. I don't use this blog much apart from posting my Bead Journal Project efforts, which have been er very minimalist for a year...

So here is my 6th photo...

From early this morning, I have felt Coyote's presence around me. It is a day of hidden giggles in the most bizarre situations, which doesn't allow me to relax in my bad mood and tiredness. Like I went to church before work this morning, feeling very depressed because of my very frustrating love life. After a few minutes this sexy man appeared, which was striking since the church is always empty. The priest seemed puzzled to see me there. When I came out I saw many flowers, one with the inscription "to my husband" ; a funeral was apparently planned. I didn't know what to think about all this but when I spotted a Coyote Express van across the road, I got the message : SMILE, DON'T TAKE YOURSELF SERIOUSLY !

So what would I do differently today about this picture ?

Well, I would clean my fridge before taking the picture (note to self : clean the fridge), and I would use a picture software to reduce the size. But I think I would definitely not take a picture like this. Well, I hope so anyway ! lol

More than everything this challenge has reminded me of what is really important to me, because all of it is on this blog. Thank you Robin !

BE HAPPY EVERYONE !

I'm back !

2010-04-11T12:20:00.000-07:00

For the past last weekends I have been taking lessons in Indian textile with talented designer Shikha Chireux ; chikankari embroidery and block printing... I love it ! Chikankari is usually done white on white, but we used coloured threads to see the shadow work better. It is difficult because all the stitches are reversible, since they are done on very fine cloth. Block printing is simply addictive...

March BJP (in progress)

2009-07-04T00:02:00.000-07:00

March BJP in progress

Last year, I thought it was important to respect chronology in my BJP efforts. This year, I cannot do it, and I keep thinking for every piece alternatively "something is missing" and "I can't go on with this piece".

With this piece, still not finished, I am quite pleased because it is maybe the first time I really do improvisationnal embroidery. I am beginning to think more in terms of cloth and colours and textures, rather than in terms of illustration of a feeling/idea. Then, I am amazed to see the piece is more revealing (to me) like that.

I just started from the juxtaposition of two textiles I had, and went on, following the voices of the piece/materials. I know which beads are wrong for the piece because they make me sick.

In the first days of March I visited a town with a sacred tree dedicated to fertility, then left India and my boyfriend. When I look at the piece I can only see an empty bed under a tree, no lover, no baby. My first visit to India I did after discovering I will probably never have another baby. I see also Christian symbols (Holy Spirit and trinity), and it is amazing how the more I learn about Hindu faith, the more I understand the religion of my ancestors ; symbols may be different, but in the end all human beings aspire to the same things.

Bead journal Project Update

2009-06-21T07:55:00.001-07:00

November 2008 - Skeleton Woman

First month after separating for the second time from the father of my children. Reconstructing. Work propositions.
Using Robin Atkin's ruffle embroidery technique.

December 2008 - Quiet Christmas
Using part of a made to measure Salwar Kameez and shisha mirrors from Chandigarh

January 2009 - Lightness of being
Snow, light, no pressure.

February 2009 - I love U
I went to India again. U became my lover.
U asked if I would consider marriage.
Using "ari" traditionnal Indian embroidery and Indian sequins.

June 2009 - Play/Marche
I went to a shamanic workshop. Did meditation work and drumming. Walked out of the workshop after a few hours with the two people I came with. Using textile markers as in workshop. Inspired by Marie's "Butterfly of How" and E E E E snake introduced to me by Acey.
Happy Solstice anyways everyone !

(September page here. October page here)

Bead Journal Update - I'm still in

2009-04-05T00:46:00.001-07:00

OK, I am very very slow, and very late, but I am still in for Bead Journal Project 2008.

Ha Melody...

2009-03-23T14:49:00.000-07:00

This wonderful album by the great singer/composer Serge Gainsbourg was given to me by my first love. I was 18 back then and I didn't know that life was not only a big eternal scar. I was totally unaware of all the lessons that I was about to learn...

Gainsbourg died since and has not come back into fashion yet... But, boy, isn't he gorgeous ! and I really miss him. However, some of the songs are still painful to hear for me.

Anyways... Listen. Listen...

(Words translate roughly as "Ha, Melody, because of you I did so many stupid things... If you lied to me, I'll get really sick...")

And, don't ask why, I've seen my way to the next whisky bar and listen to this song about Paris all the time at the moment. Under the sky of Paris anything can mend... some people say :o)

Oh yes... it is almost April in Paris !

Happy Spring to everyone !

Purple power

2009-03-21T01:33:00.000-07:00

picture found here

Yesterday morning, my 9 year old showed me a little book filled with quotes. She had copied them in her best handwriting with purple ink and many spelling mistakes. I was impressed by what she chose.

For example one was
"Law is like a spiderweb. It traps only small flies and lets the big flies get through".

I wondered why she used purple ink, and it reminded me about this beautiful story....

THE PURPLE HAT
G-Rated You have to be sure to read the very last line!!!

Beautiful Women
Age 3: She looks at herself and sees a Queen.

Age 8: She looks at herself and sees Cinderella.

Age 15: She looks at herself and sees an Ugly Sister (Mom, I can't go to school looking like this!)

Age 20: She looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly" - but decides she's going out anyway.

Age 30: She looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly" - but decides she doesn't have time to fix it, so she's going out anyway.

Age 40: She looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly" - but says, "At least, I am "clean" and goes out anyway.

Age 50: She looks at herself and sees "I am" and goes wherever she wants to go.

Age 60: She looks at herself and reminds herself of all the people who can't even see themselves in the mirror anymore. She goes out and conquers the world.

Age 70: She looks at herself & sees wisdom, laughter and ability, goes out and enjoys life.

Age 80: Doesn't bother to look. Just puts on a purple hat and goes out to have fun with the world.

Maybe we should all grab that purple hat earlier.

Please send this to five phenomenal women today.
If you do, something good will happen; you will boost another woman's self esteem.
If you don't... your left boob will drop off.

(This version of the story found here.)

India continued

2009-03-06T06:49:00.000-08:00

In Tamil Nadu, I saw many temples of course, and this time many temples dedicated to the Goddess. It is not allowed to take pictures of the shrines, and non-hindus are sometimes warmly welcome and sometimes barely tolerated. As a result, I don't have pictures of what moved me most. I wrote last year about what I felt in temples here.

I was surprised to feel a totally different kind of energy in Shiva temples and Shakti temples. I am sometimes very naive.

Here are a few pictures of expressions of faith...

Tiruvarur Temple - in each little house there is a statue.

Tiruvarur. Nandy looking after a Shiva lingam.

A statue in Arunchaleshvara Temple, Tiruvannamalai - temple dedicated to the element of fire.

Yoni (symbol of the Goddess) in Kamakshi Amman temple, Kancheepuram.

Offerings for fertility in Kamakshi Amman temple, Kancheepuram.

Ceiling in Palani, in the temple dedicated to Murugan, son of Shiva

Textile tribal snake - TRC museum

Mask against evil spirits.

Celebrations in honour of Goddess Kali, who defeated demons, but in her rage did not stop and tramped Shiva to death. Pondicherry. Don't ask what is in her mouth !!!

Village car festival in honour of Vishnou

Food stall, village, Nilgiris

Tribal Gods, TRC museum

Prehistorical rock art, Karikkiyur, Nilgiris.

Temple footprints.

Hello !

2009-03-06T04:12:00.000-08:00

Pondicherry street office

For the last 2-3 weeks I managed to sneak out of my office and... went back to Tamil Nadu, India. I had a great time of course.

This time I managed to get a little closer to textile and jewellery craft people. This was possible thanks to the information found about Indian crafts on the CDs sold by the Craft Revival Trust. Thank you Lainie for the link !

I found my way to the wonderful Tribal Research Centre (TRC) in M Palada, near Ooty in the Nilgiri mountains. With a total tribal population of about 28,000, the Nilgiris is an important tribal district. You can read more about the tribes here. In the museum you can see many fascinating objects made of clay, wood and vegetals. Here are a few pictures relating to Toda embroidery, which is world famous.

Toda woman embroidering a Poothkuli shawl - Photo (c) TRC museum

Tribe scissors - Photo (c) TRC museum

Toda ancient shawl - Photo (c) TRC museum

Toda modern shawl with traditional flower motif bought in Ooty

If you are in the region, you can buy Toda embroidery in Ooty and there is also a recommended Woman's Cooperative in Kotagiri.

*

In Pondichery, I saw a patchwork exhibition at Aurodhan Art Gallery. The artist name is Vatika and he has a shop and guesthouse near the gallery, François Martin Street. I love the way he mixes printed textiles, embroidery and beads.

Vatika at work

Across the road there is a shop named Excellent Bengal Handicrafts specializing in fairtrade ecofriendly Kantha embroidery from Bengal. Ms Bharati Dhar, director, aims to save traditional arts of India, provide skills and jobs opportunities to under priviliged villagers and use natural, waste and recycled goods to manufacture simple and stunning products of a vast variety. She is trying to expand her work. If interested in helping her, she has a facebook page, her email address is bharatidhar@yahoo.com

Back to beading !

2009-01-31T02:51:00.000-08:00

This week, I started beading again, after a very very long pause.

True, there was many things happening in my life, but I can't help noticing my creativity stopped just after I started working on the Maid with no Arms, and DOM, the Decent Old Man.

Dom, the first from the left on the picture below, was cut out from the ceremonial cloth I carried with me in shamanic workshops, and in India (to be honnest, this cloth is what made me decide to start visiting India by coming though Chennai/Madras - yes, i know it is very foolish). He is supposed to help me heal from the legacy of wounded ancestors...

A few days ago, listening to Clarissa Pinkola Estes' tape "How to love a woman", I discovered the Inuit tale of "Skeleton Woman". I cried, and creativity came back... Just like me, she doesn't like being photographed. It is funny because I kept wanting to add bones in my october page...

Gentle cleaning

2009-01-17T11:37:00.000-08:00

Denise Desjardins

Today I saw a film about Denise Desjardins, and she was there after the screening to answer questions.

I first heard about her many years ago through my yoga teacher.

A much loved figure in France, she was first a successful painter and decorator. After her marriage, she spent much time in India and followed the teachings of Mâ Ananda Mayi, and later on of Swami Prajnânpad. Together with her husband Arnaud, she founded the first ashram in France in 1974.

She went through a kundalini experience, and experienced memories of past lives simply lying next to Swami Prajnânpad. She says past lives are not to be understood as something that belong to you, but rather as energies that are deeply imprinted in your psyche for some reason or other, and that should be cleaned, so that you can find the real you.

She never chose between her spiritual life and her family life. She used to take her two children with her in India. She managed to maintain a balance.

She explained this idea, which I heard in India, that a woman taking care of her family and children does not need special rituals or mantra, because her whole life is devotion. However she follows the paths of fullfulling all the heart's desires so long as nobody is hurt, not even yourself.

She is funny and warm and so simple. What an inspiration !

Goodbye 2008, hello 2009 !

2008-12-31T11:48:00.000-08:00

2008 was good.
I loved that year, it was full of new experiences and truly great people.
It was full of laughter and tears, fears and happiness.
And I learnt to relax. Well, almost.

2009 will be good I'm sure. Because each minute is precious. No matter what is going on outside. Each minute we have the power to change it all !

I wish you all a very happy, prosperous and healthy new year !
May you find peace, a few Coyote surprises, may your creativity flourish, may you live fully !

Love,

Hélène

Happy Holiday Season

2008-12-23T11:51:00.000-08:00

I wish you all a Happy Holiday season.
Lots of warmth, friendship and nice foods for body and soul !
I wish you relaxation and good fun !

What do you need to be happy ?

2008-12-07T15:19:00.000-08:00

All week-end I learnt how saying

"thank you", "i am sorry", "i love you"...
can change your life.
This is the method of a very generous soul, Mabel Katz.

Now I am on a high !
You know what ? I love you ! :o)
No, but seriously, I do.

More information here and here

A glimpse of my november BJP

2008-11-29T00:52:00.001-08:00

This is a glimpse of my progress on the november page. Not an easy month. I choose the fabric, and did the moon first (a japanese embroidery design). Then I stopped for many days. I opened Women Who Run With Wolves at random and find a scary story about a girl who gets her hands chopped off, but survives and gets stronger. Days later I envisionned the police outlines of corpses and thought about Keith Harring. I started the spirit doll body. Next day The Bombay terrorist attacks started. We hear that two French nationals were killed ; the founders of a delightful underwear collection that especially appeals to teenagers and young girls. This month's theme is about the freedom of women, the freedom to love and be oneself. The importance of keeping the heart alive, even under the ash of fear, hatred, jealousy, sorrow, contrary winds...

This page is still in progress. May peace be with you.

7 little known facts about me

2008-11-05T02:01:00.000-08:00

Bobby has tagged me to reveal 7 little known facts about me. So here it goes. I am a pretty weird lady (I'm sure you know that already)...

1. When I was 18, I fell madly in love with a beautiful and cold young man. He made me feel like I was a number on a list and that my only interest was my virginity. I developped heart problems and had to take digitalin. These problems healed with time. That guy is living in India now.

2. I went to India this year after reading Sarah Macdonald's hilarious "Holy Cow", and started losing my hair after that visit - just like her.

3. During my first night home after that visit I had the weirdest dream. I was alone in a forest surrounded by strange spirits or monsters. They told me to stay with them, I said I couldn't because I had to take care of my children. They said OK, come back later. I woke up terrified, not knowing where I was.

4. I had a spontaneous out of body experience when I was around 13, just walking in the college playground after lunch. I don't remember what was on the menu that day, but I do remember the smell of the birch trees. That experience really scared me, I waited many years to talk about it.

5. I did a few Holotropic Breathwork sessions. This changed the idea I had of myself, life, mental health and all that. It's a pretty violent therapy but it helped me cure from whatever problem I had - post traumatic stress, chronic depression (?) ... I still don't know but I feel better.

6. While in India, I came face to face with some of the big lies I had been telling myself. I am still trying to digest that.

7. At the moment, I have very little energy. I think I know why but I can't tell with words. Probably more on that in future beaded pages ? ;o)

Update on October Bead journal Project

2008-10-26T10:59:00.000-07:00

Let's keep smiling

Here is an update on my october page. I don't know if it's finished yet.

October 2008 will probably be remembered in History as "black October" or something similar since the World economy is now rocking seriously. On the ecology side, we learn many bad news everyday ; icecoat melting, toxic gas spreading and animals disappearing. Many of my friends and family members have had a hard time in October - and me too...

And so what can we do ? "Let's keep smiling...." as Mr Chat seems to suggest :o)

Update on September Bead Journal Project

2008-10-15T07:38:00.001-07:00

This is an update on my September page, "That old black magic (called love)". I don't know why, but I don't have a lot a creative energy at the moment, and I work even more slowly than usual.

I have thought a lot about eyes in September. There was this poster everywhere in Paris for a theatre show about Maria Callas giving a lesson when she had lost her voice :and then at the end of the month I learnt through this delightful blog and this one that it was festival time in India for Durga and from link to link found this :

So it has been a journey from fear and magic to love and feminity back to magic and fear :o)

September BJP

2008-10-01T11:56:00.000-07:00

First there was this...
Then this...Then this...

nothing finished yet,tsss...

To bead or not to bead

2008-09-30T10:19:00.000-07:00

I am having big trouble with this year's Bead Journal Project. I am amazed that just musing about 3 colours, I get to visit powerful archetypes and uncomfortable emotions. My theme of the month is love, my piece is entitled "That old black magic"...

Anyways, I have heard interesting news today. Near the town of Toulouse, there is a church in which you find a Black Virgin Mary with child, la Vierge Noire of Notre-Dame de Daurade. This statue is adorned with clothes, and she is supposed to help especially pregnant women, mothers, and people affected by floods and fires.

A few days ago the Society for the Protection of the Statue, APPD, has asked famous stylists to design new clothes for the Black Virgin (Sonia Rykiel, Christian Lacroix, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Paco Rabanne, Prada, Gucci...). Saddly enough, they haven't responded yet.

Anybody interested ?

Here is a link to her old dresses. And here is another link more general (in French).

Little hearts given to the Black Virgin

A wild week

2008-09-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

Phew, it's been a wild week.

It started on tuesday. I did a Feng Shui ritual in my office, as there is much shouting and vexations going on all the time. That night I dreamt of being brought to a shrine by two crones, and seing a glimpse of the Goddess surrounded by roses and jasmin. Strangely enough one of the crones was Mrs McClusky from "Desperate Housewives" :o)

Next morning, when arriving at work, I learnt that a pipe had burst two floors above my office during the night ; water everywhere, no electricity, no computers, no elevators. No safety instructions from the bosses. My office was one of the very few that was spared by water. Strange.

A few days later, I went to a conference by distinguished anthropologist Jeremy Narby, and learnt that Swiss magic mushrooms are nicer and funnier than South American Ayahuasca, but give less visions. It's just a wild week !

My workpace

2008-09-14T13:04:00.000-07:00

Denise has challenged us to show our beading workplace. So here is mine ; the kitchen table. This summer I finally put all my beading books and materials in just one cupboard, what a relief ! In the corner, near the spice basket, you can catch a glimpse of the Asa Foetida box that came with us in Italy, because it rolled out of its shopping bag.

And this is what the workspace looks like when I get excited over a project. Yes, I am a very messy person. Personal message : Stellou we have found the Coyote statue at last !

Hidden friends

2008-09-10T13:30:00.000-07:00

Theodora, San Vitale, Ravenna

When I was a child I was given a poster of Empress Theodora. For years she stared at me from over my bed. It didn't always feel comfortable, such a weird gaze, but sometimes it made me feel good or it sent me into long daydreams. It was my mother who gave me this picture, saying very little but with much intensity. I just knew it was a precious gift.

And so this summer, we visited Ravenna and saw the original mosaics. I insisted on that. Funnily enough, everybody enjoyed the visit of the Basilica San Vitale and the mausoleum nearby. In the Basilica, I found many red, black and white tiles. An interesting website with many photos is here.

My pictures of the floor of Basilica San Vitale, Ravenna

A few moment ago, I followed a link suggested by my friend Tally and suddenly found a story of Theodora's life (longer version here). A truly wonderful lady. I'm amazed that my mother casually gave me a feminist (christian) icon with many jewels to put in the traditional place of the crucifix.

Isn't it strange how we are surrounded by hidden friends all the time ? If we manage to stop the noise inside and outside just for a moment, then we start to hear their voices...

And from a textile point of view I am amused to hear that in her time, the Blues and the Greens were fighting each other :o)

Why red ?

2008-09-04T02:18:00.000-07:00

Geranium by Duvalmickael50

Why red ?

This is going to be a long wordy post, I’m afraid !

I was welcomed into life with a drama and a red flower bunch ; a gift by my grandpa’s excentric 3^rd wife, which my mum thought very shocking and unappropriate.

Later on at age 7, I was gifted by my parents with a red bedspread which became my dummy and helped me stop sucking my thumb. I am quite ashamed to reveal that I still have it on my bed, although it has grown very dishevelled with the passing of time. On last year’s Bead Journal Project I was tempted several times to do a page with a piece of that old bedspread, and also to work on the red thread theme.

I love colours and when I started reading the book “A Perfect Red” by Amy Butler Greenfield which had just been translated into French last year, I got really excited and fascinated. I had no idea that the quest for a colour was so intimately linked with political, economical and scientific issues !

Then just before I left for the holidays I read somewhere the claim that black, red and white are the three major colours of mankind. Elsewhere Michel Pastoureau, a French historian specialized in colour, claims that red is THE ultimate colour. Black and white are sometimes said to be no colours. These 3 colours are associated with many symbols ; day, night, bone, earth, blood, life, death, power, desire, church….

Obviously as soon as I had made up my mind I saw red everywhere, in paintings, road signs and even insects !

Finally the Museum of Arts Décoratifs in Paris is organizing an exhibition on the colour red next March.

For me, working primarily from colours rather than concepts is an attempt to harmonize my efforts and also to go towards abstract.

Plus I have decided to buy a minimum of supplies this year, and a very large part of my existing stash is red based.

There you are ! :o)

Added later : the BNF - French National Library organized an exhibition on red and the costumes of designer Christian Lacroix a few years ago. The text is only in French but there are nice pictures of the costumes here.

Back from Italy and Bead Journal Project 2008

2008-09-01T05:47:00.000-07:00

Alley in the fishing port of Chioggia, Venetia, Italy

Vegetable stall along the road, Venetia, Italy

Hello, I'm back from a lightning trip to Italy, one of my favourite places on earth ! I am very tired but I have the impression that everything is new in my head.

Graphosoma Lineatum

Today is the first day of Bead Journal Project 2008. Last year I chose to work mainly around the journal theme, trying to express faithfully moods, thoughts and dreams that came each month. In the end, I was a little annoyed by the lack of formal unity of my efforts. So this year, I have decided to work mainly with 3 colours, red, black and white, and to expand my format to a felt square.

"No clinging"

2008-08-21T13:28:00.000-07:00

(c) Edmond Couchot & Michel Bret, “Je sème à tout vent”, 1990.
The dandelion has been used as a logo by the famous French dictionnary Larousse since 1876, being a symbol of the spreading of knowledge.

Today I got rid of about 15 boxes of books. 5 went to a friend, 10 to a charity. Some of these books I had since I was a teenager, others were kept since my university years, others were bought in the years when I tought I would become a psychologist... As there are many books that my mind refuses to read now, and as books are meant to be read, and as I am going through the "no clinging" lesson... I finally let go of them. I feel proud and sad at the same time. Books are very important in my family. It is an important step for me.

One of my friend is very wise and has not a single book in his house, he helped me to do this in a way.

(This leaves plenty of space for beading and textile books lol !)

Francis Lionheart

2008-08-19T02:17:00.001-07:00

Here is my latest spirit doll, Francis Lionheart, made for a little boy born under the astrological signs of the Lion and the Salmon. There's an open eye for good luck and sweet dreams. Fish and feather as reference to St Francis of Assisi who is said to have charmed the beasts and plants even when the clergy took him for a fool. Not many embellishments since I guess everything will be pulled out very soon.

2008-08-11T10:08:00.000-07:00

Family celebration, 2006

Today the Dalai Lama arrived in France for a 12 days visit. There is a lot of political chit-chat around this visit, since the French President won't meet him and so on. But anyways, I am very happy and moved that he is in my country. All the more so since tonight he is staying with a buddhist community that lives a mile or so from my parents' home, and will give a blessing there tomorrow morning. I will be working in the finance quarter of Paris tomorrow, but I will be thinking of him just like now.

May Peace be with you ! Many blessings to all of you.

Rock engraving in Fontainebleau forest cave

Art exhibitions

2008-07-27T08:55:00.000-07:00

Hilma af Klint, Tree of life n°5 (c) The Hilma af Klint Foundation

This week I have had the chance to discover two wonderful exhibitions.

One was centered around Hilma af Klint. Considered to be one of the first abstract painters, she painted classical landscapes and portraits for a living, but secretly painted abstracts, under the inspiration of Spirits. Her abstract paintings were revealed to the public 40 years after her death in 1986. She uses a lot of colours and geometrical figures, circles, spirals, triangles... More here.

Peter Doig, Milky Way, (c) courtesy the Artist and Victoria Miro Gallery

The other was about Peter Doig. A contemporary artist, he paints a lot of strange landscapes. Watching his work, I had the impression of seing spiritual messages everywhere, as if the landscapes and figures were distorted because seen through the eyes of the soul rather than the physical eyes. I fell in love with "Milky Way" (above) and "Grand Riviere" in which there is a white horse and... ravens ?

More on the artist here (Tate Britain).

Two new Spirit Dolls

2008-07-12T09:16:00.001-07:00

This is "Dream Girl", she was inspired to me by recent discussions with friends still looking for their soul mate. She is not the Goddess of Love, but she is a Spirit that will help us going through the jungle and dirt of our hearts so that we can face our inner truths, and find happiness.

She is made from a child's sari (which I bought in Pondichery), because often the wounds of our childhood prevent us making healthy choices even though we want to. Her hair is untidy, because she is a wild and free Spirit, or maybe the Lady is a tramp who just doesn't care about social conventions and lies. She is generous (she has "her heart on her hand" as we say in French). She is a filmbuff ; she has a rosebud from Citizen Kane - we all have our secrets - and seashells from Identification of a Woman - I never really understood what that film is about but there are great moments in it. She knows her Shakespeare : "If music be the food of love, play on". She wears flowers because I think she likes to visit Tahiti as often as she can. And she has a rose quartz chip for emotional balance.

I'm quite proud because I've succeeded in doing a picot edging for the first time.

A now for something completely different, "Arghhh - Working on frustration", which is still in progress :o)

Lazy Sunday

2008-07-06T10:37:00.000-07:00

Crédits : 1. La maison rose de la Butte Montmartre, 2. Feuilles, 3. café crème

It has been a very lazy Sunday for me, although I managed to finish a spirit doll called Dream Girl but can't show her off because my camera is travelling around Germany this week.

I have been looking for bead inspiration on the web and found Svetlana's wonderful blog which in turn lead me to this : Tatiana Ekimova's incredible collection for the 2007 Odessa Fashion Show ! Correction on the previous meme ; if I had a lot of money, I'd definitely buy this dress ! And I'd wear it.

Just for fun : my Flickr using French words :o)

2008-07-05T18:28:00.001-07:00

Photograph credits :
1. Hélène Nana, 2. Morning baguettes, 3. series # 1 - brick wall, 4. rose, 5. Gabriel Byrne, 6. vintage tea set with cupcake, 7. Top of the mountain!, 8. Revisiting the Idea of a Fraisier — Idée de fraisier revisité, 9. pancarte paumée, 10. 06-2007 - DSC09966 - Détails carrés de nappe !, 11. PhotonQ-Woman 's Thoughts aKa Complex Memetics, 12. mademoiselle h

It seems I'm more romantic when I talk French :o)
However I keep wondering why I can't find a French celebrity crush...

How switching language can change your personality

2008-07-05T07:43:00.000-07:00

I have recently read in the Press a news that delighted me because it proves what I have known for a long time ; a bi-cultural person reacts differentely to a situation depending on the language he/she is using.

I have always suspected that I was a happier person when I spoke English. In the days when I was badly depressed, I resorted to reading English speaking self help books and it did wonders for me.

New release here.

The Flickr Game

2008-07-05T07:26:00.000-07:00

I am following Tally's suggestion to play the Flickr Game

Here are the rules:
Go to flickr.com
Type into the search the answer to the following questions.
Choose a picture only from the first page that opens.
Copy the url of the picture and
paste it into the mosaic maker.
You than can upload your mosaic to flickr and/or whatever you got.

Here are the questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

I have been quite surprised by the results that came up for my answers, there was a certain truth and synchronicities in these. For example, I kept getting images relating to India, and the same funny little dog appeared 3 or 4 times (I am from the Dog sign in the Chinese astrology). We did this for my boyfriend, and guess what... half-naked women kept popping up grrr...

However when I typed the name of my highschool "Lycée François Premier", I was appalled, for what came up were the images of a recent riot in a highschool visited by our current prime minister François Fillon. France is in a really bad shape at the moment. Look here.

And here are the credits for the pictures :

1. vernissage exposition helene schmitz, 2. paal-payasam-1, 3. L'Elephant sur l'Ile phénoménale, 4. Bosque by Twilight Star Trails, 5. ShahRukh Khan, 6. Tea Corner..., 7. What does the future hold?, 8. Sticky date toffee pudding..., 9. dandy drop, 10. 25 of April Bridge, 11. abandonview.lab.studio.clusterfuck, 12. Beija-flor Tesoura (Eupetomena macroura) - Swallow-tailed Hummingbird 8 479 - 10

Doodling

2008-06-20T12:41:00.001-07:00

Bead Journal Project and Sumptuous Surfaces have encouraged me to try and draw.

Trying to do fairies from a book by Linda Ravenscroft, proved very amusing, and I was pleasantly surprised by the result.

Linda Ravenscroft is a talented fairy artist, you can check her website here.

Little Big Ego

2008-06-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

Little Big Ego - June 2008

Most of the time, I try to be good. Sometimes I pray, sometimes I meditate, sometimes I reflect on my good points and bad points. Most of the time I try to act and speak in fairness, i try to control my passions.

Sometimes, it pays off ; I feel calm, centered and in harmony. Then I'm happy and I feel I'm a worthy person, that I'm making progress (where to, what for, that's another question).

However after each period of fullfillment I get visits from very interesting creatures. Their leader is Little Big Ego. He is somebody, very full of himself. He screams and makes scenes. He says nobody ever listens to him enough, nobody takes him seriously enough and so on. He is very big, and very melodramatic. He has only a head, and no body.

Over Time, I have learnt he really wants me to pat his hand and give him a cuppa. So I try do do this.

To draw him, I was inspired by a fabulous drawing by Sydney Sime (1867-1941), diciple of Beardsley, which I saw in London a few months ago.

My first me me

2008-06-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

Local organic market

Beadbabe has tagged me to do a meme. I don't usually do these, they make me feel unconfortable for some reason, although I love to read them on other blogs... But Beadbabe's blog was one of my first favourite bead blog so I can only say yes ! :o)

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
10 years ago I was living in a country village near my parents and sister, and working as a part-time secretary for my dad (he worked as an independent). I was desperately trying to be a good wife, and a good mother to my 5 year old. I was part of school committees. I was a lousy gardner and housekeeper (still am). I read a lot of thrillers and detective stories, mostly american, and was an expert on Lara Croft...

2. 5 things on today's to-do list?

Well, I don't do lists, working as a temp, everyday is quite different and I change priorities all the time (thus the name of this blog Hummingbird's nest).

- Today, we all woke up early because my youngest daughter was leaving for a 10 days school trip.
- Next I started my intensive German lessons, 4 hours a day, financed by the region (I've been waiting for these to start since october 2007).
- Then I waited for my caretaker to fix the non existing aeration of my bathroom which caused two light bulbs to explode recently (I've had to hassle the landlord to do something about this for almost 2 years).
- I will definitely spend some time on the internet checking emails and blogs and trying to keep an eye on my eldest daughter's MSN conversations
- I hope to do some beading/doodling, if I can get off the internet.

3. Snacks I enjoy?

France is not really a snacking country, as family seated meals are almost sacred ! :o)
Lately we've had the tendancy to take aperitif while cooking the evening meal with my boyfriend. Usually it will be saucisson (dried sausage), olives, homos, tarama, red cabbage salad, spicy carots or other delicatessen preparations we buy at the local supermarket... and wine !

If I skip lunch because I'm doing something else, I will usually gulp down saucisson, soft smelly cheese (camembert), sometimes biscuits (but I don't buy the kind I like) with tea at 4 o'clock. i tend to drink a lot of herb teas though.

4. Things I'd do if I were a billionaire?

I'm not sure. I believe in collective action. I believe most problems in the world could be solved if we would all put ourselves together.

Maybe I would fund research for ecological and economical technologies, and the transfer of these technologies to emerging countries. Maybe I would also fund a society to encourage people to go back to old age medecine for the little sores of everyday (using herbs and massage and so on). But in a way I am already doing this on a very modest scale.

I also like Beadbabe's idea of doing an artist community building.

5. Places I have lived?

Fontainebleau, France
Paris, France
London, UK

6. Peeps I want to know more about?

I will try to tag somebody who hasn't already been tagged so I will tag :

Caroll Lenthall
Tally
Sulam Sayang (BJP 2008 member)
Sewing Magpie
Ulla

May BJP : Serpent Wisdom

2008-06-06T07:58:00.001-07:00

"Serpent Wisdom"

And so, this is my final page for the Bead Journal Project 2007. I'm a little late. it's because I didn't want the experience to stop. Ah well, I have enrolled in Bead journal Project 2008 so I'm not too sad...

In this page, I have made hints to the two powerful dreams I had in India. In the first one, I dreamt my favourite ring lost it's garnet stone and that I couldn't repair it. This actually happened a few weeks later during the month of May when I apparently lost the stone on the beach, helping my kids and nephews to build a hole in the beach - will I ever learn to take care of my things ? lol

Second dream involved a serpent who tried to kiss me. I was quite uncomfortable with this, as I kept thinking about Eve and Jungle Book Kaa. Then I listened to the wonderful audiotape by Clarissa Pinkola Estes In the House of the Riddle Mother. It reminded me that snakes and serpents are powerful archetypes that are found all around the World. Often (even in the Bible), they are associated with trees worship, wisdom, the Goddess Mother, spirituality, life (DNA)... Sometimes they come to teach us how to move gracefully through the ups and downs of life, says Pinkola Estes, as snakes are at home on earth, in water and even in air since they are able to jump. Wow. I recognised then that this dream was a gift.

Thinking back on one year of Bead Journal Project, I realized what a great year it has been for me. Since I enrolled in this project, I found the courage to do a shamanic retreat, and to fulfill a dream I'd had since I was a teenager ; going to India. This year I have grown as an artist (hey I said artist !) and as a person. Also I have met many wonderful people. It is a year to remember.

Last June, I was feeling sad and beaded a mourning Coyote. This May I was a little sad too, and decided that this page would be a pendant to the Coyote piece. Thus the mischievous snake wisdom. Also you can see in the page of motive from Robin Atkin's new book Hearts to Hand Bead Embroidery.

Babies growing

2008-06-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

The end of the school year is near, and I have to admit my babies are growing up... The youngest is playing Athena with her theatre group. The elder is well into her teenage years - said her headteacher yesterday : "is she a real nuisance yet ?". Apparently we didn't give the right answer...

A pleasant surprise !

2008-06-05T08:35:00.000-07:00

This morning, I got a pleasant surprise in the post ; a little parcel from the United States !

Had I not seen the name on the packet, I would've guessed it was from a pink artist friend !
Look all these beauties, there's even a little champagne, isn't this sumptuous ?

Thanks a million, Grace !

Traces du Sacré

2008-06-02T12:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to see the exhibition "Traces du Sacré", an exploration of the relations between art and spirituality in the 20th Century.

Many beautiful paintings were to be seen. I was moved in particular by paintings from the US psychedelic art movement. There were two major painting by Isaac Abrams : All Things are OneThing and Flying Leap.

And also by the famous Franz Marc painting :

India : the People

2008-05-26T07:36:00.000-07:00

I realize in my little account of my visit to India, I forgot to tell you about the most moving and interesting aspect ; the people. This is because I was often to shy to take pictures of people, and more interested in listening to them.

In his book "Un'idea dell'India", Italian writer Alberto Moravia has said something like : "India is not a beautiful country, as Italy can be for example, or a "typical" country like Japan ; India is a continent whose major interest is the human factor". Well, I agree.

And as I cannot show it to you, here is a link to a wonderful website by professional photographer Claude Renault : http://mesimagesdinde.blogspot.com/

(In case you wonder the picture above is me trapped into giving money to a school in Mamallapuram, a town hit by the Tsunami. The little boy on the right, was bilingual though only 8 or 9, and a natural charmer).

April BJP

2008-05-18T06:39:00.001-07:00

"April in Paris"

Due to my little trip in India, I've had to do my March page in April and my April page in May, which I have found a little bit unsettling.

In April I was mostly in Paris. Well, April in Paris is supposed to be special and it is. However coming back from exuberant India, this month I had the impression that my country was washed out. No blunt colours, no strong smells, no noise, no constant sollicitation. In April I felt between two worlds. In April, I slowly managed to unwind and appreciate the subtleties of my home country. In April goes the French saying, "Ne te découvre pas d'un fil" (don't take even a thread off), meaning that the weather is very unstable, and it has been this year. In April, I've had great pain in the solar plexus region as well as various physical discomforts. Oh well, that's life...

The central motif is adapted from a kolam design, traditionnally drawn by South Indian women in front of their houses every morning to bring good luck on the family.

March BJP

2008-05-01T09:03:00.000-07:00

"You go there"

Remembering my trip to India.

I edited this post after a few days, however I am putting back the links to the Theyyam ceremony to which the page is partly a reference :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theyyam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ygo98X-fUM&feature=related

Innocent Tiger

2008-04-27T13:48:00.000-07:00

Innocent Tiger (Jungle Spirit)

I am late on the Bead Journal Project ; I don't have the skills to turn my ideas into reality... Meanwhile I have made a Spirit Doll thinking back on the days I spent in India, especially near Periyar's Wild Tigers reservation. I have tried to render the high vibrations of the jungle together with some stories people have told me, as wild animals stay very clear from tourists :o)

She has two silver tags ; "power" and "wisdom", and a lucky bell. In the fringe there is a clove which is supposed to bring luck, a yellow exotic seed and an amethyst chip supposed to be good for spiritual energy. On her shoulder is a snake with a black tongue. This is a reference to a frightening dream I had in India, and to the Kundalini snake. I took a yoga class in the village next to Periyar, which had amazing effects on me and convinved me to start taking lessons again (well the teacher actually ordered me to do this). The Indian teacher was very kind to me, as I found out last thursday with my "sadistic" Paris teacher lol. Funnily enough in my new course, I met a woman who was in Pondicherry around the same time as I was there.

I am always amazed by the meditative process that takes place when making a Spirit Doll. This one brought back the intense pain I felt on my first days back home. But after a while, she became friendly though a little mischievious (she must be a friend of Coyote).

I will try to take better pictures tomorrow but I was impatient to introduce her to the World. I hope you like her.

Be your note

2008-04-23T01:28:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for your kind comments on my Indian posts. As you may have guessed, I am still a little disturbed by my trip, as I have discovered myself from a totally different and unexpected angle. I dream of India every night, and amusing synchronicities keep popping up. For instance yesterday, as I was meditating on the wound-that-opened-again and how to close it, I received this wonderful poem via a newsletter :

God picks up the reed flute world and blows.
Each note is a need coming through one of us,
a passion, a longing-pain.
Remember the lips
where the wind-breath originated,
and let your note be clear.
Don't try to end it.
Be your note.
-- Jalalludin Rumi

I had to smile.

South Indian Temples

2008-04-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

Shiva Nataraja temple, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu

Entering a Hindu temple is quite an experience. From the outside, it is often a very high and colourful building, whith so many sculptures it makes your head spin.

Rameshawaram corridor

As you approach the center of the temple through very large and high corridors, you leave the light of day behind you and immerse yourself more in more into the darkness. It is cool inside, and very peaceful. You might hear mantras or people singing and laughing. It is not permitted to take pictures in the temple so you'll have to use your imagination for most of what follows....

Ganesha, Thanjavur

Shiva, Thanjavur

Everywhere there are amazing sculptures, some of which are smothered in ghee (clarified butter), ash and sacred powders, some of which wear clothes, some of which are adorned with food and flowers. I remember vividly a sculpture of a couple on a pillar in Chidambaram ; the man tall and tenderly protective, the woman smaller and all in sensuous curves, the man had his hand under the woman's chin and somebody had placed a few raisins there. A very moving picture.

Praying in Madurai (c) Claude Renault

Devotees are everywhere, some stay standing, others kneel, a few lie on the floor to show their absolute worship. Some shave their hair and give them away to the temple.

The central shrine is generally not visible to non-Hindus. It is a small dark cave in which a representation of the God is placed (often a lingam and a yoni). Lots of candles are lit. The doors of the shrine are only open a few hours a day. Fire and water always present.

After receiving darshan (benediction), devotees are given a little spicy milk to drink from their cupped right hand. All in all there is a powerful smell of milk and butter that reminds the sweet sour smell of young babys. Therefore it feels a little like being in your mother's womb again.

Theyyam (c) Claude Renault

In some temples in Kerala region there are trance dancing performances known as Theyyatam at certain times of the year.

All in all something very powerful can be felt there. On my first visit to a temple, I simply cried. Later, I understood that at least in India, God certainly exists. You can see it in the shiny eyes of the people .

Houses

2008-04-16T13:28:00.001-07:00

While in Tamil Nadu, I fell in love with the old houses. They often have terraces on which people can sleep on hot nights. There is often a palm tree roof or a palm tree room on the terrace.

Doors are decorated at the bottom with yellow and red paint, which is supposed to be auspicious, and above them the God of the house is sculpted ; you might find a heart for a Christian, a David star for a Jew, an elephant for a Hindu etc...

Each day, women wake up early to prepare breakfast and clean the house. When they have finished they draw lucky kolams in front of their doors. Traditionnally these were made using rice flour to feed insects and birds, nowadays people use chalk or paint.

I learnt a lot about these houses in the superb Dakshina Chitra village museum, and wandering through Pondicherry's streets on foot.

Thinking of you

2008-04-16T13:12:00.000-07:00

In India, I wasn't very lucky on the textile/bead search. Just before I left I understood that beads are produced mainly around Delhi, and the interesting regions for textile are up north too (Orissa, Gujarat...). I thought I would visit Arikamedu, an archeological site which was a major bead export town more than two thousands years ago. However I discovered in Pondicherry's museum that there was nothing to see there (that's why it wasnt mentioned in my guidebooks lol).

However I saw many treasures in shops, which I found very difficult not to buy (gorgeous women's traditional clothes). But I kept thinking about my beading friends :o)

From India with love

2008-04-16T12:39:00.000-07:00

Kundalini

Thinking back on my Indian experience, I am convinced that most of what I lived was happening not in the ordinary reality but rather in dreamland or on the archetypal level. Ordinary reality, that kept me firmly grounded, was great physical discomfort and long driving hours with a maddening driver. At the same time I experienced many emotions and insights that cannot really be explained by what I saw or did. Well, I suppose I can see Coyote's paw in my everyday miseries leading to insights. I think it is just possible that one of my chakras opened up in the bargain - while I was in the jungle.

Anyways, while in India it came to me that this country is probably a Paradise for trees. There are trees everywhere, incredibly healthy and green, even when it doesnt't rain, plus many trees are sacred in India. Just have a look at these beauties...

Tree on the side of the road, Tamil Nadu. They all wear numbers for some reason.

Trees in Pondicherry's French quarter

Tea trees near Munnar, Kerala

Sacred tree inside Thanjavur's temple, Tamil Nadu

Tree spirit in Thanjavur's temple

Sacred tree hidden near the beach of Rameshwaram.

Goodbye India

2008-04-10T03:00:00.000-07:00

I am sitting in an internet shop near Chennai (Madras) airport, highly excited because tomorrow I meet my partner and children, the day after I meet my parents and my sister and her family, but very depressed because tomorrow I'm also leaving India.

After this trip, I know that my soul is part Indian, I must have been here before. Although on the material side it was a nightmare (I have been sick all the time, unable to eat and sleep properly, prey to fever, insect bites and tourista and so on), on the emotional and spiritual side I have been truly blessed. In a very humorous and matter of fact way, God has been giving me the answers that I had been praying for, with the help of the most amazing guide. I feel humbled and stunned, lucky and so much alive ! I also feel I am no longer a child, but at last a grown-up !

God's message to me ? "Work harder in all you do" ;o)
Amongst other things... (Hey, you have to work too, can't tell everything lol)

See you soon !

2008-03-20T02:16:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving today for a three weeks trip. Will be back mid-April, hopefully with lots of beads and textiles stories to tell, and with lots of pictures to share !

Take good care of you,

Hugs

Hélène

TIF March

2008-03-15T02:57:00.001-07:00

For the month of March, Sharon B has asked us to do as piece using the above palette or the following theme : "Do you ever notice the little things, the small moments, the details in life? This months challenge is to do just that, pay attention to the tiny details. Sometimes the small things become emblematic for something larger."

For me details are linked to spirituality, sense of humour and life itself. To notice details, you have to be aware of what is going on around you and inside you, you have to practice attention, which is a classic spiritual/meditative exercise.

It is life and fun, because often a detail is something you notice because it is unusual, unpredictable. For instance a plant growing in a pavement crack, an weird cloud, a strange insect. Or, as in the classic Robert Frost poem, a grassy road. On gloomy days I have often had my spirits lifted by tiny details, I even used to visit open air markets just to get a whiff of life as a teenager.

Details for me are also representations of the individual against the group, something that stands out, something that you use to stand out too, as in fashion... and art. Detail is probably what transforms something into art.

The other night I was watching a documentary about fashion icon Marc Jacobs (VOD available here), and they were talking about japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. She has been fascinated by dots since she was ten, and has made dotted art ever since. It's wonderful and I think she illustrated well the theme of details taken to a very large scope, have a look at her biographic slide show on her website here to judge by yourself.

So my piece will probably be around fashion...

BJP February

2008-03-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

"Out of the box"

This is my BJP page for... February. When I was a child my parents often stressed the importance of having degrees ; they didn't have any, because life had played tricks on them. I remember a particular message from my mum ; she said I had to put all my efforts into obtaining my Baccalauréat (A levels), she used to say "you are a circle, and you have to find a way to get into this square. Just pretend you are a square for a while and then get on with your life". I didn't know I was a circle, I wasn't sure I wanted to be one, and found all this pretty mysterious and quite scary. I didn't understand either why square society was prejudiced against circles... This has been in my mind for quite some time :o)

Years later, I heard of the expression "getting out of the box". I also learnt that in India, sacred mandalas are based on circles and squares, which are supposed to represent heaven and earth. I also heard the thoughtful phrase "there is no way to happiness, happiness is the way". Thus the arrows that are also tendrils.

I'm in the middle of an emotional turmoil at the moment, and I have decided to use some of my savings to do a trip to India - a dream I've had since I was a teenager. Because I've just realized that no charming prince is going to come my way and fullfill all my dreams, it all depends on me somehow :o)

With love,

Hélène

TIF February

2008-03-09T13:53:00.001-07:00

I am old enough to remember... a carefree childhood - before the illnesses of my mum and dad, before my own illnesses. I have covered the main picture with net, net representing the veil of memory that gently changes things, as well as the thickness of time. The black heart with the spider is in front of the net.

The theme of the Berlin wall has proven too difficult for me to tackle, as I realized that for one wall taken down, many have been constructed since in my lifetime, in Israel, in Irak... I would like to be able to be something about walls, protective walls, prison walls, but I will need time to design this.

BJP progress

2008-03-03T00:33:00.000-08:00

Hello, I'm back :o)

This is my BJP page in progress for... February. What I really wanted to do is a square and a circle, though now I'm doing it I can see stories behing them, which I'll tell you about later on.

Take care,

Hélène

Still there :o)

2008-02-25T11:46:00.000-08:00

For some time I've been getting messages from my body through various disconfort and even weird dreams, and so I went to the doctor, and the doctor found I had a woman chronic disease. nothing disastrous, but a condition serious enough for the Social Security to reimburse the treatment at 100%. I know I'm being unreeasonable but I've just realized that some day, I was going to die, and I'm feeling very afraid. I'm surprised because somehow the themes I was thinking about for my various bead/textile projects relate to illness.

On the other hand I was going to work on the remembrance theme for TIF. I'm old enough to remember the dismantling of the Berlin wall, the invention of the credit card (on Visa cards there is a holographic bird), the birth of my daughters, nephews and nieces... But this little voice kept nagging me. I'm also old enough to remember other events, like feeling that I was living in Hell and nobody would ever come and rescue me. Grace has courageously tackled something similar for her January BJP piece. I really admire her for that (amongst other things).

I feel I must do something on fear, I've been trying to do nice things since I began BJP and even TIF, I felt it would be rude to expose some emotions in the face of other people... But now I feel tiredness won't leave me until I face fear.

Apart from that, I'm OK :o)

Art thou an artist ?

2008-02-19T12:29:00.000-08:00

Painting by Banksy

Have you ever wondered if you were doing art or craft or just having fun ? Have you ever stared incredulously in a museum at something that you thought would be better placed in a charity shop ? Have you ever stopped in your track with your heart beating maddly in front of an object that nobody seems to care about ?

If so, you MUST go and read the wonderful, insigthful and hilarious "Brief History of Western art" by Sandra Wyman here.

Enjoy !

Take It Further February

2008-02-04T03:31:00.000-08:00

Sharon B has posted the guidelines for February's challenge.

You can choose to work around"what you are old enough to remember"or around the following colour palette.

Sumptuous surfaces

2008-01-31T12:59:00.000-08:00

I have enrolled in Sharon B's "Sumptuous surfaces" course via Joggles.com.

In week 1, we must think about the design we wish to embroider and do some research on paper. I wanted to do something with the colour blue and began doodling around "blue eggs", a meditation on the subject of self protection. Also around tonglen which I sometimes practice.

Then, probably because Sharon B is Australian and also because I am reading a history book about textile dyeing, and am bewildered by all the weird interdictions that have been enforced in the past, I decided that I wanted to do a hommage to Helen O'Connell's discovery. She is an Australian scientist that has revealed 19 years ago that a special part of the female of anatomy is quite different from what we had been led to believe for the past centuries. If you feel comfortable with anatomy you can read more here. There was a documentary made on the subject which I saw a few years ago and dreamt about...

And so this is my design : 3 blue eggs and an anatomic border. The concept is : I am mother to two girls and protection of my young includes ensuring that they are in good physical and spiritual health and are not afraid of who they are. As a teenager I remember meeting artist Heidi Story in school and how she told us that she hadn't dared represent the middle part of bodies until she was about 40... Power over women is inflicted on their bodies and also on representation of their bodies. I have found it difficult to represent only the anatomy, so I see that I am not a very liberated woman...

January TIF/BJP

2008-01-23T03:05:00.000-08:00

Sense of direction

This is my January effort for the Bead Journal Project and the Take it Further challenge. Remember I was going to do a potato plant using the colours of TIF and inspiring myself from this design of the website Tête à modeler :

However, January is the month of resolutions and beginnings. I have spent a lot of time thinking about Christine Kane's suggestion of choosing just one word for the year and explore what it means to you. As I couldn't make my mind, it occured to me that what I need at the moment and have been needing for some time is a sense of direction. So my little potato flower transformed itself in a kind of 8 points compass rose - that was the idea anyway. Maybe it looks more like an Impatiens flower bud.In the process, I took much much more space than for my usual BJP pieces, which I have found annoyangly small lately. Impatience, need for space, confusion and sense of direction have been my themes for the month.

I am also preparing for a retreat beginning of February, and this piece mirrors the one I did for October BJP after my last retreat.

Leafy bracelet

2008-01-16T12:39:00.001-08:00

I just finished this "Leafy inspiration" bracelet designed by Linda Frechen and published in Bead &Button No.80 (August 2007). I made a few technical mistakes but I think it's quite nice.

Presents in the post

2008-01-11T09:57:00.000-08:00

Look what I got recently in the post, aren't they great ?

Drawing by Estelle

Beaded ornament by Grace

TIF January update

2008-01-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

After thinking it over for a while, I finally decided to go with the colour palette for the January Take It Further challenge. I might also use it for the BJP challenge, depending on the time I have on hand this month.

I have learnt that 2008, is the International Year of the Potat o. Potato was introduced in Europe in the 16th century, and from the moment it was allowed to be cultivated, there were no more famines (except in Ireland the year when potato crops were decimated by insects). French children are always told how scientist Mr Parmentier had soldiers posted near potato fields so that the people would understand it was something valuable rather than a trick of the establishment to poison them ; soldiers were told to turn a blind eye on the potato thieves.

It so happens that on my travel to my beading lessons I pass through the Parmentier metro station, which is decorated with a nice tile painting of a potato plant.

"Avoir la patate" is a popular expression that means more or less to be full of beans - and I need it at the moment :o)

I intend to work from pieces of felt and do some appliqué and bead embroidery...

December BJP

2008-01-07T01:32:00.000-08:00

December BJP

So this is my December BJP. I don't like it very much. It didn't turn out as I thought it would. However in a way it reflects what I have lived in December, a weird month with lots of emotions including very unpleasant situations. Things started to get messy right from the start ; I was pleased to attach my vintage orange cabochon with peyote stitch, but getting absorbed by technique and forcible meaning, I sort of lost the grace and fulfillment that comes with improvisational/meditative work.

Drawing by Elsa Beskow

The basic idea was to go from a drawing by Elsa Beskow for her lovely book "Solägget" (The Sun Egg) which tells about a forest fairy who finds an orange and mistakes it for a sun egg. Oranges wrapped in gold foil used to be the only present children would get at Christmas years ago in France. So for me it was a reminder to go back to the origins of Christmas, being a time to share the light and warmth we have with loved ones, rather than follow the sirens of consumerism...

Kay Nielsen

Amongst the good things of December was a week visit to London that allowed me to see the superb exhibition "The Age of Enchantment". It's on at the Dulwich Picture Gallery until 17th February 2008, and you can read about it here and here, and you can hear about it here. I also found out that illustrations by Edmund Dulac and Kay Nielsen have been republished. And of course Art Passions is always a good place to look at these wonderful fairytales illustrations.

Take It Further January

2008-01-04T14:59:00.000-08:00

Sharon B has launched the Take It Further challenge for January. You can choose to work either on somebody you admire or on the following set of colors.
Though I initially felt totally panicked when I read this, I realize I've been thinking about these two issues since I came back from holidays... yesterday evening ! Funny thing how minds work...

Happy New Year !

2008-01-04T10:41:00.001-08:00

I wish you all a very Happy New Year 2008 !

As Morwyn puts it, may all your wishes be fulfilled in every way that is good for you !

As Florence Grimm puts it, may this New Year allow us to take time ; time to appreciate each minute, a sun ray, a water drop, a smile, a nice walk in the countryside, a sunrise on a winter scene or a delicious tea near the chimney... Let's realize that as consumers we can change the course of things one step at a time... We always have the choice. Let's share.

As poet Rosemonde Gérard puts it (which I discovered through lovely Givernews blog)

Bonne année à toutes les choses,
Au monde ! A la mer ! Aux forêts !
Bonne année à toutes les roses
Que l'hiver prépare en secret.
Bonne année à tous ceux qui m'aiment,
Et qui m'entendent ici bas,
Et bonne année aussi, quand même,
A tous ceux qui ne m'aiment pas.

(Happy New Year to everything, to the World, to the Sea, to Forests ! Happy New Year to all the roses that Winter is secretly preparing. Happy New Year to all who love me and hear me in this World, and Happy New Year anyways, to those who don't like me)

Above all may this New Year see you reconnecting to your true feelings and needs, to your inner tenderness, may it see you grounding yourself for tomorrow's challenges !

With love,

Hélène

Handmade gifts

2007-12-26T13:41:00.001-08:00

Now they have safely been delivered by Santa, I can show you the gifts I made this year :o)

Patterns from Biloba

Pattern from Judith Baines

December BJP in progress

2007-12-21T09:51:00.001-08:00

At last I've started my December BJP page... Don't know if I'll have time to finish it before we travel to see family...

3'50" of activism - we can change the World

2007-12-21T04:59:00.000-08:00

Winter Solstice

2007-12-21T02:55:00.000-08:00

"Le Soleil a rendez-vous avec la Lune/Happy solstice"

This is my new Spirit Doll, that has arrived in her new home today. She's called "Le Soleil a rendez-vous avec la Lune/Happy solstice".

"Le Soleil a rendez-vous avec la Lune" is a famous song by Charles Trenet which you hear here (hear, hear). While stitching and beading, many songs came to me.

A classic French nursery song :

Bonsoir madame la Lune Good evening Mrs Moon
Que faites-vous donc là ? What are you doing now ?
J'fais mûrir des prunes I am ripening plums
Pour tous ces enfants-là. For all these little children
Bonjour monsieur le Soleil Good morning Mr sun
Que faites-vous donc là ? What are you doing now ?
J'fais mûrir des groseilles I am ripening redcurrants
Pour tous ces enfants-là. For all these little children

A Bruce springsteen interpretation of a Martin Luther King text, We Shall Overcome.

Music from the film Devdas. Not my favourite Bollywood film (I hate sad endings) but great music and great singers.

The person who received this gift seemed very pleased.

2007-12-20T01:55:00.000-08:00

Magpie preparing her nest

In France, at 14, all the kids are asked by school to have a compulsory work experience which lasts a week. My daughter's teacher asked the kids not to go through their parents but rather try and find a workplace on their own. My daughter contacted her favorite video game store and was accepted. For a few days now she's been going to work every day. She manages to wake up every morning on her own, she accepts to take something for breakfast, she takes a shower everyday and hasn't been wearing her trainers for days. She does everything from helping customers to sweeping the floor ! It's the first time I've seen her so happy since she started school 11 years ago, she radiates energy and charm. I'm amazed and soo proud. But I'm beginning to feel old and humbled, beginning to foresee the day when she'll spread her wings to fly out of our little nest... Obviously, we parents are there for that, to prepare them to fly on their own, but I can feel our bond moving. It seems only yesterday that we felt anxious for her first day in school :o)

Spirit of Christmas

2007-12-17T02:37:00.000-08:00

I know many people feel sad or uncomfortable at this time of year. I love Christmas but feel pessimistic about mankind in general.

Christmas is also the time of year when we celebrate the longest night in the year, and the return of light. Therefore it is a time when we can concentrate on our inner lights... just like Dalaï Lama.

May you and your loved ones experience serenity, love and warmth during the Holidays !

Flea Market and trolls

2007-12-15T14:10:00.000-08:00

I went to a flea market with a friend today, and I found these extraordinary things, I love them although I have no idea what they were meant for in the first place - my youngest daughter thinks they are molds...

I have also discovered a wonderful blog today, dedicated to trolls, TrollMoon. This is in relation with an idea I have for my December BJP (adapting an Elsa Beskow picture) - check out the great illustrations !

"Take it further"

2007-12-14T08:35:00.000-08:00

Following her "Take a Stitch Tuesday" challenge that ran in 2007 and gave many stitchers around the World the opportunity to learn dozens of embroidery stitches, Sharon B is launching the "Take it Further" 2008 Challenge.

You can read more about it here.

Having admired everybody's work on the "Take a Stitch Tuedsay" for the last 6 months, I have decided to join the 2008 challenge.

Er, well, back to my December BJP page then and my christmas presents... :o)

Nice quote

2007-12-03T07:06:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you have to play a long time
to be able to play like yourself.
– Miles Davis

November BJP

2007-11-30T06:11:00.001-08:00

"Thérapie"

So this is my November BJP effort, turning around the idea of speech therapy, and cleaning my wounds. My children thought I was doing an advent calendar, a good idea for next year.

I have used a bit of a fabric designed by Kaffe Fassett, which made me happy just to look at it, and the three others are textiles I bought more than 6 months ago with the idea of turning them into spirit dolls.

The water one I actually intended to use for my first BJP page, it may relate to a famous text by French philosopher Gaston Bachelard entitled "Water and Dreams" (which I haven't read but should have really), it may also have something to do with the fact that I spent my whole childhood on a riverbank. The shell comes from a Tahiti necklace that I was given.

The jaguar relates to my therapist, and is also a reminder that I have been busy reading the superb "Secrets of the Talking Jaguar" this month.

The green peas relate to the Princess and the Pea, a fairy tale that I disliked as a child, and it is also a salute with a touch of wry sense of humour to my oversensitivity. Above them is a bush with pink and white flowers. This can relate to a fairy tale about two sisters, Snow White and Rose Red, or to the War of the Roses between York and Lancaster (my dad was raised in Yorkshire), as I was told as a child that when the war was over a rosebush with red and white flowers was invented. Or maybe it relates to the Queen of Heart in Alice in Wonderland (I have been very impressed by Sacred Artist's november page).

Between the flowers and the water are white feathers, like Finist the Falcon feathers.

In the middle is a path in golden thread, with no visible beginning and no visible end - it is said that the uncounscious is not aware of Time... Magic gold threads are often found in myths and fairytales.

But I have worked improvisationally, the meanings came after :o)

I guess you could sum it up by the idea that human beings are made by stories as well as flesh and blood. Compared to last month's page I have the feeling that I have grown up a lot. Funnily enough I had to expand the format a little in oder to prevent the cloth from tearing next to the openings. Therefore it carries the meaning that through therapy I am extending my options, opening up.

I get very shy and embarrassed when someone calls me sexy

2007-11-29T11:59:00.000-08:00

CNN-IBN's Entertainment Editor, Rajeev Masand, caught up with King Khan at the International Film Festival of India and quizzed him about everything from Om Shanti Om to being voted the sexiest man in Asia.

Rajeev Masand: You've been a cine freak all your life, so did you attend a lot of film festivals when you were in Delhi and when you were training to be an actor, during your growing up days?

Shah Rukh Khan: Yes, earlier in Delhi, there used to be a lot of international festivals and they used to be competitive. But I never attended as an invited guest. I used to be one of the ushers. The theatre groups used to give us between Rs 50 and Rs 100 for ushering people inside. This is the first time I have been invited to a film festival.

Rajeev Masand: Very few people know that your latest film, Om Shanti Om has been invited by the Berlin Film Festival. Are you going there in February?

Shah Rukh Khan: I don't have the details but yes, that is what our international film distributor said, that we have been invited.

Rajeev Masand: It's really interesting that a film festival like Berlin, which is meant to be a serious film festival, has invited a film that really celebrates the glory of mainstream masala film making. So is that sort of an indication that Bollywood is becoming immensely popular?

Shah Rukh Khan: Well, I think Om Shanti Om is a seriously funny film so there is a part seriousness there and so I think its okay to go to the Berlin Film Festival and showcase a film like it.

Rajeev Masand: The UK paper, The Eastern Eye, has voted you the sexiest Asian alive. Give me a final word on this.

Shah Rukh Khan: As hard as I am trying to be the chief guest of an international film festival and be serious, you declare me the sexiest Asian and make me look rather flippant again. Just when I thought I could be an actor, you've taken my chance of roles in serious cinema away again. I don't think it's amusing. I get very shy and embarrassed when someone calls me sexy.

ibnlive.com

Thank you vluvshahrukh

A fantastic morning

2007-11-23T03:19:00.000-08:00

This morning I did something fantastic.

Twice a year there is a special flea market somewhere in Paris, and my bead teacher had told me I should really come. There was a flaw in this project ; I am not a rise-early person and I had to be there at 6:00 am latest, though the metro service has not recovered from the 8 days strike yet... plus I'd been to a screening of "Other Worlds" followed by a discussion yesterday evening.

A few days ago I'd read a great piece on procrastination on Christine Kane's blog. It said at the end "Don’t ask yourself how you “feel” about doing the activity, just do it". And so when the alarm clock set off at 5:00 am, I only waited a few minutes before getting up. Am I glad I did that effort ! As soon as I got there, I saw a small crowd. Connoisseurs were frantically searching through old boxes and fishing out the most marvellous treasures at bargain prices ! I spent all the cash I had on me. That was a really great experience.

Amazing !

2007-11-20T11:42:00.000-08:00

I've just from my mum that her village is in turmoil ; a black cat has been spotted regularly since 11th November in the Fontainebleau forest... nobody is sure if it's a puma or a panther, but what's sure is that some areas of the forest are not recommended for walkers until further notice !

News clip here.

For the Kichwa, black pumas are the traditional guardian of the forests and the animal that maintains balance between the human and natural worlds. But this one is very far away from home...

More on the puma here (French) and here (English).

To tell or not to tell, that is the question

2007-11-16T03:42:00.002-08:00

November BJP in progress

For some time I have been troubled by a campaign launched on the internet which encourages people to stop complaining, moaning, bitching etc for 35 days in a row. On the one hand it seems a very nice and intelligent thing to do.

On the other hand what would happen if everybody stopped complaining, to pretend the World is a very nice place to be, that as Voltaire put it humourously in one of his novels "tout est pour le mieux dans le meilleur des mondes possibles" (everything is as best it can be in the best possible world) ? There would probably be no strikes, no petitions, no demonstrations.... no social progress.

However what strikes me most is that if you stop complaining and moaning, then obviously that means you basically stop all speech therapy. I know that for most of us, being able to admit pain, anger, resentment, fear is a difficult issue. It is not easy to say "I am victim", "I was abused", "my basics needs were not satisfied" even to oneself. People who have had a difficult childhood will shut up about it more often than not, and they will use many stratagems to protect their toxic parents from blame and criticism. They'd rather take the blame for themselves. Alice Miller wrote a lot about that, and how some well meaning therapists subtly urged their patients to shut up when it comes to complaining too much about child abuse for instance. It is difficult to feel you are the ungrateful kid that is always moaning and complaining - however admitting one's true feelings is a major step in healing.

I once read that what a therapist basically does it to keep your wounds open until they are thoroughly cleaned. This is the theme of my BJP page, still in progress ; keeping the wounds open until they are clean.

Against all odds

2007-11-07T11:27:00.001-08:00

Over time, I have heard many people (including myself) complaining about their parents, childhood and even their birth and in utero life, and I have also heard many people (including myself) complain about their ungrateful or difficult children. Each time I listen and nodd and never know quite what to say. But overtime I have come to realize that people (and I) can complain about just anything, and I find this baffling. Not that I think that complaining is bad, because behind these complaints there are emotions like pain, sorrow and repressed anger, and it makes you feel better and more human to share your thoughts and emotions, it makes the burden lighter. But somehow I wonder if somewhere there's somebody who has the perfect life, or has nothing to complain about.

Today, I read this piece by Clarissa Pinkola Estes :

"I think being born, no matter how a person came to be conceived, is like winning the lottery. Most of us were not planned. Some of us were not ‘wanted.’ Some of us arrived through a loveless act or a perfunctory one. Some of us came by accident. Some of us are called ‘the ooopsie baby.’ Some of us came from unsanctioned moments and are called ‘love child.’ Some of us were sick in utero, even sick unto death, but somehow recovered. And some of us, well…
Listen…"

More here.

Autumn

2007-11-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

I didn't have time to photograph the young boar that my mum's dog insisted on presenting to us... however I managed to take a few pictures from our little holiday... :o)

October BJP

2007-10-26T08:00:00.001-07:00

The Woman in the Shaman's Body

I'm done with october.
This month I've learnt to do 4 new things : sew a patchwork, attach a shisha mirror, mold a face and attach it as a cabochon. I feel very proud of myself.

The theme is about the retreat I did at the end of September and which brought me unexpected images as usual. This time I had to face vulgarity, and I saw a mocking little green devil. After that I read a lot of feminist essays including "The Woman in the Shaman's Body" by Barbara Tedlock, a great anthropology book. So this is what I'll call my october page :o)

Fabrics

2007-10-26T04:36:00.000-07:00

Kaffe Fassett's "Wheel of fortune" quilt

I'm working on a few projects, most of which I can't really show before end of December :o)

Meanwhile, my interest at the moment is shifting more and more from jewels to fabrics. I have "discovered" (lol) about Kaffe Fassett. I'm madly in love with his work and prints, and I've found a way to buy fabrics designed by him here.

Perhaps because I'm reflecting about the Heroine's Journey which I just finished, I feel a strong urge to do something with old fashioned flowery fabrics. I feel it's like connecting to who I really am. It reminds me of dear old gentlemen and ladies which I knew as a little girl, when the World seemed like a magic place to be in. Well, so maybe if I put lots of flowers in my home, magic will come back. I suppose it's all about love and tenderness. I always tried to be strong and reasonable, whereas I'm really a softy eccentric person. I can't believe it took me so long to face the obvious ! The warrior is very tired. Bring on the heroine.

Pay it forward

2007-10-19T06:05:00.000-07:00

" I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog."

Thank you Acey for forwarding this sweet gesture :o)

In the name of love

2007-10-16T12:10:00.000-07:00

Stone Child (in progress)

Today, Bertrand Cantat came out of jail. The lead singer of pop/rock band Noir Désir hit his actress girlfriend to death 4 years ago, during the shooting of a film dedicated to the life of feminist writer Colette. Because of this tragedy, France had started reflecting about domestic abuse. Yesterday, there was a debate on TV ; should this guy come out after 4 years etc etc... All of a sudden I felt a deep-rooted anger come out and had to go to bed.

This morning, I painted the cab faces I'd made earlier on and felt like working on my second spirit doll shape, which I'd left in a corner for months. She was meant for a special someone until I realized I was still angry with this person. I gave her a sweet face and worked on, thinking she must be called "In the name of love (still angry after all this time)". I was trembling while beading. When my partner came home he commented that she looked like an Inuit. I then realized she must be the "Stone Child" (as in Clarissa Pinkola Estes' "Warming the Stone Child") and added a stone collected from the Seine riverbank . We share similar scars.

I also painted the face of Alice's Spirit doll today.

Alice doll (in progress)

Rune Amulet Purse

2007-10-12T05:20:00.000-07:00

This is my first amulet purse and my first brick stitch effort. The pattern is by Judith Baines and is published in the Journal No.35 of the Beadworkers Guild (UK). The symbols are runes associated with well-being. The colours are my own interpretation, I saw them in a dream, and the fringe too. I still have to decide what to do for the strap...

October BJP

2007-10-08T12:32:00.001-07:00

I've been working all day on my october BJP page. I'm very excited and proud so far ; I have done my first mini-patchwork (learnt loads of things in the process), I have cut my first shisha mirror from an old CD (thanks Annie's Crazy World) and attached it to the fabric (thanks Sharon B). I've been wanting to do this for years !!!!

So far, the piece looks like I imagined it and it's not too bad - I'm amazed :o)

I did the little game on Morwyn's blog - I chose the number 1-12-27-49 which gave me the colours yellow ochre, burnt orange, pewter and gold. Not sure I can incorporate all those colours in this piece, but I'm thinking about it....

Generations

2007-10-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

Gem DNA from Chemical Graphics

Julie made me think about grandmothers. She reminded me what a loss it is not to know one's grandparents.

I asked for a dream about ancestors. I had a dream that included tears and clean bones. I guess this is another riddle from my friend Coyote. Though one of my grandfather had a serious bone disease.

When I was a child my mum used to say, "be careful, you must be good, some curses go on for 7 generations". I didn't know what that meant but it really scared me.

Today (thanks to one of Acey's hints) I have found the website of the Grandmothers' Council. There are little films to see here. It is full of tears and laughter. They claim that by taking care of ourselves we can also cure our children, our neighbours and our ancestors...

May you walk in peace.

Ivon's Grigripwalu safely received

2007-10-03T12:47:00.000-07:00

Ivon's Grigripwalu Spirit Doll includes a lot of traditional good luck artifacts ; mirrors, eyes, a berry, a clove, a button, a feather, a bell, the blue colour, the triangle shape, a pink quartz and an amethyst chip (supposed to be good for emotional balance)... I think he likes it...