the outrageous beauty of blossoms

On a weekend wonder, I stopped to take in the sight and smell of these magnolia beauties. I love how the blooms open in bare naked gnarly branches. Spartan and oh so lavish simultaneously.

Reaching up to the heavens.

Further on I made tracks to an old cemetery. I made acquaintance with a lady who was bringing flowers to her parents grave. She had just visited another cemetery where her husband was buried. Her loving act made me think of my mum who very tenderly cares for my father's and his parents' resting place. The graves of my past are too far to visit these days, but the old photos come out from time to time.

I took my farewell and was led straight to this bright blossom lying on the grass. I felt it wanted to be found by me, so I brought it home. One day it'll find it's way to some project or another.

This flower carries the love of remembering a person who touched your life. It's come undone, adrift, frayed around the edges, but hasn't lost any of it's 'look at me blooming' nature. Slow to fade, just like the memories.

Changing Threads 2011 - Song from a Distant Earth

National Contemporary Fibre Arts Awards

At the Refinery Artspace in Nelson, New Zealand

26 March - 21 April 2011

2011 Nelson City Council Award

for the 'work which best reflects the theme of 'Water and/or Light'.

Song from a Distant Earth
Maria Julkunen Dalton

Shamballa is a legend of a Pure Land. It is a place of peace, tranquility and happiness - love and light. The idea of Shamballa has an outer and inner meaning. The qualities it represents are eternal. Just like a circle it has no beginning or end. If we can access the inner meaning of Shamballa deep within us, if each of us can find that place, thing, person or idea that has the power to inspire us to take the inner journey to greater freedom and awareness, we begin to transform both ourselves and the world around us. Perhaps the outer meaning, the distant utopia of Shamballa as an actual physical place can be revealed through this journey. If we turn to the deeper mind for inspiration, the world itself will become an extension of Shamballa. The distant Earth is right around and within us already. 

technical beauty

 

 
In my hubby's workspace I often get a glimpse of what ECUs, microchips and circuit boards look like. I'm not the least bit technically minded but I'm drawn to his things just because they look so interesting. This last object I spotted is made out of copper, and I just love the way the pattern repeats itself with slight irregularity...

nature weaving

Yesterday I returned to Fairfield house (where I did the India Flint workshop last year) to celebrate "Day Out of Time", a special day in the old Mayan calendar. I took my girls along. To my delight they found some fibre that had shed from the palm trees in front of the property. The pieces are like woven by Mother Nature, beautiful, so we collected quite a few. Now I want to find a way to use it, since there's no point collecting stuff just to have it sitting stashed up in some dark corner. Any ideas?

paisley twirl

I found these beautiful hand carved hardwood printing blocks in my local Trade Aid shop. The paisley pattern makes me always think about a colourful quilt blanket my grandma had on her bed. I remember lying on it completely lost in the paisley pattern. The old fashioned twirly wallpaper added to the experience... Eventually I added my own artistic touch to the wallpaper with some colourful crayons. I don't think it was very appreciated.

Perhaps I could create something more acceptable with these blocks. I've got some textile colours that have been sitting unused in my stash since my Stockholm days. Little signature prints on clothes? Arranged as bigger patterns on a t-shirt? Greeting cards, gift wrap? Dare I put any colour on these beautiful blocks at all!

The shop has actually quite a selection of patterns. Some of the bigger square blocks full of fine details were clearly familiar from Indian saris.

pompom beanie

A quick winter warmer for junior...

 

 

A snowy update 09.07.2010

We took a toboggan and other snow toys to Rainbow. My girls were spreading joy with their beanies on, judging by quite a few lovely comments.

Maya found this colourful yarn when we were at Spotlight and asked me to make her a "crazy hat". I had to bend my normal rule to only work on natural materials, but fun is good for the soul.