My Heart's Journey

Where have I been this last year? Following my heart – dancing on the wings of my calling; growing, giving and learning. Here I share a little of that dance.

M L Block, home to my Kimberley Family

Many years ago I taught in Kununurra in the far North of Western Australia; the Kimberley region. In recent years I have come to know, beautiful families in the most remote areas of the East Kimberley and in October last year I went visiting. From the moment my plane left Broome and begun to fly east I danced in my seat, wriggling and smiling like a mad woman – much to the amusement of the business man seated next to me.

By the end of the second day of being constantly warm and feasting my eyes on the country my face ached.

Why?

I wondered too, then I realised it was from constantly smiling. I realised this about the same time I realised the truth of ‘jaw dropping’ – mine dropped open regularly as I cruised open roads with Slim Dusty blasting. Slim’s another story …

The phone box with flour tin seat. In a community where there is no mobile reception and most don't have home phones this is a point of contact for anyone off community.

This isn’t the place to talk about my Kimberley family, I will simply say that I have Jija (sisters), and I am Jaja (Maternal Gran) and Mum to some wonderful young people. I have become theirs and they mine. Aside from my birth family I have been adopted by Djaru people as a Nakamurra woman, and it is a homecoming for this Kartiya (non-aboriginal) woman.
The 'Grandstand' and score board at the B Community football oval.

This trip was everything I didn’t dare dream it could be, and more. The country sings its own stories, red dirt and rocks, desert lakes, brumbies, boab, spinifex and people, special people.

Taken from a moving 4wd as over 100 brumbies circled around us.

My Jija E and Jija D have been to stay here, on my country. We have painted, prayed and laughed.

I have created a little recently. Soon I will share.

Hopefully soon I will return to my desert … it calls …

Post Script: the photo's are a hint of a vast beauty that can not be captured with a camera just in a heart open to all that is around her.

Good-bye Sweet Phantom

It feels odd blogging for the saddest of reasons after so long away, and yet it seemed a disservice to do otherwise. My dear friend, Phantom, celebrated his eighth birthday last week, and celebrated in fine style with a choice of kangaroo, chicken or tuna. He ate them all. He was loved, and happy.`

Phantom passed to his forever home on Saturday morning, in his usual style - no fuss - no complaints, and yet it appears he was bitten by a snake or poisoned - his end was not nice.

I was Phantoms third mother, and he snurred (purred and snored) at my feet for five lovely years. Never flustered, never fussy he let me carry him around when I needed the comfort and never complained when I was busy or distracted.

This was the easiest of purr babies taking any medication with a noisy purr and an affectionate head butt.

I long to take this beautiful boy in my arms and give him a cuddle one more time, to bury my face in his fur or rub noses with him.

Phantom delighted in the existing family when he came to us, and welcomed Archer and Harvey as they joined the family.

I am inarticulate, it is hard to accept he is gone. We miss Phantom.

Playing Small

I was supposed to be tidying THE CAVE; there were big plans including packing plastic crates with product I hadn't touched for months, even years. A cup of tea break and a browse through the blog of my friends, the girls at Destination Art, put paid to that. These are my vintage twinchie contributions.

How time flies..

The last month has flown by, I have had fun etching various items and included a few pieces on this story bracelet.

I am still knitting scarves full of lace, ribbon, beads and pearls - and wearing them too as the cold weather settles around us.

Mr Phantom went missing for a day and a half, and returned with a 'mashed' shoulder and concussion, but seems to be on the mend now.

Archer continues his love affair with Harvey and enjoys keeping warm with Charles or Phantom if they are near by.

I continue to teach, to tutor and to nurture as best I can. Life continues; mostly it is good, very good.

Paverpol Workshop

I spent a relaxing Saturday at a Paverpol workshop recently and Rachel is the result. A wispy woman with room for three rib cages, two stomachs and a womb or two.

I truly have no idea how I did not notice her long torso until I got home! None-the-less I am happy with her final form and my very first effort at this form of fabric sculpture.

Gallery 500 provided a warm and relaxing atmosphere for this class, and a totally blissful day out.

Charles does wonder why I am not taking pictures of him.

Feeling productive, and enjoying it.

Nature's Evening available on Etsy

A friend recently encouraged me to share in a Mother's Day stall and I was so thrilled to sell some of my journals and jewellery. My goal is to be more proactive in this area as I really do need to get rid of my mortgage if am to have the freedom I want to move in other areas. Pray for wisdom as I make decisions for the future, please. (Update: Sorry to have confused some people, the 'other areas' are not art ones, but more voluntary work with some kids who need help - I love my art but not planning on going full-time w ith it).

A Thankful Heart available on Etsy

Another scarf, this one a Pink Girl's Dream for a good friend's birthday. Lace, chiffon and flannel are threaded though a soft wool acrylic blend. I am not a 'pink girl', but the end result is solf and romantic so hopefully it will be well received.
Sweet boy sitting with me as I photograph the bracelets, not so sweet to smell at the moment so I predict a bath coming up very soon.

A river of warmth ...

A little frog, a seahorse or two, ribbons, sari silk, wool, beads and me; the ingredients for this scarf, winging its way to a new home now.

Are you enjoying rivers of life?

Oh and a confession, I wore it once, just because ....