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 ....

A Beautiful Button

This beautiful antique steel cut button was rusty and a bit bent when I purchased it, but some sanding and a light application of the hammer left it just right for this 'enchanted night' necklace. Vintage Japanese cotton pearls and hand made hematite beads combine with a modern chandelier drop.

I am back knitting and sewing for now, so who knows what will appear next, it is nice to never be bored.

Friends and Fibre

Have you had your all-bran today? No, no not that type of fibre the one you wear, touch, stitch and even knit. Last week I was lucky enough to have my friend Dawn visit, a week of talking, creating, eating and even a little exercise followed.
We walked to the top of “my” rock which looks over town and took a few photos as Archer ran around beside us.

We ate picky platters of cheese, olives, cucumber and crackers, and ate only as we felt hungry, with very odd meal times.
We created, Dawnie made beautiful jewellery – I wish I took pictures – and my muse decided to knit. Three scarves, this one embellished with sari silk, ribbon and beads, another almost done.

The fur and purr babies delighted in Dawn’s attention and Charles, dear boy, even slept with our friend, loving her as I do.
This week it is back to work I go, and by the end of the week I will have found the rhythm, for now I am clinging to these sunshine filled play days.

Sweet Kitties

Thank you so much for all the encouragement after my last post.
Since last I wrote here I have been given more work time to work with our wonderful, indigenous boys, a group I was giving a lot of my free time to. I have also had some positive feedback from my line managers and caught up on sleep, my world always seems to right itself when I don't have massive black rings under my eyes.
The world is not perfect, and I can't fix it all, but I can do, what I can do, well.
I have thought and prayed as I painted and stitched these little kitties, gained perspective and found peace, much as I do with my own purries - all without having to feed them non-stop! If only they were warm and snuffled in their sleep.

This Easter has been a quiet one so far, sleep, reading, poochie and purr cuddles and chocolate - why does it feel so good to bite into a hollow egg?

Have a blessed Easter everyone!

Hot Flushes, Heart Strings and Help

What a week, constant hot flushes had me sure menopause had snuck up and grabbed me a tad early, but no, apparently stress has the same effect. What stress? You might ask.

The stress that comes to a teacher when she cares, perhaps too much and even after all these years retains her idealism, the stress that comes when you don't want any child to hurt and you see it happen. A hard week.

Help came in the form of moments at my desk putting this little lady together, in the time I spent photographing her in Autumn sunshine, and in wearing her to work one day.

Help came in the form of this beautiful art work from Gaye: the colours; the quote; the stillness; just what I needed.

Help came from friends and family, from cuddling the most beautiful woofy face in the world, and help came from above. Thank you Jesus. May the next week be one of peace and wisdom.

The Brotherhood in Action

Scene
A warm summers day, and the teacher (me) sits at her desk working with one of her favourite classes. 22 boys, all about 15 years old are working fairly quietly and the male deputy (MD) appears at the door carrying a huge basket, full of flowers and chocolates, a bottle of pink bubbly tucked under his arm.

Boys: Who are they from Miss?
MD: Someone thinks you’re special
Me: A dog
Boys: (chorus) That’s not nice! He is trying hard to make up. That must have cost a lot. Maybe a hundred dollars. More than that. Give him a chance. No one is perfect Miss. You have to listen to him Miss..
Me: (Struggling to be heard) A real dog!
More chanting and calling out …
MD: (Catching on) It must be a very clever dog.
Silence descends, reluctantly
Me: I looked after my friends’ dog for a few weeks and they have sent me these in the dogs name: Pipepee.

Boys: Can we have a chocolate please?

The teacher shares.

Archer, with his dear friend Pipepee, hogging the couch and blissfully happy. They wear matching pearl collars (Archer's is blue) and influence each other to get up to all sorts of mischief.

February

Hester's Yard

sold

I name all my jewellery, sometimes I share the names and sometimes I don't. This another bracelet which explores change and and contrast. I enjoyed forming this chain; chunky copper links with contrasting silver solder and lots of bits, Hester's Yard.
I have so enjoyed my little vege garden this summer, and keep forgetting to take pictures of ripe vegetables, this little capsicum will eventually be red and sweet, if the marigold does its job and keeps the insects away.

The tomatoes are sweet and full of flavour, these lovely round ones, cherry Roma's and full size Roma all gathered in one dense patch.
The dappled light on the lemon tree epitomises summer, the scents, the drinks and an age old sense of security. Summer feels safe, as the warmth wraps around me and the light touches all corners of my space. Bliss.
Not art, not a fruit, and a little bit grubby, but something, or rather someone, that I like to pick often, a quick cuddle, a loud purr and a snuggle hug then he is asking if there is more food. darling Phantom.