Shadow Self

Posted on Instagram on February 18, 2018

Thankyou so much, loves, for all your warm support, the love and light sent our way. I believe it was essential in helping me get back to my feet.
I am in a slightly better place, finally. The situation with the family is still heavy, but I am more at peace - it has gone so bad, for weeks, that I thought more than once to ask for hospitalization. I had my fair share of panic and desperation in my life, but I didn't think a body could go full blow, non stop panic attacks for 3 days in a row. Worn out is not enough to describe how I felt.
But I guess I am resilient.
I am eating again, even if with some difficulty. OCD is still big, but not as much as a week ago.
I changed my clothes after 2 weeks (yay).
And today I went for a test run at the bench - I wanted to see how I coped with the dust and all the ocd triggers and the attention the work requires. I planned half an hour. I ended up making this pendant, which of course took way more than half an hour. Skull that I carved into a freshwater pearl, and a nest of copper and silver leaves and branches for it.
Something cathartic and healing. To make peace with the cycle of life, with the shadow self. To trust the beauty I always can find in decay - the stage when the rose petals change color and wrinkle up and get ready to fall in a breathe of wind.
Those of you who have placed an order in the shop and didn't hear from me, I am getting back to you all between today and tomorrow. I thank you immensely for your patience.

VIVA LA VIDA

Posted on Instagram on January 30, 2018

A tribute to Frida Kahlo, hand fabricated in sterling silver, featuring her bird-brows and a teardrop.
Viva la Vida is the last painting she created, and a few days before her death she wrote these words on it - words that are impressed in the back of this pendant.
I put all of myself into this pendant, this declaration of love for life despite the pain; for once I find I have no more words to describe it, but I hope you will FEEL it.

SHELTER

Published on Instagram on January 28, 2018

Early this morning, while struggling with high anxiety, trying to breathe despite a rib cage that felt like steel for too much tension, I found relief in the Vision.
I was craving comfort.
In the darkness I started to see this amulet, feel its soft warm power. I explored it, thinking about how to make it. The technique. The material. Every aspect of its surface.
The mind lost in this task, I found some calm.
And then I went on with this medicine making, moving to the bench, melting, carving, sawing, soldering. Allowing the sadness and fears to wash through me, while my hands worked to create this image of safety. Of shelter. A refuge for a tender heart.

Needle felting a little buddy...a short video (Part one)

I finally put my mind to make a video for my little felted creatures.
Many don’t know what the needle felting technique is, or how sculptures are made from wool fiber, so I filmed myself while making one of my little buddies.

As usual, my film making skills are far from superb, but I think this video allows you to have a glimpse into the technique - both its soothing nature and its demand of time - and…who knows? Maybe you will be inspired to try it yourself!

This is part one, where I go from wool fiber to a body shape.

Coming soon the coloring and accessories of course ;)

(The video was originally made for my Instagram IGTV, hence the vertical format.)

Needle Felting

I have been needle felting.

I was so sick and I couldn’t do much, not even sit at the wheel or focus on knitting, and, as usual, I feel way too restless and anxious when my hands are not busy…So I figured I could spend a little time making sweet tiny sculptures.

I used to needle felt years ago, but I had to stop quite abruptly because it was a sure trigger for heavy tendonitis.

This time around, I did my best to take long breaks and be mindful of my death grip on the needles, to avoid the worst to happen haha!

And I was transported into this place filled with tenderness and magic.

Creating these little dolls, their soft bodies all comfort and cuteness overload, their little clothes and funny hairdos…it was really good for my soul.

So far, there is the blue baby dragon and a few little Sprites with coats of wings or clothes of forest.
And I must admit I am having quite some fun taking pics of them as well!

And a little mermaid!
Mermaids were my childhood crush. I was totally obsessed.
It makes so much sense that they would show up, right? The picture you see here is of the start.
I use white wool to create the base shape, by poking (poking poking poking) it with special felting needles, until it becomes solid and of the shape I desire.
Then, I use finer needles to coat it with a layer of soft merino wool, giving it the shades of pink and such.
Finally, color! Hair, clothes, and beading.

Even if they are quite small creatures, the process is time consuming, and I must be very mindful to take breaks often - I am just keeping a book nearby and reading a few pages here and there, and so far it worked.

It feels SO good to be able to do this again.
I missed it.
I missed the magic and the tenderness.
I am really really hoping my wrists will hold up so that I can make more of them in the future.

For now, these and a few more will be up for grabs in my shop on May 10th, when I will have the big update - including the jewelry pieces I have been able to work on in between the bouts of flu.