hand and heart intensive at Bunya

This morning we got up quite early

I made lavosh

While Roz set the table

We laid another table with materials for class 

And we prepared some good food

It was a marvellous day. People sat about and stitched, then (when they were ready) they bundled 

And put things in this pot

With spectacular results. 

A good day was had by all, methinks. 

happy wanderer

You know you're working in a good place when neighbourhood dogs swing by for a quiet word with the house pups and are welcome to hang out together in the sunshine for a while

I've been made welcome too and am being pampered within an inch of my life. 

Our outdoor studio is just beautiful. 

Each afternoon the pot goes on the fire

In the mornings I step out (carefully) into fields of flowers

My grandmother would have loved the dandelion patch below. She used the flowers for champagne, the leaves in salad and made ersatz coffee from the roots

We are making exquisite bundles

And above our heads

notes about dyeing with plants

flutter like prayerflags in the breeze

I'm counting my blessings today

grateful that my work takes me to magical places like this

(and so very happy to be so wonderfully hosted by Hilary, John, Binou and Diva)

Turning toward the sun

I travel north and across the border

Enjoy a splendid afternoon in good company 

Gathering salmonberries

Spotting likely lichens (yes they would yield purple but no I did not gather)

Wandering about the shoreline 

And then I followed many signs east

I stop at a beaver pond 

Find violets

I think nature's architect is long gone

And has abandoned this project

But

I saw him

On

A sign

I drove between mountains and through woods

Past leftover snow and rushing rivers

And beautiful stacks of crates

And just after a spotted lake

I reached my destination

In the hills above Osooyos 

To begin telling stories afresh. 

I notice to my surprise that the magic number 1313 has appeared in the sidebar 

Glad to have y'all along for the ride. 

Leaving the islands behind

I have to say teaching on Whidbey Island was an absolute joy.

Lisa Bernhardt (who runs the Pacific NorthWest Art School) and my wonderful assistant Nita Wester spared no exertion to make it so. 

The island itself reminded me so much of Latvia. Lopez does too (but has lots more hills. I love it. (

We gathered dyes within walking distance of the studio...with the exception of a delightful field trip to Ebey's Landing. 

I feel I've only just begun to discover some of the magic of this gorgeous scattering of jewels in the Salish sea 

We remembered Fred Gerber and his method of analyzing potential mordants

Made sure to avoid the plant that dispatched Socrates

The species name of which - conium maculatum - warns us to watch out for spots

Driftwood came in handy

The ritual continued

And everybody looked after their string

Bless y'all,

I'll be seeing you. Sometime in 2016...

Bundles and stones

Bundles doing their red carpet thing 

Hands at work

Windfall magic

and a gorgeous walk after work 

A beautiful day, marked with a rather nice stack of stones. 

island life

Lovely days on Lopez, working on a film together with my friend Christi Carter:

using porcelain boats made during my residency in Portland last year

A wonderful day of filming...which may take a month or two to edit.

Meanwhile back at home

Yoda is holding the fort.