I have managed to lose myself for quite a few hours over the past two days, pottering about with the dye-pots. It’s no mean feat these days to achieve that sort of peace, and I am grateful for this absorbing interest in natural dyes, slow stitching and making or up cycling clothes that feel satisfying and ethical to wear.
Queenscliff beach sunrise……..and words of guidance and wisdom….at least indicating a way through….
Danna Faulds : Let It Go
Let go of the ways you thought life would unfold,
the holding of plans or dreams or expectations
Let it all go
Save your strength to swim with the tide.
The choice to fight what is here before you now
will only result in struggle, fear, and desperate attempts to flee
from the very energy you long for.
Let go
Let it all go and flow with the grace
that washes through your days whether you received it gently
or with all your quills raised to defend against invaders.
Take this on faith:
the mind may never find the explanations that it seeks,
but you will move forward nevertheless.
Let go, and the wave’s crest will carry you to the unknown shores,
beyond your wildest dreams or destinations.
Let it all go and find the place of rest and peace
and certain transformation.
There was a time when I saw seaweed as something almost polluting the beach, and I do understand that there are people who want to “clean it up” ( although I’m not sure how that would be achieved, a constant battle against nature)…..But once you’ve really looked at it, really seen it, studied the colour, form, textures, the way it creates its own little glorious compositions of art on the beach….you realize it’s all in the way we see.
a grey morning, a grey mood:
but closer observation of the “brown stuff” scattered on the beach reveals a world of beauty.
a collection of tiny treasures, all scattered on the beach on the same morning a week or two ago……plenty of inspiration here for sketching/stitching line, shape, colour, texture in a very simple form……
just checked the date of my last posting and could not believe it……habits are easily broken! a long delay in the journal; not sure where the time has gone but it seems a new start is called for…….and as often happens it has been prompted by a visual feast….a wonderful display of inter-tidal treasure on the beach in the late afternoon autumn sun. Textile updates to follow soon!
glensbirdonawire 
Written
on February 22, 2018