different pace and did not run away with the speed of a
racing car. Measuring distance by how far a horse could
take one in a day and time by available daylight.
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Working with the concentration of coiled springs on the making
of our books . . . writing with steeped Eucalyptus ink and a handy
stick or brush a single word over and over on a large sheet of
paper. A word that held the meaning of this week of discovery,
that summed up our personal feelings about this particular journey.
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Dyeing in the steaming cauldron . . .
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watching and waiting as our bundles soaked up colour . . .
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letting them cool before opening the surprise in store
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and wonder of wonders, among oohs and aahs, unwrapping
leaf prints of our windfaall gatherings, always under the ever
so gentle guidance of our mentor India Flint, author of
Eco-Colour, botanical alchemist, felt maker, costumiere, her
speech as soft as her imprint on nature. Only use found materials,
windfalls, garden clippings, never robbing living plants unless
they be especially grown for the purpose of gazetted weeds.
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Below, the stitched, over dyed and then cut up paper for our
book covers. Somehow the hours spent in quietly stitching
pieces of cloth, felt, lace, silk or anythng else we shared, the
pieces of cloth, felt, lace, silk or anythng else we shared, the
windfall walks to gather our dye stuff, the wrapping and
bundling using the string we made on the first evening and
then cutting up the created 'art' work grounded us firmly into
then cutting up the created 'art' work grounded us firmly into
our place in the universe, diminishing our ego and letting us
enjoy the process without pre-conceived ideas. It gave us the
freedom to be ourselves.
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freedom to be ourselves.
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Out of this new found freedom grew our books, pages within
pages, pockets of mementos of our rambles, writing of sounds
and impressions of our surroundings and a sense of cohesive
togetherness of these 18 women from disperate walks of life
intent on the same purpose.
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intent on the same purpose.
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Truly a week of learning, wonder and enchantment as the
individual beads strung themselves into a shining necklace
each one of us carried away in our hearts.
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Thank you India for being our guide and mentor, a keeper
of the world and most of all for being my precious daughter.
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All photos enlarge with a simple click.
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