Eucalyptus healing chime
Everything came together. It’s like it was always meant to be just like this, what it ended up being.
I was initially inspired by a collection of dried eucalyptus branches in my studio, tempting me with their soft powdery green round leaves. I bought them from Trader Joes, actually. They were first in my kitchen in a flower vase, before drying out and retiring to my studio, where I bound and turned them upside down. I bet they were calling to me to set them free from that awful position I had put them in.
I started drawing a sketch of what was coming to mind for this healing chime. Sketching out an idea is something I rarely do, but it was coming to me and I had to draw it.
Then on my studio desk, there was a small stack of indigo fabric from Laos. Sorting through it, some were cut up square remnants of an indigo shibori scarf.
This ‘scarf’ has so many stories to it – hand stitching applied to it, sticks and leaves added to it for artwork, some pieces presented in a show, but never worn as a scarf! I even asked the scarf beforehand if she would let me transform her for my art ideas. She said yes and looked forward to what beautiful thing she could become!
I noticed one of the remnants I had worked on a few months back with columns of simple stitches in natural hand spun cotton thread from Laos. That one, I thought. I cut it in half, centering on the stitches.
The spool of indigo dyed thread from Laos – I first saw these in Vientiane, at a little shop called Laomate Crafts a couple of years ago. I scooped them up so quickly! I have since sourced spools and skeins of natural dyed threads from other partners.
And then one morning a couple of weeks ago I woke up, went to my studio desk, and gathered all these things near me. I started winding and binding the eucalyptus leaves.
Then I threaded them through the white stitches.
Lastly, I gently hand stitched the two eucalyptus stems to the top.
It was all so effortless and fun. From that initial sketch, to choosing and gathering the materials, to the morning I made this eucalyptus healing chime – it’s like it was always meant to be just like that, what it ended up being.
The morning I made this eucalyptus healing chime, I was feeling calm and focused. It was that energy that I put into creating. I wonder who I made it for, who needs it the most right now...
“Eucalyptus healing chime” was originally published as an exclusive post to my Patreon supporters in April 2020. Now it’s public and available to you, too!
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