I have been delving into Sharon Blackie’s book ‘If women rose rooted’
it’s a book that I have with me everywhere I go. If you haven’t read
it, please do, its a wonderful journey told through experiences of life,
grief, transformation and Celtic stories. The Grimm tales has also
become a carry along book too, it is a firm favourite for reading out
loud with my partner before sleeping. I have been deep diving into the
wonderful stories from the land where we live. I have been known to push
away my very English blood line (I have always wanted a bit of Scandi,
Scottish, Spanish and everything and anything in between in my blood)
but I have decided to embrace the only person I know well and who I am
and can only be and that’s me, within my very English blood line. I am
incredibly open and with the land and stories that are a part of the
tapestry of the Celtic Isles where I was born and continue to live.
The beaches in Canada in the photos below remind me of the Selkie stories of Scotland and Ireland where seal women on one night in the month come
out of the water and take off their seal skins to dance and be human.
Over the last week I have been with a group of incredible women at a
retreat (where I was offline for 7 days, feeling grounded and truly
human). The experiences there are in some ways indescribable. It felt
like we were sirens and powerful sisters around our open fire.
Connecting with the stories of this land and connecting with women from
this land has created an incredibly nourishing, closeness that I never
thought possible. I have been going to a monthly women’s circle since
last September and it has changed the way I am able to connect with my
feelings and meet others with theirs. The sacred art of listening. No
opinions, no butting in, just pure human connection. I am eternally
grateful to Paloma Suarez
for giving me the gift of connection, and being heard. Please check out
her offerings, she is truly a beautiful, tender, strong elder that I am
so grateful to have found!
I had another wonderful day at Negative Thinking
this month - with Em and Tim as my guides! Negative Thinking is such a
wonderful space and it has reignited my passion for photography. I had
some lovely chats with Em about life, archiving photographs and the
journey we all go on! If you haven’t been before and are at any level of
photography I would highly recommend their workshops! If you are a
seasoned photographer - you can also book out their darkrooms too! Woop!
Let’s get snap happy!
I love getting curious about stories and journeys of knitted belongings. I
often ponder that actually there are two journeys going on at the same
time. The first journey - a tale of knitting stitch by stitch and the
second journey is the adventure the knitting gets taken on as its
getting made. (Also there’s a third journey which is the wearing the
knit too.)
It’s sometimes a long labour of love - full of ebbs and flows - tight
stitches and relaxed ones! It’s ever growing and ever changing, as are
we in the process too!
The story begins to unfold, emotions are transferred from my heart into my
hands as I continue to knit round - a continuous spiral some might say,
like a snail, a labyrinth and our own cyclical journey through life!
I have been feeling into all of the different places I have visited along
the way. Making each section and knowing that every element has its own
little adventure. I see my mistakes (or shall we say the unique, secret
elements that nobody else has on their versions.) It makes me wonder
about my mindset when making certain areas - initially wanting to go
back and fix the ‘mistakes’ or eager to get on with it!
It takes on many energies and it connects me to other knitters along the
way. The best meeting of two textile friends come in this next story!
I was on a boat to Pender Island, just off Vancouver Island in Canada. I
started knitting as I always do when I’m sat down being transported
somewhere! Usually I don’t actually look up or around when I’m busy
knitting, super focussed! This time was the same as always, I was so
involved with my knitting that I didn’t see anyone around me until my
partner gave me a gentle elbow in the side and said
“You do know the older version of you is over there, doing exactly the same
thing as you’re doing now?” I looked over and there was Martha! (She was
the mirror image of me and my partner, with her husband).
She was knitting a vest herself! She noticed me and instantly said “Is that vest you’re wearing from Retrosaria Rosa Pomar in Lisbon, Portugal?”
[I was wearing my favourite Burgos Vest
in my ultimate favourite colour - Chartreuse green) Martha had visited
Retrosaria Rosa Pomar in Lisbon before - I am still yet to visit Lisbon
and the shop]
I replied ‘YES!’ and then of course I went and sat next to her and then
started talking for the whole journey about wool, needles, patterns and
life as a maker! I found out so many things about Martha - she was a
teacher and quilter too!
It’s an incredible feeling to connect with wonderful humans along the way -
it gives me hope in humanity and futhers my recognition of community is
the most important thing!
I met lots of other people along the way whilst knitting my vest and Martha was certainly one of my favourites!
The vest has taken me to Greece and plenty of boat rides later - to Canada and plenty more boat rides later and back to Bristol (no boats to report!)
My ever changing self and the way I make has taken on many forms during
this knitted vest, but practice, practice, practice and sacredly closing
one knitted story before I open my next is so satisfying and it just
feels right. It’s made me realise that its not about getting stressed or
rushing through - it’s about slowing down and enjoying all of the
moments including the ‘ebbs’!
I wonder what travels your knitted or sewn garments have been on. I would love to hear about those stories!
My vest has already lived a ‘growing, knitted’ life and now its off for new adventures on my body! :)
