Pottering

I have -for the time being -given up on throwing on the wheel. I just couldn't pull up beyond the size of an espresso cup. But I have now found deep satisfaction in hand building and carving. The two pots above are raku clay -unfired. So I am curious how they'll come out. I could spend every day making a few of those. Alas shows have to be painted, dishes to be taken out of the dishwasher, laundry to be folded...
A peek at what's going on in the studio - below - in the company of Peapa ( almost 15 ! ).

Annette's Shop

My friend Annette started making wool clothing out of  recycled sweaters in 2002 and when our girls ( 1 month apart) where babies. In Germany it is quite common to dress babies and children in wool,as it is warm, light and sheep wool is naturally anti bacterial and doesn't required a lot of washing. Anntte has had an Etsy store for several years now, but now she opened a brick and mortar store in Seattle and it is delightful !
Go visit !https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlumenKinderSeattle?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=Blumenkinder&ref=sr_gallery_2

Or at: 1130 34th Street in Madrona .

Children's Book

 

While I am working on my Portland show I am also doing seem first illustrations for a children's book I am co-writing with my friend Ashraf. It is a book about dreaming. The image above is  a detail of the girl Eve being pushed through the earth back to the surface by earthworms.

I wished I had more time to fully dive into it, but for right now we only need a few images and the text to find a publisher. I will keep you posted.

Shamanic Retreat

I walk to the two trees.The light is dancing there among the ferns and huckleberry. I am drawn to that spot of the rotting cedar stump and the younger tree next to it. I hug the tree and then reach out to the stump. As I bend down I suddenly see the top part of a deer skull -a young stag. I am not sure if  I should touch it, but when I ask I get a yes. So I hold it up toward the sun.That's when my heart opens up. First tears are rolling. Suddenly I know that I have to place the deer skull on my head. I feel nervous about that. The skull is so enigmatic.But then I really feel that tha'ts what I am here for. The two trees -young and old are here to support me in the journey of the deer. I stand in the light with the weight of the deer skull on my head and I am weeping, weeping, weeping and simultaneously loving that I am invited in. To have become part of it. To have trusted my instincts. What a gift ! I place the skull back ,sprinkle cornmeal on it and the trees and lie down prostrate between them and cry from a gorgeous place in my heart.
The woods have my back.

More here:http://www.butopia.net/the-embodied-voice-and-shamanic-singing-retreat-with-christa-ray/