work being finished for sept. 21

stamped discs - mjd 2013

the international day of peace approaches.

my plan was for a woven project,

but only metals could finish it off 

the way i saw it/heard it

in my head. 

the way prayer wheels are spun 

to carry the mantra out into the world,

i stamped each disc 

with something meaningful.

brass chimes - mjd 2013

i made small chimes

of shining brass 

and decided to give the elements 

a chance

of imparting their own patina.

woven peace flag - mjd 2013

a simple flag - 

with a bit of stitching

and an opening, 

that necessary opening,

to represent the wound

'where the light gets in'. 

thank you, rumi. 

the blog where projects will be shared

is as heartfelt and humble as they come. 

it isn't too late to join in

should you choose -

just send me an email 

and we'll get you set up.

or just stop in to see 

what talented souls

with peaceful hearts 

have made to honor the day.

peace project

snowfall on flags

as some of you may know (and some of you may not), last year i became involved in an incredibly rewarding peace project with some friends. 

here's what it is all about - 

the international day of peace is celebrated on sept. 21st. with that goal date in mind, makers from all over the world created their interpretation(s) of a peace flag and shared it on the blog.

but it isn't just about the goal date - it's about your day-to-day experience.  and anyone can be a contributor.

and it isn't just about flags - it's about anything you want to share to propagate peace, kindness and understanding. we love to see how you express those ideas in your work.

and if you didn't see the work that was produced last year, i encourage you to have a look - it was inspiring and moving.

we would love to have you there in any capacity you are comfortable with - as a maker, a viewer, a writer, a reader - all are welcome and appreciated.

the blog 

- photo by fiona dempster

on the peace/prayer flags project and international peace day

tomorrow is international peace day - 

if you haven't yet, please do click over to the flags project blog to see what people have been sharing... tomorrow is our day to come together to post about the flags we have made - in their many interpretations... 

see their work, read their words, hear their thoughts... 

perhaps adding some of your own along the way -

it's all rather beautiful and moving when you think about it... 

carving, etching & prayer/peace flags

i started carving in rubber block - and love it... 


om, lotus, feathers and a bear totem... i thought i would be using them on fabric for the peace flags project... 

but it seems i cannot escape the jeweler/metal worker mindset... and i'm ok with that... the whole idea for the project was to be interpretive - to send wishes for peace free in your own way... 

my first set of flags are on the small side, copper om and lotus buds alternating... connected in such a way that movement in possible... highlighted with floss in the correct color arrangement... one wrapped lapis drop at the bottom... 

you can read more about the project (and join in if you like) here... 

circling

when i do something new-ish, it can almost be assumed that i have a project i need to begin the physical work on but am at that point where i need to push through to begin... it's that moment when you are half excited/half terrified... 

so naturally, i do something completely unrelated... 

like make my first stamp - 

the flags for peace project has a natural deadline of sept. 21st - international peace day... i had wanted to be able to carve stamps to apply the paint/ink to the material... and i just got the supplies in this morning... 

i wanted my first stamp to be a lotus and i found this image in my book by robert beer... 

it had been suggested that i practice on erasers (though i am wondering if i got the right kind, i know i got the right tools... they didn't go through 'like butter'... so i am either holding the cutting edge incorrectly, or i got the wrong eraser!) thank you, barbara, for giving me a list of the supplies i needed...

as i sat carving - which i rather liked - my daughter came in from a photography workshop she worked at the grounds for sculpture,

and she handed me this - 

a real lotus petal... i hadn't asked for it, nor did she know what i was doing as she had left before the delivery arrived!

i am really happy with it - i wanted a rough woodcut type effect... i know there is practice to be done... but at least i can get going on the peace/prayer flags now... 

new blog - group project

on march 21st, i posted about international peace day and proposed a peace flag project of our own... 


i was so excited by the response i received that this was born... 


a new blog


one i hope will be interactive and inspiring... 


one i hope will collectively take the ripples we each create and magnify them... 


please come take a look 


& consider participating in whatever way you might like -


sharing your flags at the end,


sharing your flags, writing, art, garden, world in the interim


and contributing to the blog ... 


you are welcome and appreciated... 


thank you for helping me to make this real...