Wyncia

Silk Hanging Honoring the Elements

Earth, Air, Fire, Water...the primary elements of living and being as we know it. 

The Earth - rock, soil, that which is under our feet - grounding.

The Air - breathe, wind, mystical ether of spirit - soaring.

The Fire - flame, heat, passion, destruction - cleansing.

The Water - life-giving, flow, ocean, lake - quenching.

Earth and water - mud and Golem.  Fire and air - consuming sensual passion and stardust. Fire and air - steam and force. Earth, air, fire, and water - Home.

Here is a banner with the Kanji symbols for water (blue), earth (sienna), air (purple, and fire (orange).  The backing material is handmade silk paper.  The symbols are waxed silk fabric. The hanger is beetle chewed pine. 

Earth
 

Air

 

Fire

Water

Namaste, fellow Earthings.

Find the things I make at Uniquely Natural, 705 South Public Road, Lafayette, Colorado. To far from Lafayette to come in and browse? Look through the posts and send me a note about something that catches you eye!

Wow...I have been really busy with the store and my work at home. Here is a natural shaped heart I inspired by Sarah Hillenberger's knitted wool heart using a pattern by Kristen Ledgett.

Look what happened to my clean studio! trying several methods of making silk paper. See other pictures with explanations in the photo album in the right column.

Studio Views: I spy something...

I started the new year by cleaning my studio.  I lugged out tons of paper to recycle, assorted clutter, even some fabric destined not to be used by me.  Now I have taken a few pictures of the room, to discover it is cluttered still.  What I see is all sorts of beloved inspirations and reminders of where my heart lies!

 

I spy a 60 year old Adirondack pack basket from my grandparent's Little Moose Lake summer home.  And beloved Larry as a boy. And plastic St. Francis for the love of critters and plastic St. Andrew for help in locating lost things.  An bowl from a Native American artist. A casting of a frieze of an ancient Celtic snake goddess (thanks Ann).  I spy Mexican folk art cross. a picture of my father as an infant, some art by Maggie, a fancy fly tied by Gardner, and a colorful goblet from Rachel owner of Arkay Workshop in San Fransisco. 

I spy an antique bag from the sleeve of a Greek dancer's outfit.  A picture of an old man in a curio shop that was a wedding gift to my mother and father. A jolly farmer doll head. A framed card of gratitude from Jenn. I can find Cardboard Man from doll pattern making class and a miniature bendy manikin dressed in a holiday ornament sweater with wool roving hair.

Here's Maggie in at a Maui waterfall on Mother's Day, appliqued and quilted. There is a picture of her under a red umbrella at the Adirondack summer home of her great grandparents along with postcards from her when she was in Bali.  Remember the little fox I knitted?  Maggie and I used to read the book Little Fox Goes to the End of the World.  And she did!

Looking out the inside window, I spy the Gypsy chandelier and the paper mobile. On the window frame I spy Maggie and me, a tongue of fire from a Kilauea postcard, a bit of free quilting sampler.  I spy vintage sewing needle cases, a dragon doll from an exchange last year.  I spy miniature prayer flags, a mess of colored threads, and hear a million whispered blessings.

I spy a scrap of an ink blot image (definitively a butterfly). I spy a print of critters of the Northwest in pairs and a couple wrapped in a marriage blanket which I bought in Seattle and which rode east across the US taped to the ceiling of the car in 1977.  I spy a card with a love note from Larry.  I spy half a postcard of the lake in the Adirondacks where my grandparents had their summer house and where I lived year round from '77 for about six years.  I see memories and paths that divided;  unimagined ways traveled into memories.

I spy a shelf of fabrics, so many creations to be born. I see a an Indigo wrap and quilted bags.  I see green cats and butterfly bears.  I see a melon colored dog bed, a window quilt from my sky light, and a summer dress for baby Mya...all imagination, all tints of dreams, a wealth of possibilities.

I feel gratitude.

Namaste.

Little Black Foxes: Knitted

These little foxes are knitted  

to resemble the black colored red foxes who wander through our bit of woods every so often!  Here is the real one.

The resemblance is a bit sketchy, use your imagination and be kind.  The pattern and execution needs a little work!

Here is a picture from a wonderful old book of wild life in America showing the various coloration of the red foxes.

 

In the wild environs of my studio, Little Fox and Momma play.

Love is presence.

Namaste and happy days.

  

Busy, busy winter mice!

ETSY 2010

No promises, but ETSY shop is open again and I hope to keep it that way!

I put the Lend a Hand bags on.  These benefit the Boulder County Emergency Family Assistance and are free shipping!

Here's striped silk

 

Here's contemporary Japanese designer cotton print

 

Fun, practical, and good for the community!  What could be better?

Namaste, Wyncia

Winter Mice: Knitted

These little guys are so much fun to knit, stuff, and to give.  They fit right in the palm of your hand!  In the background iyou can see the skirt of an ancestor doll, a bee's wax candle, an Earth marble, and the blue foot of a fairy!

 

To give a friend a wee mouse, I hold it gently in my closed hand and pass it to their open one.  And unlike Charlie's mouse, these can be petted as much as one likes.

Namaste,  Wyncia

Paper Cranes Carry Soltice Wishes

One of my family's favorite Winter Solstice traditions is to write our wishes, prayers, and truest intentions on bits of paper that we then hang from a fir tree outside.  The wishes are what we want the returning sun to bring into our lives.  Hanging the wishes outside in a tree allows the wind to carry the wishes into the world.  We find that the wishes come to pass, though it may take several turnings of the year, and a bit of attention to the outcome on all our parts.

The origami paper crane is a traditional symbol for good luck and peace.  This year at our Solstice gathering we had folded cranes to carry our blessings and wishes into the world.

Red crane flies...

 

Placing  a crane high among a flock of wishes

Flying off into the blue skies

Watching wishes fly

 

Deep in the tree that holds our blessings

 

Giving voice to hopes in the winter woods

The butterfly carries blessings and wishes for those who were present in our hearts, if not in out company, this Winter Solstice.

Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again, dear beloveds.

Namaste, Wyncia

Solstice Celebration: No Time for Fiber Arts

Fa la la la!  We are quick approaching my big winter gathering - Winter Solstice Family Feast.  At our house we are celebrating on Saturday.  Sure it is a few days early; the actual solstice falls midday Monday.  But what the hey.  It sure is cold and dark enough already!

This is the darkest time of the year in the north.  Short days, cooling temps, leafless trees tend to make us feel a little weary.

But don't worry about me and family.  We will be feasting and bulking up to get through the frigid winter nights.  How about these really crispy bacon maple chocolate chip cookies! (Thanks to Heather at Uniquely Natural for telling about them)  I confess I fell for the bacon maple thing, and I am glad I did! 

These are totally yummy...but I really WILL NOT EAT MORE before the party! (Well except maybe some crumbs from the plate of broken ones...)

Not too messy in the kitchen, either.

Ready for the winter feasting table!  Luckily here in the Colorado hills it is cool and dry, so the crisp should stay through Saturday!

  May the returning sun bring all your dreams home to you.  Namaste, Wyncia

How cool is this!

How cool is this. I added a mini weather station to the blog. It reports that it is warmer than my thermometer says it is! I feel a hot flash coming on!

Holiday Fairy Story Ornaments

Truth is fairies like to be a bit illusive.  Oft times I have nearly walked right by Hollia Flower Hands because she-he was hidden in the snowy holly.

 

Hollie Berry shows up where the doves coo. As Rene Marie sang, "When you're feelin' like a cooing dove, ain't nothin' but love."

 

Lady Red Skirt may be hiding in the winter poinsettias. boosting their rouge with her own.

 

Her sister, Prius Fairie, plays at being a hybrid, waving white blossoms around her red skirts. A shade shifter, she may change her colors on a white snowy night.

Autumn leaves provided good hiding spots for Fairy Berry Face.  But he burrows in with Momma Bear when the snow falls.  When she gets up from a winter's nap for a stretch, Berry Face protects her wee cubs who, about as big as he is, are blind and  toothless! 

Flower Face is all ablush with embarrassment when spotted by one of us wingless big folk, but what can he expect being so mixed up: spring flower face, summer leafy cloak, autumn colored wings, and winter berries.  He blends into no season at all.

 

Spruce Berry is an angel.  Really!  If you are very quiet you can hear their singing chorus. Hark!

 

This wee chubby Snow Elf waves from the cross sticks.

 

All the way, way to the south, Madame Sunnia Floress enjoys a summery holiday among the palms and the bananas!

 

Look real close, out doors and in.  Listen with your heart, and I promise you will see a fairy this holiday season!  Namaste, Wyncia

Buy a Lend a Hand Bag at the Winter Faire at Shining Mountain Waldorf School, Violet Street, Dec 5, 9 to 5, and a donation will go to Emergency Family Assistance.

Uniquely Natural, 705 South Public Road in Lafayette has an art opening on Friday Dec 4 from 6 - 9. Great photography by Caroline Fuqua http://www.okaadaak-touchstones.blogspot.com/ and yummy snacks, henna art, and wine to purchase. Be there!

Shining Mountain Waldorf School has it's annual winter festival sale on Saturday. I will be there selling magical medicine bags, lend a hand bags, and a few special fairies. 990 Violet St, Boulder, 9-5.


King Winter Faire & Holiday Bazaar - Saturday, December 5. CRAFT FAIRE 10:00 to 2:00 on the Lower School Campus. HOLIDAY BAZAAR 9:00 to 5:00 in the Festival Hall. Enjoy wonderful holiday shopping as well as crafts and activities for the children.

Uniquely Natural Holiday Make-over

It seems like forever since I shared my creations with you. While some folks are busy dreaming up scheme for reality tv - think Balloon Boy and White House Party Crashers - I have been busy with reality!

Really...I was at Sue Lion's Home Show Last weekend and spent much of the week helping with the makeover at Uniquely Natural, the cute and spirited little shop of healing arts and gifts in Lafayette Colorado.

Here's the shop:

 

That's me with the holiday decorations.  I dressed to match the shutters (accidentally) that are left over from when the location was a fly fishing store!

Here are some of the displays.  A new branch (tee hee) is open.  It provides a place for hanging ornaments, medicine bags and such.

Step back and you can see Lelija's tiny canvases to wear or display.  Anyone who loves miniature displays or doll houses would love authentic landscapes to scale!  And Kerry's Bee Works skin care and candles are on the shelves along the walls.

Here is Shaman Soapworks new display.  They are making a nice bar shampoo to help make plastic bottles a thing of the past.  Fill-it-yourself gift baskets are on top and reuseable gift bags at bottom.  To the top right are colorful Pulse Warmers.

 

From crow to wearable art cards to yoga bags, Larry the photographer featured my display.

 

Hand to Hand bags for cell, IPod, keys and means are to the left here.  To the right are Teresa Dunwell's remarkable spirit paintings with prints available below.

 

All in all I would say the shop is looking good and I am finding some time to write again!  Namaste in all seasons and to all beings, Wyncia

Rock Art: Cairnes

Cairns of Hanakapai Beach on Kauai are wafting through my memory as we prepare for a winter storm at my home studio.  I did miss the first big snow storm on the Front Range because I was hiking to this beach.  But that does not mean I am ready for snow! 

Here is the welcome at the trail head. I spotted the sign on my return!

 

Maybe the cairns are thanks to the gods that the builders made it this far.  Though really, the gratitude is for the amazing beauty of the spot.

 

And some cairns...

 

 

 

And the raw materials

Thanks for joining me in reverence. Namaste.
 

Fiber and Color in Kauai

Hey there.  Just a few shots of finished medicine bags and beautiful colors and patterns around the National Tropical Botanical Gardens.

Purples

Reds

Green

White

Orange

Blue

Enjo sacred sight and please send healing energy to Rhonda as she begins a journey of recovery. Namaste.  Wyncia

Aloha Fiber Work and Beaches

I did a bit of sea inspired fiber work.  This medicine bag awaits a sea glass button and a few tiny ocean charms

 

And then we went to a swimable beach.

Seen through a mother tree

From whence hung our hammock

Where rested my tired cliff climbing legs!

Here a plumeria blossom fades away in a lovely pattern

Grandmother Island says some patterns need to be broken, some simply fade away, most hold beauty that is with just for the moment.  Namaste, Wyncia