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Connections, Kristen’s wonderful challenge

It’s funny sometimes how a spur of the moment though…actually, maybe it’s more accurate to say, a mind empty of thoughts, a mind in the present, how that inspires the perfect action.

I knew that the challenge word for this week is connections. I knew this for a full week and everywhere I went, everything I did, I saw connections in. But then, you might be saying, you can hardly help that, can’t you? Well, it’s true, but rarely do those connections inspire a meaningful piece of art.

Yesterday at the beach, it was gloriously warm and bright. I picked up a piece of orange nylon rope thinking I would recycle it properly, and, as I sat looking around me at the sunshine and the happy dogs I decided to save that piece of rope and weave it into something which connects.

beach

So I walked along the beach to find the perfect branch and some other objects and took them home.

I was going to wait till this morning to do something with them, but the evening was so lovely that I decided to start right then.

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I wove the nylon rope around the branch and thru itself.

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I found some ribbon and yarn and wove that in to symbolise seaweed and the reflection from shells.

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And then I went to get my other found goodies to add those on, phoned Robbie and went to bed.

Sent photos for the weaving to R and he said, “you’ve made yourself a talking stick. Even more connections. I like it!”

This morning my newly proclaimed talking stick lay on the dining room table.

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It sparkles in the harsh morning light, with its beads of birch bark, its combinations of man-made and natural elements, discarded and wanted, saved and used. Offers, connections, from the ocean and from my hands to your heart.

talking stick

I took it outside to greet the day and held it up against the sky.

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When you have a chance, the list of participating artists is here on Kristen’s site. πŸ˜€

Comments: 24

  • March 15, 2014
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    This is beautiful, Veronica. Thank you for sharing your process, the photos, and your talking stick. It’s inspiring me. Montana’s rural highways are littered with orange baling twine. Here’s one way to put it to use. I appreciate your creativity.

  • March 15, 2014
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    such a wonderful adventure and creation
    i love how your journey feels like a weaving and your art is a weaving and also a talking stick

    your birch bark feels connected to the aspens in my post. the past two months i have been studying the difference between the two trees so that i do not confuse them any more. I also learned that a wonderful medicinal fungi called Chaga grows on some Birch trees. I have been looking but have not found it yet…. plus one might have to be a tree climber with a very good machete to gather some, careful not to hurt the tree.

  • March 15, 2014
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    this post makes me smile
    because you show from start to end
    it’s as if i was there too
    i feel connected ;^))

  • March 15, 2014
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    Very beautifull, best regard from Belgium

  • March 15, 2014
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    I love all the little fuzzy bits. It reminds me of my hair in the summer. LOL

  • March 15, 2014
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    Feeling connected to you because the beach is close to me too. I recognize the Lions Gate Bridge, having crossed it so many times in my life. Feeling connected to you because beach combing is a big part of life near the beach. Something we Vancouver Islanders without much thought….. it’s often a daily ritual for many. A thoroughly enjoyable post, Veronica!

  • March 15, 2014
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    I’m inspired by this, Veronica. You made something beautiful to enjoy.

  • March 15, 2014
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    Lovely catching up with your week Veronica πŸ™‚
    I laughed at your hands poking through the wall!
    hugs
    xx

  • March 16, 2014
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    I love to hear stories about art processing, yours is a wonderful one, thank you! And I love the colors, too xo Leena

  • March 16, 2014
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    This is so cool Veronica! I love all the little frayed ends of thread and colors…I had to look up talking stick and that makes it even cooler πŸ™‚ I also really enjoy seeing your process- what is it about that…but the physical part of creating is a fascination- and joy to see
    So nice to meet you here- your site is wonderful and I’m planning on exploring more soon!!
    Hope you have a great week and thanks for playing along!!

  • daryledelstein

    March 17, 2014
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    made me think of native american dream catchers

  • March 17, 2014
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    Love the mix of colors and the waviness (like ocean waves?–more connections!) of the orange rope strands. And just love the idea of re-purposing things–beautiful! πŸ™‚

  • March 17, 2014
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    Hi Veronica. This is wonderful. I enjoyed it, Congratulations!
    I think when you find something on the beach (not a snail or a stone, etc.) I say, a bottle, a wood, a rope … The connection there was, magically, because maybe lots of people passed and did not see it, but you saw it and picked it up … for something, so it is with you … and not with another person.
    OK, have a nice week!!!!!!!!!!

  • March 18, 2014
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    Your connections are most original. The oceans that touch our beaches connect us many ways. I walk the shorelines here in Alaska and find flotsam from Korea, Japan, Russia. . . . It weaves itself across the globe over waves and through currents. I enjoyed your post.

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