Twist and…shout?
I’ve been experimenting with a ritual to mark the start of studio time. I tried a few things…meditating, journalling, stretching…and over time something that feels right (for now anyway) has evolved. This marks the transition between buzzing around like a blue arsed fly outside the studio and what I do inside the studio. Walking across the back garden to the studio helped but I needed more!
Over decades of visiting Nepal, I’ve received many, MANY kataks (also known as Khatas)…these are the white/ cream ceremonial scarves which represent purity, respect and compassion. They are often placed around your neck to say farewell. (Bear with me here, this is relevant). I haven’t kept ALL of the kataks that I have received but I do have the odd…um…few. Each time I walk into the studio, I slowly and carefully cut several long strips from one katak and then, just as slowly and carefully, twist one strip into a cord. As I twist the strand, I feel my breathing: I notice what my shoulders are doing; I bring my awareness back to twisting. Somehow, doing something physical grounds me. It reminds me to be intentional about what I am about to do.
I am not sure yet what I will do with all these twisted cords. I have used them in jewellery before and I have a sense that a purpose will emerge. For now it is the making rather than what I make that seems important. I can be a rather GOAL DRIVEN girl, and this activity helps remind me to focus a bit more on journey rather than destination!
After mindfully twisting a single cord, I write three pages in my journal. I write whatever rubbish comes out of my head! No censoring or filtering. If thoughts about a piece or ideas come that seem important, I might make a note but I am really doing an unfiltered brain dump.
When I don’t write because I think I am too busy to do this, my studio time feels different. So it is rare now that I don’t write the pages…not because I am any less busy but because I know it makes such a difference. This short practice changes the quality of the time I have in the studio. Even if it is only a short time.
I wonder if any of you, my dear readers, have similar studio rituals…. I’d love to hear about them!
I am having a ball doing my colour focussed workshops and people seem to really enjoy this focus. It is a loose framework to hang all sorts of exploration on. The August one is all about analogous palettes and I couldn’t resist playing with these sizzling analogous palette as the sky shone gloriously blue and nasturtiums bloomed in these hues!
I am doing some pre formed groups…friends, family, returned WEW travellers…and I love doing these so hit me with dates if you have a group interested.
And here’s the bit I am shouting about…sort of!
Very soon, these vibrant pieces from my pod range and several other pieces will be in the glorious MAMA shop in Albury. To say I am euphoric would be an understatement!
Outside the studio, I have just read, and loved, Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout. IMHO, this is a truly profound book.
And inside the studio, I currently have Grace Cummings and Kate Miller-Heidke on high rotation! Very lucky to have a husband with wildly eclectic musical tastes who gives me ideas!