Tottie Talks Crafts Blog

October 21, 2025 · 5:42 pm

Oh What a Lovely Evening- The Opening of The Oracle of Stillness-Weaving Coherence in the Chaos

The opening on Oct 17, 2025 at Harcourt House Gallery in Edmonton of my solo mixed media show of Woven Women Tapestries: ‘The Oracle of Stillness- Weaving Coherence in the Chaos’ was wonderful.

I made a wobbly little video after the show was hung but before the lights were set, so some of the pieces don’t show up too well….

Here is the explanation of the show:

This little video by Noreen Crone-Findlay is a glimpse of her solo show of mixed media weaving: The Oracle of Stillness: Weaving Coherence in the Chaos. This series of Woven Women tapestries were created by Noreen Crone-Findlay over many years and include many mediums: fused glass, steel rod, steel and copper wire, beading, Teneriffe lace making, Tatted lace, lace and tapestry and narrow band weaving on looms specially constructed for the show by Crone-Findlay, thread, yarn, painting on wood, painting on watercolor paper, found objects, leather work, crochet, wire work, carved Tagua nut, and carved wood. The Oracle of Stillness speaks to the heart about navigating grief, sorrow around personal loss and chronic illness, as well as the shock of living in social and cultural upheaval. Noreen Crone-Findlay works with her dreams, meditations, prayers, poetry, and deep conversation to create Woven Women who embody presence, mystery, magic, The Great Beauty and the Feminine Divine. The Oracle of Stillness Woven Women are immersive, textural, layered and complex. Each one has taken hundreds of hours to complete and invite the gaze of the viewer to listen with their hearts to find the ‘ring of truth’ and point of Stillness int the quiet of the journey ‘Home’. Noreen hopes that you will find a moment of wonder or Beauty in the Oracle of Stillness Woven Women and to follow the complex threads that lead to the very center of our Being-ness. There is love in every stitch, every molecule of each of these mixed media weavings. May they bring healing…. with love. Please go to http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com for more information

Our dear friend, Andrea Gray took photos at the opening, and oi vey, when I was captioning the pics, I spelled her name wrong! For crying out loud! I had one job to do….. sigh… my apologies… its’ GRAY not Grey….

The gallery was packed to the rafters, so it wasn’t easy for her to get the photos and I am grateful to her! ❤

Anyhow here are the pics:

Just a note… they were taken at the end of the evening and I was exhausted, so I do look mighty droopy!

I will keep working on getting photos of the individual pieces up here and on fb and ig.

Hugs all round!

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Filed under lace making, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, mixed media weaving, Oracle of Stillness: Weaving Coherence in the Chaos series of Woven Women mixed media weaving, tapestry, weaving & handwoven, Woven Women tapestries and woven works

Tagged as #YEG, #YEGart, #yegartist, books, hand weaving, hand woven, handwoven, Noreen Crone-Findlay, oracle of stillness-weaving coherence in the chaos, poetry, small loom weaving, weaving, Woven Woman tapestry by Noreen Crone-Findlay, writing

February 23, 2025 · 12:44 pm

My Kindness Pin Loom Project

Kindness is important, isn’t it?

When we offer a tiny handmade gift that shows another person that we care about them and that they matter, it is a small act but an essential one.

It’s so lovely to brighten another person’s day by delighting them with a tiny handmade comfort gift.

Amazingly enough, that makes your day so much better, too! What a good way to help to create connection, community and hope.

That is why I have designed a whole bunch of charming little woven ‘Kindness Gifts’ and a small simple, eco friendly pin loom, the Kindness loom, that people can make for themselves using just a few household tools and upcycled materials.

The Kindness looms are perfect for weaving all manner of petite, simple and sweet Kindness gifts that are easy to make. They are a lovely a way to say: “I wish you well”.

The Kindness Pin Loom is all about weaving small tokens of caring, kindness, comfort, wishes for good luck, sweet peace and blessings! From the tiniest flying pigs, Lucky Penny pouches, Comfort Bears, Vasilisa Dolls, Angels, Goddesses to ‘Portrait’ Dolls in homage to family and friends, the Kindness Pin Loom can weave them all, because I am designing them with love and best wishes!

Making things that embody joy and whimsy in small things can add up to great goodness, can’t it? Yup. ❤

As I make the pdf’s for the Kindness projects that I have designed to weave on the Kindness Loom and load them up to my etsy shop, where they will be for sale for a modest fee, I’ll post the links to an all links page LINK And, as I make youtube videos on how to weave on the Kindness Loom as well as some freebie projects, I’ll post those links on the same page, too.

ALL THE LINKS FOR THE KINDNESS LOOM AND PROJECTS BY NOREEN CRONE-FINDLAY

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Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, eco crafts & green projects, free pattern, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, KINDNESS LOOM AND PROJECTS, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, pin loom, Simple Little Things That Make Me Happy, tutorial & how to, weaving & handwoven, Weaving Kindness Project by Noreen Crone-Findlay, Woven Dolls and Toys

Tagged as #kindnessloomproject, #kindnesspinloom, #lkindnessloom, art, fiber arts, hand weaving, hand woven, knitting, Noreen Crone-Findlay, small loom weaving, weaving, yarn

February 23, 2025 · 12:39 pm

ALL THE LINKS FOR THE WEAVING KINDNESS LOOM AND PROJECTS BY NOREEN CRONE-FINDLAY

Here are all the links for the WEAVING KINDNESS PROJECT by Noreen Crone-Findlay

1– What is the Kindness Loom Project all about? LINK

2– LINK to my etsy shop for:

PDF FOR STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS SHOWING HOW TO MAKE A UNIQUE KINDNESS LOOM

This PDF of Step by Step Instructions shows how to make a Kindness Pin Loom. It’s the instructions for you to make the loom, not the finished loom. You’ll make your own unique one of a kind Kindness loom using these instructions purchased from my etsy shop.

3– Video tutorial: How to weave a square on the Kindness Loom by Noreen Crone-Findlay

LINK: https://youtu.be/2fzG2l-Hyzg

4- The video tutorial link for the how to’s for making the Lucky Penny Pouch is on

Weaving Kindness Project- How to weave a Lucky Penny Pouch

4- How to weave a Rectangle on the Kindness Loom: L I N K

The links to both the Square and Rectangle are on this blog post L I N K

5- How to Weave a Kindness Butterfly on the Kindness Loom: L I N K to free video tutorial

6- Tiny Flying Joy Pigs – L I N K to my etsy shop for the pattern

7- An update about pins for the Kindness Pin Loom L I N K

8- The woven Kindness Kittens- so adorable! L I N K

9- The Wise Little Mouse- L I N K

10- The Gentle Restful Rabbit- L I N K

11- Tiny Birds of Hope and Happiness and Comfort and More – L I N K

12- A New Version of the Kindness Loom L I N K

13- Kindred Spirit Comfort Dolls L I N K

14- Tiny Kindness Angel Dolls L I N K

15- Tiny Flat Comfort Bears: LINK

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Filed under crafting for charity, doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, eco crafts & green projects, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, KINDNESS LOOM AND PROJECTS, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, personal stuff, pin loom, Simple Little Things That Make Me Happy, tutorial & how to, weaving & handwoven, Weaving Kindness Project by Noreen Crone-Findlay, Woven Dolls and Toys

Tagged as #kindnessloom, #kindnessloomprojects, #pinloom, #pinloomweaving, #smallloomweaving, doll making, dolls, hand weaving, hand woven, handwoven, Noreen Crone-Findlay, small loom weaving, weaving

December 23, 2025 · 4:10 pm

The Oracle of Stillness-What We Carry In Our Hearts

Our hearts are amazing and miraculous and vast.

They are the holding place for all the stories of our lives.

And, as the stories bubble up into noticing, we have to to decide:

Which stories do I choose to still tell?

What stories have taught me well, and now can be blessed and allowed to drift away into dormancy? What stories seed awe and magic and wonder and healing and connection and clarity so they will bloom in Beauty?

These stories are the best stories to contemplate and cherish and tend to with care.

This Woven Woman is one of the mixed media woven figures from my Oracle of Stillness series.

She is an homage to “What We Carry In Our Hearts”.

I’m posting all the images from the Oracle of Stillness here on www.tottietalkscrafts.com

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Filed under inkle, lace making, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, mixed media weaving, narrow band weaving, Oracle of Stillness: Weaving Coherence in the Chaos series of Woven Women mixed media weaving, tapestry, tatting, Teneriffe lace, weaving & handwoven, Woven Women tapestries and woven works

Tagged as #abarts, #albertaartist, #albertaarts, #canadianartist, #canadianarts, #edmontonartist, #fiberarts, #fibrearts, #healing, #lacemaking, #laughter #mixedmediaweaving, #meditations, #mindfulness, #mixedmediaart, #narrowbandweaving, #oracleofstillness, #smallloomweaving, #storytelling, #tattedlace, #wovenwomenbynoreencronefindlay, #YEG, #yegartist, #yegarts

December 17, 2025 · 4:48 pm

The Oracle of Stillness- Learning from the Child

This Woven Woman is ‘Learning From the Child’ from my Oracle of Stillness series.

I am inspired to post this one, because I adore the Kindergardener from next door.

He drops by sometimes for little visits and it’s always a delight to have a chat with him.

It feels like it was only moments ago that he was a tiny babe in arms and now, he’s taking ski and snowboard lessons and painting the Northern Lights with alcohol ink and watercolors.

I love looking into his eyes and seeing the sparkle of discovery and the joy in mastering new things.

I’m posting all the images from the Oracle of Stillness here on www.tottietalkscrafts.com

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Filed under lace making, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, mixed media weaving, narrow band weaving, Oracle of Stillness: Weaving Coherence in the Chaos series of Woven Women mixed media weaving, Simple Little Things That Make Me Happy, tatting, Teneriffe lace, weaving & handwoven, Woven Women tapestries and woven works

Tagged as #abarts, #albertaartist, #albertaarts, #canadianartist, #canadianarts, #edmontonartist, #fiberarts, #fibrearts, #fusedglass, #lacemaking, #mixedmedia, #mixedmediaweaving, #narrowbandweaving, #neighbors, #oracleofstillness, #smallloomweaving, #tattedlace, #teneriffelace, #wovenwomenbynoreencronefindlay, #YEG, #yegartist, #yegarts

December 9, 2025 · 12:15 pm

The Oracle of Stillness- The Journey of Hope

Every journey, no matter how long or short or why it’s happening, is fueled by Hope.

This Woven Woman from my mixed media series: Oracle of Stillness is “The Journey of Hope”

She is a celebration of courage, curiosity, resiliency and healing. May all your journeys be filled with grace and sweet surprises and may you enjoy the detours and not drift into the overwhelm or sorrows.

I’m posting all the images from the Oracle of Stillness here on www.tottietalkscrafts.com

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Filed under lace making, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, mixed media weaving, narrow band weaving, Oracle of Stillness: Weaving Coherence in the Chaos series of Woven Women mixed media weaving, tatting, Teneriffe lace, Woven Women tapestries and woven works

Tagged as #abarts, #albertaartist, #albertaarts, #canadianartist, #canadianarts, #edmontonartist, #fiberarts, #fibrearts, #fusedglass, #healing, #hope, #lacemaking, #laughter #mixedmediaweaving, #mixedmedia, #narrowbandweaving, #oracleofstillness, #smallloomweaving, #tattedlace, #teneriffelace, #wovenwomenbynoreencronefindlay, #YEG, #yegarts

December 6, 2025 · 6:25 am

The Oracle of Stillness- She is in the Spaces Between

In music, the rests- the places and spaces between the notes give life and meaning to the notes.

Those still points embody grace, promise, potential, respite and oh so much more.

What a great metaphor for embracing contemplation, meditation and moments of sweet, healing, lovely silence!

This Woven Woman from my mixed media series: Oracle of Stillness is “She is in the Spaces Between”

a celebration of sacred quiet, restful moments and tender, healing silence.

I’m posting all the images from the Oracle of Stillness here on www.tottietalkscrafts.com

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Filed under Dreams and dreamwork, lace making, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, mixed media weaving, Oracle of Stillness: Weaving Coherence in the Chaos series of Woven Women mixed media weaving, Teneriffe lace, weaving & handwoven, Woven Women tapestries and woven works

Tagged as #abarts, #albertaartist, #albertaarts, #canadianartist, #canadianarts, #edmontonartist, #fiberarts, #fibrearts, #healing, #lacemaking, #meditation, #mixedmedia, #mixedmediaweaving, #music, #oracleofstillness, #quiet, #smallloomweaving, #wovenwomenbynoreencronefindlay, #YEG, #yegartist, #yegarts, hand weaving, hand woven, handwoven, Noreen Crone-Findlay, small loom weaving, weaving

December 5, 2025 · 12:17 pm

The Oracle of Stillness- Renewal

Our close companion, the moon, is especially close when she is a Super Moon.

Last night the clouds swathed her in silken swirls and so we couldn’t see her, but oh yes, we still feel her presence. ‘

She pulls the tides of our oceans and inner waters and asks: Are you ready to change like I do?

This Woven Woman from my mixed media series: Oracle of Stillness is an homage to our friend the Full Moon. She is “Renewal”.

I’m posting all the images from the Oracle of Stillness here on www.tottietalkscrafts.com

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Filed under band loom, frame loom weaving, lace making, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, mixed media weaving, narrow band weaving, Oracle of Stillness: Weaving Coherence in the Chaos series of Woven Women mixed media weaving, pin loom, tatting, Teneriffe lace, weaving & handwoven, Woven Women tapestries and woven works

Tagged as #abarts, #albertaartist, #albertaarts, #canadianartist, #canadianarts, #edmontonartist, #fiberarts, #fibrearts, #fullmoon, #lacemaking, #mixedmedia, #mixedmediaweaving, #moon, #narrowbandweaving, #oracleofstillness, #renewal, #smallloomweaving, #supermoon, #wovenwomenbynoreencronefindlay, #YEG, #yegartist, #yegarts, hand weaving, hand woven, handwoven, Noreen Crone-Findlay, small loom weaving, weaving

December 4, 2025 · 4:08 pm

The Oracle of Stillness- Essence

Isn’t it lovely to watch the trees rock the full moon in their arms?

Sometimes the clouds pull up the blankets and we can’t see the moon, but still, we feel her presence.

She tickles and teases us and asks: Do you really need to sleep when you can be gazing at me?

This Woven Woman from my mixed media series: Oracle of Stillness is an homage to our friend the Full Moon. She is “Essence”.

I’m posting all the images from the Oracle of Stillness here on www.tottietalkscrafts.com

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Filed under frame loom weaving, lace making, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, mixed media weaving, narrow band weaving, Oracle of Stillness: Weaving Coherence in the Chaos series of Woven Women mixed media weaving, tatting, Teneriffe lace, weaving & handwoven, Woven Women tapestries and woven works

Tagged as #abarts, #albertaartist, #albertaarts, #edmontonartist, #fiberarts, #fibrearts, #fullmoon, #goddess, #lacemaking, #mixedmedia, #mixedmediaweaving, #narrowbandweaving, #oracleofstillness, #smallloomweaving, #tapestry, #tapestryweaving, #wovenwomenbynoreencronefindlay, #YEG, #yegartist, #yegarts

December 3, 2025 · 9:50 am

Oracle of Stillness- The Guide Who is Just Where She is Needed

Ugh… the other night I had a horrible dream in which I got lost and couldn’t find my way home. I got more and more upset, and then, whew, a gentle guide showed up and reminded me that when a dream has gone wrong, for goodness sake, WAKE UP!

So, I did and I felt really comforted by going and gazing at this Woven Woman from my mixed media series: Oracle of Stillness. She is “The Guide Who is Just Where She is Needed”.

There are times when we are dreaming and also times when we are awake when we feel lost and distressed. Thank goodness for the Guides who show up to clear the path for us!

I’m posting all the images from the Oracle of Stillness here on www.tottietalkscrafts.com

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Filed under Dreams and dreamwork, lace making, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, mixed media weaving, narrow band weaving, Oracle of Stillness: Weaving Coherence in the Chaos series of Woven Women mixed media weaving, personal stuff, tatting, Teneriffe lace, weaving & handwoven, Woven Women tapestries and woven works

Tagged as #abarts, #albertaartist, #albertaarts, #dreamguides, #dreamimagery, #edmontonartist, #fiberarts, #fibrearts, #goddess, #lacemaking, #mixedmedia, #mixedmediaweaving, #narrowbandweaving, #oracleofstillness, #smallloomweaving, #wovenwomenbynoreencronefindlay, #YEG, #yegartist, #yegarts, hand weaving, hand woven, handwoven, Noreen Crone-Findlay, small loom weaving, weaving

December 1, 2025 · 12:31 pm

The Oracle of Stillness- Cherishing

Cherishing is one of those ‘And’ experiences, isn’t it?

We love AND we cherish.

We hold someone or something close in our hearts

AND we are delicate in that holding close… not crushing or extinguishing, just the lightest touch or not touching at all….

AND then… a blessing

AND, sometimes, but not always, a release.

Like joy, cherishing is a bridge of paradoxes that brings the breath and the spaces between to life.

This mixed media Woven Woman for the Oracle of Stillness series is “Cherishing”.

She is one of 3 of my mixed media tapestries from the “Oracle of Stillness” series that are part of the fundraising Christmas/Celebration of Joy show at Harcourt House: Artorama

I’m posting all the images from the Oracle of Stillness here on www.tottietalkscrafts.com

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Filed under Loom & looms & small loom weaving, mixed media weaving, narrow band weaving, Oracle of Stillness: Weaving Coherence in the Chaos series of Woven Women mixed media weaving, tatting, Teneriffe lace, weaving & handwoven, Woven Women tapestries and woven works

Tagged as #albertaartist, #artorama, #cherishing, #edmontonartist, #fiberarts, #fibrearts, #harcourthousegallery, #mixedmedia, #mixedmediaweaving, #narrowbandweaving, #oracleofstillness, #smallloomweaving, #tapestry, #wovenwomenbynoreencronefindlay, #YEG, #yegartist, #yegarts, hand weaving, hand woven, handwoven, Noreen Crone-Findlay, small loom weaving, weaving

November 30, 2025 · 10:09 am

The Oracle of Stillness- Calm unfolds in a whisper

Living in a time of chaos is a rough ride.

The turbulence, drama, trauma and din is like standing in front of a huge screen that has the shock waves slamming across it.

When those harsh shocklines threaten to overwhelm,

it’s time to hit the pause button and take a deep breath….

Listen for a gentle whisper that slides in and starts softening and smoothing those sharp peaks and valleys

into curves and waves that lift and carry us,

one breath, one pause, another breath, another pause-

a gift from the Heart of Stillness that bring moments of clarity, calm and coherence.

That’s what this mixed media Woven Woman for the Oracle of Stillness series is all about.

She is: “Calm Unfolds in a Whisper”.

She is one of 3 of my mixed media tapestries from the “Oracle of Stillness” series that are part of the fundraising Christmas/Celebration of Joy show at Harcourt House: Artorama

I’m posting all the images from the Oracle of Stillness here on www.tottietalkscrafts.com

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Filed under lace making, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, mixed media weaving, narrow band weaving, Oracle of Stillness: Weaving Coherence in the Chaos series of Woven Women mixed media weaving, tatting, Teneriffe lace, weaving & handwoven, Woven Women tapestries and woven works

Tagged as #abarts, #albertaartist, #artorama, #calmunfoldsinawhisper, #edmontonartist, #fiberarts, #fibrearts, #goddess, #harcourthousegallery, #mixedmedia, #mixedmediaweaving, #narrowbandweaving, #oracleofstillness, #smallloomweaving, #tapestry, #tapestryweaving, #wovenwomenbynoreencronefindlay, #YEG, #yegartist, #yegarts, hand weaving, hand woven, handwoven, Noreen Crone-Findlay, small loom weaving, weaving

November 29, 2025 · 11:26 am

The Oracle of Stillness: An Uprising of Joy

Joy is one of the great connectors of the Universe.

It can burst into a moment that launches the heart skyward, or it can slide in on a silent wave that somehow appears in the midst of suffering and sorrow and leaves a person riding a wave that lifts them when only a moment before, there was oppression, misery and despair.

Joy is a bridge that brings together paradoxes and stitches the Great Mystery and Beauty into a patchwork that says: YES to awe and to life.

When Joy burst into my life, I felt compelled to create this mixed media Woven Woman for the Oracle of Stillness series: “An Uprising of Joy”.

If you look closely at the feathers on the edges of her wings, you will see hundreds of tiny brass safety pins, which I adore as they are charming little bits of amazement that hold things together. And on each of the tiny safety pins, there are seed beads as a metaphor for how Joy seeds new life in us.

May Joy unfold in your life, too!

‘An Uprising of Joy’ is one of 3 of my mixed media tapestries from the “Oracle of Stillness” series that are part of the fundraising Christmas/Celebration of Joy show at Harcourt House: Artorama