Sometimes, when our bodies are challenged, the best place to dance is in our dreams.
This mixed media Woven Woman tapestry, “The Dance” is part of the Oracle of Stillness: Weaving Coherence in the Chaos series.
I twisted wire to make the armature for “The Dance” and freeform wove the beads to shape her into that moment of stillness that sparks the moment between the movements.
It is the Pause, Breathe, Begin Again that nurtures and heals.
Yesterday was a day full of challenges and mistakes… I am working on a new series of mixed media weaving and had to do a lot of re-considering and re-working.
I also got a couple of other things quite wrong, so had to remind myself to be curious about what I could do about that.
At bedtime, I asked my Dream Guides and Wise and Well Ancestors for guidance, and what immediately popped up was: Do some Ho Opono Opono, so I did. It’s very helpful!
This morning, I woke up with a cluster of phrases in mind as I floated in the hypnagognic state:
Gifts from the Dream Guides and Wise and Well Ancestors, for sure:
“Pax Vobiscum”, “Fiat Lux”, “Que La Lumiere Soit” and “Pause, Breathe, Begin Again”.
It also made me think:
These challenges are the reason why the mixed media Oracle of Stillness Woven Woman: “Paradox- Joy and Sorrow Walk Together” is so important to me.
She speaks the truth of dealing with the challenges that help me to understand that life is multifaceted, complicated, messy, sometimes uncomfortable and downright miserable at times, too…. BUT… in among all that, there is still Peace, Wisdom, Strength, Tenacity and the ability to maintain the Courage to be Curious and the willingness to accept that sometimes I say and do things that I am unhappy about and have to find a way to reset my compass, and to Pause, Breathe and Begin Again….
Yup. It’s a Paradox and it’s profoundly healing and deeply soulful. Not easy… but oh so necessary.
Long ago and far away, when my sister and I were little, our family lived in a small prairie town that was safe enough for children to be free range.
On Thursday evenings, my sister and I would walk to choir practice and then home again in the dark.
The stars were incredible! The Milky Way poured across the sky like a gigantic silk scarf that felt close enough to touch.
Sometimes we stood in awe and stared up at the Northern lights.
Always, always, we made wishes on the stars that sparkled, just out of reach.
This mixed media Woven Woman is partly a sense memory of those magical times with my sister, and partly a celebration of Sacred Geometry.
Her name is: “Every Star Invites a Wish”.
Please feel free to make wishes upon her- whether it’s for wellness, peace, calm, clarity, serenity, kindness, wisdom, abundance, or any and all good things for yourself and for everyone, everywhere, may all your lovely wishes come true.
Living with chronic illness is mostly really the pits. But I have found that the sheesh-awfulness of it has honed my radar to notice and dive into the beautiful moments that unfold in unexpected and wonder filled ways.
For instance, one of our neighbors is the loveliest person… you can feel him quietly walking down the street with his dear little dog. He has a – hmmm- what to call it ??? a perceptible quality of lightness and contemplative presence and palpable kindness that is a joy to behold.
( My husband has this same gentle, loving, powerful presence.)
Being grateful for these lovely people (and ALL the precious ones) who carry the energy of peace inspired me to weave the Woven Woman, “Peace” .
It may look like she is alone, but if you look closely, you will see that there are actually 3 figures all interwoven…. all 3 of them are Mermaids and perhaps the 2 smaller Mermaids are the gifts that Peace brings… perhaps they embody the wish for Peace to flow like the oceans…..
Oh! This reminds me of an adorable moment yesterday… I had stepped outside to say goodbye to my daughter and grandson as they drove away from afternoon tea with us. I was chatting with our next door neighbors and we were utterly delighted when a gaggle of little kids burst out the front door, brandishing various bits and pieces of their Halloween costumes, and flew off the porch. The lead child trumpetted: Imagination for the win!!!!
And, we three adults all simultaneously put our hands on our hearts and swayed slightly and nodded: That’s what it’s all about!
When I was a little girl, I adored one of my grandmother’s best friends, Mrs Wall, who was kindness incarnate. She was the perfect Granny, exuding comfort, sanctuary, and gentleness. She taught me crafts from her childhood, which made them a precious legacy. I was thrilled when she taught me how to make ‘Yarn Babies’.
When I was designing Tiny Angels for the Weaving Kindness Project, I decided that they needed to be made using wrapping and stitching and not weaving as an homage to darling Mrs Wall, and all the kind people who make the world a better place.
Happily, I have figured out how to use the ‘Yarn Baby’ technique on the Kindness loom.
I am thrilled with these Tiny Angels.
They’re less than 2 inches (5 cm) tall with my signature ‘Hugging Arms’.
I’ve designed two variations- one with a skirt and one with legs. Their wings are shaped like the infinity symbol.
It’s so soothing to make small things that bring a feeling of connection and community.
Making small Kindness treasures to bring comfort and hope can be incredibly healing.
That’s what the Tiny Kindness Angels are all about. I hope that you’ll make lots of them as gifts of compassion and kindness for yourself and for the people in your life.
We are all in this together, and are not alone on our journey. May we all, like Mrs Wall, but each in our own way- weave a legacy of kindness, compassion, generosity and healing love.
The link to buy the pdf pattern for the Tiny Kindness Angels is:
The Kindred Spirit Dolls are sweet little beings that are meant to be a comfort and a delight to you as you make them.
And then, if you choose to give the Kindred Spirit Dolls to your family, friends and fellow travelers, they will carry your good wishes and kindness that are woven into every stitch of these precious little dolls!
The Kindred Spirit Dolls are small- not quite 3 inches (7.5 cm) tall so they can go everywhere with you.
Because the Kindred Spirit dolls have Noreen’s signature hugging arms- they are ready to give a hug at all times, and they can also hold onto small things, too.
The Kindred Spirit Dolls have optional wings, made by following the instructions for the Kindness Butterfly in the video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A11F11Lsp8 that is then stitched to the back of the Kindred Spirit Doll.
Their hair can be made in many ways. They all have embroidered bangs and side wisps, and if you like the simplicity of the ‘Pixie’ style hair, then don’t add any extras.
But, if a more elaborate hairstyle is your cup of tea, then feel free to add twisted topknots and braids or ponytails and fringes.
I hope that the Kindred Spirit Dolls will bring happiness, comfort and good feelings into your life!
The links for all the Weaving Kindness projects, videos, how to’s & etsy shop ordering info is at:
I have designed a 2nd way of making the small Kindness Loom for the Weaving Kindness Project.
The link to order the 2 PDFs of Step by Step Instructions for making both of the Kindness Looms is: LINK
The first PDF shows how to make a Kindness Loom using pins to weave on
and the 2nd PDF shows how to make a Kindness Loom with mat board and cribbage pegs .
Both versions of the Kindness loom work equally well for all the projects I have designed for the Weaving Kindness Project.
The Weaving Kindness Project is about weaving small tokens of caring, kindness, comfort, wishes for good luck, sweet peace and blessings!
To see photos of the Kindness projects that I have designed to weave on the Kindness Pin Loom and links to order the PDF instructions for making them, please go to:
In Springtime, we watch for the return of the migrating birds with anticipation and delight.
I have been hard at work, designing and weaving Tiny Birds of Hope (and other good things) on the Kindness Loom. These tiny birds are very small- in fact they fit into a chicken’s eggshell.
You can order the PDF instructions from my etsy shop at this L I N K
Here’s a closer look at the flock:
In celebration of Springtime, there is the Tiny Chick.
And in hopes of Peace, there is the Dove of Peace and Harmony:
Since life is a dance between the Birds of Sorrow and the Blue Birds of Happiness… here they are:
And speaking of the dance, we all need to dance as wildly as we can manage at times, so here’s a little Flamingo with awkward legs to trip along in a small, but hopeful dance:
Pigeons have a lot to teach us about unexpected beauty (look closely at their iridescence!) and their clever persistence.
And, on a personal note, my daughter’s beloved Quaker Parrot was almost 25 years old when she crossed the Rainbow Bridge a couple of weeks ago. So, it was really important to me to weave my daughter and grandson each a Comfort Tiny Quaker Parrot in homage to and memory of a dear little Feather Friend that we all loved so much! (yes, I did shed tears in the weavings of this Tiny Feather Friend)…
Feel free to weave up Tiny Birds of Hope in homage to your favorite birds, real or imaginary. The Tiny Birds of Hope can hold things in their Hugging Wings or hang out on the end of your pen or pencil or on a houseplant or in a pocket and give you a hug whenever you need one.
Happy Weaving!
The Tiny Birds of Hope are part of my Weaving Kindness Project that is all about saying to yourself and to everyone in your life:
“You matter! I wish you well! Take and give care!”
May the Weaving Kindness project be like a lovely cup of tea ,that brings refreshment and healing and restoration to all concerned. Hugs all round!!!!
All the links for the Weaving Kindness Project are at:
is an homage to the people who have the gift of calm presence that allows us to bask in their sweet kindness, even for a moment.
We all need to rest at times and to take the time to recover from the challenges that can be utterly overwhelming.
The Gentle Restful Rabbit reminds us to refresh and restore ourselves in ways that bring balance and wholeness to ourselves, and to our beautiful planet.
The Weaving Kindness Project is all about saying to yourself and to everyone in your life:
“You matter! I wish you well! Take and give care!”May the Weaving Kindness project be like a lovely cup of tea,that brings refreshment and healing and restoration to all concerned. Hugs all round!!!!
All the links for the Weaving Kindness Project by Noreen Crone-Findlay are at:
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