Purpose
I’m often asked where I find these great raw pieces I work with, and sometimes kiddingly answer “they follow me home”, which actually has a ring of truth to it! A lot of it is Law of Attraction – what you think, becomes, in other words, we manifest what we focus on with joy. “With joy” is key, because if I’m in a funk, well then, good luck to me – the good stuff just doesn’t happen. But this? This is my bliss! So it’s easy to be in alignment with manifestation whether I specifically set out to forage, stumble upon a bramble on a walk, or find a ‘gift’ on my doorstep (Yep, friends and family often leave me presents of anything from a small gnarly burl to a giant piece of driftwood – always a welcome surprise!)
It’s important to note that I utilize pieces I find which the tree has shed, or if whole, I’ll only take from trees that have breathed their last breath. Even then, I’ll ask permission.
Perception
Every tree is a Giving Tree. Its place in the balance of Nature is such an integral piece of the puzzle, and as all flora does, breathes life into the earth and every living being upon it by supplying us all with a steady flow of oxygen through its very sophisticated filtration system.
The journey of the roots is the story I follow. When I see a piece that speaks to me, it feels like a reunion. Though I wasn’t there to witness its vibrant life in all its glory, I’m so grateful to be a tiny part of the next step in its journey. As most of the remaining remnants of the tree will decompose and go on to feed insects and send nutrients back to the earth, I get to set a small piece of it on a journey that will stand to tell the tale of its benevolent life.
Process
There is quite a bit of time between finding a root ball, piece of gnarly root, burl or a contorted limb, and realizing the finished piece it will become. Depending upon the size and condition, it has to go through an appropriate drying out period or “seasoning”. I keep my found pieces in different baskets and mark each basket by a date range. I like to season the wood naturally over time so it’s less likely to crack, but sometimes I’ll speed up the process in an oven. Depending upon the piece, I’ll remove the bark before or after the seasoning. It’s always such a thrill to see what the bark uncovers! Drying and debarking are essential, because insects love wet wood and often find a home under the bark. Dried and debarked pieces go into yet another basket, waiting in line for the next step – smoothing out the rough edges. Most of my process is stream-of-consciousness. As with most artists, I step into the zone and become a conduit, lost in time in my happy place. The tree tells my hands what to do and which crystals it calls for. It’s a completely collaborative process where I do a lot of subconscious listening. Somewhere in the process it’ll hit me what that piece is saying. It’s always remarkable to see animals, sea creatures, spirits, eyes, a lot of dancers, and who knows what else, emerge!
