Healing Handcrafting

Tag Archives: Sanibel


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Circular Weaving Adornments

Circular weaving is a wonderful way to play with yarn, experiment, and make beautiful things, with or without a plan. I recently warped my Majacraft circular loom; it is no longer made but sometimes you can find them for sale through other vendors. If you can get your hands on one, don’t hesitate- these looms are by far my favorite circular looms to date. I set it up in a way that keeps the center open/unwoven. When you weave this way, you can make home decor and sculpture, as well as shawls and necklaces, depending on how big the space is in the middle and how big your loom is.

I’ve wanted to weave a necklace for a long time and I finally decided to play and make one that is dedicated to Thalassa, primordial goddess of the ocean, who I’ve become very attached to. This first piece is woven with linen, very thin and strong, like netting and sea grass. I included sea shells from Sanibel Island, a place where I used to live that takes up a lot of space in my psyche. The necklace rests gently on my shoulders and the shells move but don’t clank or tangle. It lays in such a way that I want to stand straight and move with intention when I’m wearing it.

I knew ahead of time how the shells would be attached to the weaving, but the weaving itself came organically and peacefully. I wanted it open, airy, loose. The sea interacts with air and netting with water and its inhabitants.

I am delighted with this first outcome! And you know… I’ve got another project ready to go! This one will be woven down to the end of the warp and will have a totally different vibe… stay tuned!

Thalassa, daughter of Aether and Hemera,
mother of Aigaion, the Telkhines, Halia, Aprhodite, and the fishes.
Thalassa is the sea.


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Monday Musings~ Worry Sucks

I definitely spent a lot of time worrying about people I love and places I hold in my heart these last few days as Irma coverage got scarier. I avoid the Weather Channel because damn is it dramatic, and the turbo intense music is insulting. But even reading about the hurricane in my own quiet head made for stress and ineffectual worry. My worry literally did nothing to help people. 

But, I cleaned the hell out of my house and found a painting I did years ago of the house grew up in on Sanibel. I’m not a skilled painter, but I love it. 


I picked up a sweater I’ve been working on for five months. I even knit a few stitches while watching a terribly stupid movie. I’ve never done that before. A success? 


I wove a little with my buddy, Mittens, who is achieving a starring role on this here blog. 


I had some sister time at the lake,


And got some crazy love from my puppy niece. 


I sent a lot of love into the air and realized I need to learn to build a fire from scratch. 

Last week’s goals are this week’s: seriously. Finish the shawl (or maybe table runner?). I’m screwing up enough to make me want to bail on the whole thing but I feel like the little bitty mess ups might not be reflective of the whole thing. Just like a bad day doesn’t mean the whole month is bad. But seriously, my selvages need work. <Palm slapping head>.

I played with my littles a lot after school and truly, sometimes playing just means sitting on the floor and letting them climb all over me so I can tickle them. This will remain a goal. Our days are infinitely better when we heart to heart connect after a long day apart. 

I never did start the hat I have stuck in my head as an idea. I was too worried.