✺ SPRING ‘20 ✺

ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN FOLLOWING ALONG CLOSELY WITH SAGE + SAPLING MIGHT HAVE NOTICED THAT I DIDN’T HOLD MUCH OF AN ONLINE PRESENCE THIS SEASON. I MADE A NICE LITTLE GOAL TO SPEND MORE TIME ON THE LISTENING + RECEIVING END OF THINGS TO FOSTER SOME WORK THAT IS A DIRECT REFLECTION OF WHAT I’M FEELING. 

I HAVE BEEN HAULING AROUND A STACK OF WOODEN WIRE SPOOLS FOR SOME YEARS NOW WAITING FOR THE PERFECT PROJECT TO USE THEM FOR. CONCEPTS COME + GO BUT NOTHING HAS STUCK. NOW HAVING THE FREEDOM OF TIME + ABILITY TO STAY HOME, I’VE BEEN DEVELOPING THESE CONCEPTS WITH PENCILS + PAPER FIRST BEFORE BRINGING IT TO THE SHOP TABLE. 

ALL 5 WOODEN SPOOLS LAUNCHED THIS SEASON DANCE AROUND UNITY; THE REALITY THAT WE ARE ALL INTERCONNECTED, NOT ONLY US AS A HUMAN SPECIES BUT ALSO WITH THE PLANTS, RIVERS, BIRDS + TREES. WE ARE SHARING THE AIR WE BREATHE BECAUSE WE ARE ALL SHARING ONE PLANET. EVERY BEING IS PLAYING A PART HERE + EACH IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE NEXT. MY INTENTION WITH THIS WORK IS TO HAVE THEM STRIKE CONVERSATION WHILE HANGING IN YOUR HOME. 

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU IN THIS BLOG POST SOME OF THE PROCESSES FOR ALL 5.

- MUSHROOM MEDICINE -

MY FASCINATION WITH MUSHROOMS GROWS RAPIDLY THE MORE I PAY ATTENTION TO THE SNEAKY LITTLE SPOTS THEY GROW, WHICH IS LITERALLY EVERYWHERE. THIS IS A FACT, MUSHROOMS ARE EVERYWHERE. MUSHROOMS ARE JUST THE FINAL FRUITING STAGE OF MYCELIUM. THE MYCELIUM IS GROWING UNDER THE EARTH'S SURFACE. THIS MYCELIUM IS WHAT ALLOWS TREES TO COMMUNICATE TO ONE ANOTHER THROUGH THEIR ROOTS. I WANTED TO CHALLENGE MY DRAWING SKILLS BY GETTING TO KNOW THE FINE DETAILS OF A FEW MUSHROOMS + ADDED THEM ONTO SOME OLD CEDAR END CUTS WITH BEAUTIFUL GRAIN RINGS. I LOVE THAT THIS PIECE IS MOODY + MYSTERIOUS. FUN FACT: A MUSHROOM'S DNA MAKE UP IS CLOSER TO ANIMALS THAN PLANTS. CHECK OUT THE DOCUMENTARY "FANTASTIC FUNGI" IF MUSHROOMS BOGGLE YOUR MIND TOO.

- EYE OF THE SERPENT -

WHEN I STARTED BUILDING THIS PIECE, I BUILT THE BACKGROUND FIRST. I FELT THIS STRONG PRESENCE OF AN INDIGENOUS DRUM FROM THE STITCHED TWINE. I COULDN'T GET THIS OUT OF MY HEAD SO THIS SPOOL STUMPED ME FOR WEEKS. I READ SOME MYTHOLOGY AROUND SERPENT. “THE OUROBOROS IS AN ANCIENT SYMBOL OF A SNAKE EATING IT'S OWN TAIL. THIS SYMBOL SIGNIFIES INFINITY, WHOLENESS + THE CYCLE OF DEATH + REBIRTH.”  SMALL DETAIL WORK WAS CREATED USING FABER-CASTELL INDIAN INK PENS. I STAND BEHIND THE QUALITY OF THIS PRODUCT, YOU CAN FIND THEM HERE: https://kingwestbooks.com

THE WOODEN  BODY OF THE SNAKE MAKES UP A POWERFUL MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE FEEDING A LITTLE EMPOWERMENT THAT YOUR MIND IS THE MOUNTAIN THAT STANDS BEFORE YOU.

- KISSED BY THE SUN -

EXPOSURE TO NATURAL DYES HAS MADE ME QUITE INTERESTED IN TEXTILES + THE HUES YOU CAN GET FROM ORGANIC MATERIALS LIKE PLANTS + FOOD SCRAPS. I WANTED THE SUN TO FEEL SOFT, LIKE HOW SUNLIGHT SOFTLY TOUCHES THE SKIN. I CHOSE TO ADD LINEN THAT WAS SOAKED IN ONION SKINS + THEN RUSTED WITH OLD WASHERS TO EMULATE THIS. THE RAYS OF THE SUN ARE COLOURED BY TURMERIC, COCO POWDER WITH COFFEE + AVOCADO PITS. THE STRING OF THE EYE STEEPED IN AN OVERNIGHT CABBAGE BATH.

- FLOWER CHILD -

I AM OVER THE MOON WITH THIS EARTHY, RAW PEACE SIGN. I CAN CLOSE MY EYES TO REMEMBER WHERE I HAVE GOTTEN EACH PIECE OF WOOD FROM. OVER 12 DIFFERENT VARIETIES WERE MANIPULATED FOR THIS CREATION OF THIS PIECE + IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME TO LEAVE THE SPOOL EXPOSED.  THE FRAME WAS HAND WOVEN TOGETHER USING TWINE. I WAS ABLE TO USE NO FACTORY GLUE BY HOOKING IT AROUND THE FRAME WITH NAILS TO CAREFULLY SECURING IT IN PLACE. "PEACE". TEACH IT, FIND IT WITHIN YOURSELF, SHARE IT. HAVING THIS HANGING IN YOUR HOME IS SUCH A GENTLE REMINDER OF HOW EASY IT IS TO DO THAT.

- PURITY VESSEL -

THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF SYMBOLISM IN THIS PIECE. EACH ELEMENT IS SUCH A CONSCIOUS CHOICE. A SACRED WOODEN VASE MADE FROM ORGANIC STAINS, A FLOWING RIVER USING TWINE + NATURAL PAINTS.

I ALSO ADDED SOME INNER BARK OF A FALLEN  BIRCH TREE TO THE VASE'S DETAILING + COLLECTED SOME MATCHING DRIFTWOOD FOR THE HANDLES.

I WALK MY PUP DOWN THE ALLEYWAYS OF HAMILTON WHILE WE STILL LIVE HERE. THE AMOUNT OF FORGOTTEN GARBAGE IN MY VISION TIES KNOTS IN MY STOMACH. I SWITCHED MY FOCUS TO THE LITTLE RUSTY TREASURES ON THE GROUND LIKE BOLTS + WASHERS INSTEAD. IT'S SUCH A TREAT TO BE ABLE TO ADD THESE BITS TO WHAT I AM CREATING. COUNT 15 HERE.

AS MY FOLD UP CHAIR PROJECT HAS TAKEN THE BACK BURNER, THIS SEASON I AM PROUD TO BE LAUNCHING A 3 SHELF PLANT WALL MADE OUT OF BARN BOARDS + STAINED WITH AN ORGANIC RICH BROWN STAIN. WHEN HUNG, IT LAYS FLUSH ON A WALL. QUITE PERFECT FOR SUCCULENTS + SMALLER PLANTS.
ALSO LAUNCHING THIS SEASON IS A PIECE THAT TRULY SHEDS LIGHT TO TRANSFORMATION. I GAVE AN OLD TRIANGLE I HAD CREATED A FEW YEARS AGO NEW LIFE BY ADDING A TRIANGLE TO IT’S BACKSIDE. A STRONG PARALLEL IS PRESENT BETWEEN EARLIER USE OF COMMERCIAL PRODUCT + NOW MOVING FORWARD WITH SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS. IT NOW HANGS AS A MOBILE. IT’S PERFECT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO SWITCH UP THEIR DECOR EACH SEASON.

AS I CONTINUE TO WEAN OUT SOME WOOD ODDS + ENDS, I CAN SEE THE STEPS TOWARDS WORKING WITH MORE ORGANIC MATTER + SPECIES OF WOOD AVAILABLE AT MY FINGERTIPS LIKE FIRE LOGS + THICK BRANCHES. 

I’M REALLY SINKING IN TO THE BEAUTY OF WOOD + HOW MUCH HISTORY IT HOLDS WHETHER IT BE THE TREE IT CAME FROM, THE TABLE YOU BUILT FROM IT TO EVEN THE MEMORIES SHARED AROUND IT. IT’S REALLY QUITE A SPECIAL, JUST ME?

IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORK PRODUCED, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO LEAVE COMMENTS.

IF YOU CAN'T REACH ME, I’M OUT IN THE WOODS SOMEWHERE.

THANK YOU FOR MEETING ME HERE TODAY.