Touchstones and Moments of Pause

When we think of creative objects, we often focus on value as determined by the market or by the preciousness and rarity of the object. 

As makers, we most value the experience of making, viewing and sharing. Lived with items that can serve as reminders and moments of pause and attention in our lives carry a value beyond any assigned by the market. 

I hope some of the invitations below inspire you to some time of reflective creating to share things you value and hold dear.

I'd love to see your pictures and hear your stories, email me here.

Reflecting on What We Hold Dear and Creating Moments of Attention and Hope

I'm loving how many more people I see out walking in my neighborhood. I feel a connection with others even as we step aside or move from sidewalk to street to maintain the proper distance.  

I'm enjoying the symbols of connection, sharing and wonder popping up in neighborhoods. The children around my block have been painting rocks and leaving them along the sidewalk with posted invitations to others to take the rocks or to create some of your own. Rocks include messages of love, peace, color and light. I am reminded of a basket of smooth stones my grandmother kept on her kitchen table along with a sharpie pen.  She invited visitors to write or draw on a stone and add to the collection. It was a fun way to sift through them and see who had been to visit her and what they added.

Painting rocks can be a way to reflect on touchstones, things we hold dear. As we move toward summer, I am feeling the stress of uncertainty more than in previous months.  At the same time, I am thankful when I happen upon homemade creations in yards that offer a sense of connection with another maker and a moment of attention and wonder.

One of my favorite activities to share with groups is the creation of prayer or meditation candles. We use translucent mulberry paper to decorate the outside of a glass jar and place a candle inside. The process is playful and experimental and offers surprises along the way as the glue dries and we see the light come through the paper. The finished piece can be a reminder of the quiet time of making and a tool for prayer and a moment of pause. Two different candles I have made leading groups now join a variety of touchstones on the center of our kitchen table. It can be helpful to have this spot of clarity and symbols of pause and intention, particularly in a place where we gather daily.  

In April, Margarita Aleixo invited neighbors to share words that remind them of "hope" for an art installation she is working on.  She was overwhelmed with responses and invited others to consider making their own symbols of hope to display in homes and windows as well. She created a great tutorial for making simple hope-inspired lanterns with materials found at home.
I'm thankful for her permission to share it with you at this link:
DIY Lantern Tutorial
 

Above are two examples of touchstones:
Thanks to Jenna Fournel for sharing the first image - see more of her observations and artwork on her instagram @jenna4nel
The second image is from my grandmother's kitchen table collection of stones.

The glass lanterns pictured above were created last fall on a retreat. You can see some of the transformation that happens as glue dries and the light comes through the translucent colors.

I'm noticing how taking time to record observations can help to bring a moment of pause and calm to my day. Here are a couple sketches from my sketchbook recently. See more on my instagram @kathrynconeway

Thank you to everyone who purchased prayer flags and mini books. I have particularly enjoyed seeing photos of the flags hanging in new homes.  
I still have one complete set of Mother Trees Prayer Flags and a few mini books for sale.  
Learn more on my website store.