Knotting Song

These little songs come and go: gifts from the spirits. When I leaped--or rather hobbled--back to my bead box, I was disappointed to realize the "knotting song" had slipped my mind. I remembered a bit about seeds and beads, but the words and rhythm drifted formlessly. After all, I hadn't made macramé in over a year. Only the lull after graduation and a sprained ankle freed enough time and inspiration to string beads...and dredge my mind for weaving songs.

Happily today, as I began the long work of creating a macramé hoop, the words returned. I'm writing them down in hopes they'll linger. ~Blessed Be~

Sort and gather, searching for seeds,
Sort and gather, stringing the beads,
Sort and gather my mother’s red thread,
Tangle and spiral, both form a web.

What I make, the hands give shape.
What I break, I mend,
What I take, I give.

Hooping: The Gateway Drug

The moment I started spinning my new staff, I was amazed by the parallels to hooping. Weaves, the rising sun, passes, and spins all translated into mind boggling new patterns. I’m in love…all over again. I’m experiencing all the excitement and discovery as when I first started hooping, but this time around I have a foundation of flow techniques to build on. Yet the staff has its own flow and physics. I feel so much of my hoop-style being transformed into this new tribal-ninja dance. I’m in love with the staff’s long lines and freedom of motion.

Seriously, if you’ve been considering a new prop, go for it! Not only am I completely smitten with my new toy, but my hooping is reinvigorated too. Freed from the entire weight of my prop-addiction, my recent hoop jams feel more spontaneous and inspired. So in a way my hoop has a new lover too!

I don't have any pics or videos yet, so I'll leave you with a video from Linda Farkas, a spinner who embodies grace and technical skill with a whole host of yummy flow toys.

Co-Mo Hoop Jam

The Columbia Hoop Club will host an open hoop jam on Sunday, May 23 in Peace Park. Spinning starts at 3:30. Linger into evening to watch the LEDs and fire twinkle!

I'm so happy to reconnect with my riverside hoop family. Hopefully my kevlar will arrive between now and then so I can finish my fire staff!

Columbia Hoop Club - Come Together from Virtuous Luna on Vimeo.

Lullaby

Twinkle, twinkle in my mind,
Tiny baubles in tangled twine,
The thread, the knot, each woven row,
A word where rippling waters flow.
As sycamores bow to greet bright breezes,
The mind will twinkle as she pleases.

-Graduation day, May 14, 2010

Bead Box Bliss @ Midwest Hoopfest

Give your hips a break and learn some new knotting techniques with Tangled Macrame! Beginners will learn to make a half knot (spiral) bracelet. We’ll discuss methods for ending and tying off macramé jewelry, as well as some funky square knot variations for more experienced macramakers.

Materials will be available for everyone to make one bracelet/anklet with wood and poly-clay beads. If you have materials (beads or finished pieces) you’d like to use, share, show-off, or trade bring them along! Bring your kids too!

Midwest Hoopfest: June 25-28, French Lick Indiana
http://www.hoopcity.ca/group/midwesthoopfest
www.midwesthoopfest.com

Be there or be square! LOL!

First Burn

First Burn from Heather Hughes on Vimeo.

I was still stressed from the journey to StL, but the fire whirled my worries away. I am so grateful to Willow for gifting me this beautiful hoop....and for giving me a ride to the show.

The Family Circus

The Family Circus from Heather Hughes on Vimeo.

I wish this video wasn't so dark, because my husband and I really had wonderful spin-jam the evening after he lost his job. The 1st section is nanchaku. I begin hooping between minutes 2 & 3.