I’ve Been Mehndi’d

My first Mehndi tattoo.

I worked at the Patron’s Preview Party before the Edmonds Arts Festival this year.  The motif of the party was a Night in India and they had a gal doing Mehndi there.  Towards the end of the party I saw women walking by me with glittery hands.  The Mehndi artist sprinkled glitter onto the henna paste before it dried so the ladies hands were all bling-y, which is what I was seeing in the dark.

It was so pretty that I had to see if she would do one more.  It was a bit dark and the only light she had was a candle lantern but I didn’t care.  The glitter made me happy but it comes off once the paste dries.  You’re supposed to leave it all on at least 4 hours or overnight.  Once it all flakes off you’re left with the pattern.

The first day it’s orange,  (OH ANN, you would love it that first day) and of course, it tortured me so… then it turns sort of milk chocolate colored and eventually mahogany like you see here.   My pattern lasted for a week and a half.

Mehndi patterns on hands.

It looks pretty cool.  It would be fun to have it in indigo, too.  I do like the sepia tone look though.  I know that there are sacred things attached to mehndi, too.

At the arts festival we met a potter that decorates his work with fabric patterns using the mehndi cone to apply paste so that it fires as an embossed pattern.   I got a fabulous mug from him and I have to say it’s beautifully made.  You can see his work at:  www.creativewithclay.com

Happy 4th of July: KABOOM!

 

Fireworks in WA D.C.

KABOOM!  That’s what it says on my calendar at home. That’s all, just KABOOM!

    It’s time for BBQ’s, sun, family, maybe some sand or whatever your annual ritual is.  Amid the ooooooh’s and aaaaahhhhhh’s I think about the beauty of those amazing sparks of fire and how many centuries it took to refine them into the displays we see today.

   Last year we were so close to the small town display that a firework shot into the crowd 3 people over from us.  Everyone was okay but it was a little too exciting.  Still, all I could do with each salvo going up was laugh.  I think I laughed my butt off.  It was feeling the percussion of the works going up before they even went off that I find funny when we’re that close. 

  We don’t have an annual ritual so never know what we’re doing but whatever it is, it will be fun just to have the day off.

   On the 4th I always think about how great it is to be here right now, in this moment. The fireworks are so elusive and short lived that watching them reminds that life is like that, too.  Strangely most of my life is about scheduling, organizing  events in advance, details for things yet to come but whenever I get to be in this minute I always have the best time.  Enjoy each  moment and have a happy 4th! KABOOM!

Sharky Leaves Bathroom World

 Sharky has left the bathroom! OH NO! This means that our whole house is game now.  It also means that I have to be observant to find out what he’s doing now…  Where is Sharky?   Stay tuned for the continuing adventures of Sharky Shark!