I like to think I’m lucky. And in fact, most of the times, I really am.

Just got back to Brooklyn, after 5 days spent in wonder, awe and truthful joy in Haystack. For those of you who haven’t heard about it, Haystack is a 50+ year old art summer school, in Deer Isle, Maine. Artists and art lovers from all over the country (and the world) come together every year for 2 months of teaching, learning and sharing, with each other, and with the magical natural place that Haystack is located.

Again, I’m lucky. I was not only lucky enough to be at Haystack, but I had also the opportunity to take a class with the much much inspiring India Flint,  “The wayfarer’s notebook”. During 5 days, new and found fabrics and cloth,  where stitched with thoughtful stitches, sometimes tiny sometimes big (as thoughts and dreams should be) into thick paper, which was then bundled dyed with local windfall plants and algaes (generously donated by the sea). This paper and fabric would then constitute, by folding and cutting, our own book-map of our journey at Haystack.

Every technique and piece of knowledge we’d learn – bundle wrapping, ink making, safe mordants, was incorporated in the book; as well as our thoughts and feelings throughout the week.

This is my (final) book-map. A work in progress, as I like my projects to be.