Heartwood Nature Bathing

05/09/2024

"Connecting with nature is a lifelong resource with proven benefits for mental and physical health. It can cut through generations of adverse life events.

“But many of the patients I treat can’t currently access nature in this way due to a range of personal, social, and cultural barriers. That’s why green social prescribing is so important."

Scheme helping people in England connect with nature led to better mental health, report finds

04/09/2024

What a delightful first day at ❤️

Some wonderful people dropped in, some treasures found a new home, and I spent some time weaving and watching the light change.

Now to teach a weaving workshop this evening!

Over the next week I'll introduce you to some of the nature-inspired pieces and share the stories behind them.

Let me know if there are any you'd love to know more about.

And if you're in Meanjin do pop in and say hi! I'm here:

Wed-Fri, 10am-6pm
Sat-Sun, 9am-3pm

Through September

01/09/2024

An invitation to carry with you into the week ahead.

I offer this as a way to guide or inspire you to be with nature. It is an invitation, not an instruction, so please know you can change or adapt it in any way you like.

Please feel free to share what you notice with me, or in the comments.

30/08/2024

Sometimes I read a poem and it is just ... everything.

This is one of those poems. I've read it and re-read it countless times this week, and every time, I take away something new.

💚

Hokusai Says, by Roger S Keyes

Hokusai says look carefully.
He says pay attention, notice.
He says keep looking, stay curious.
He says there is no end to seeing.

He says look forward to getting old.
He says keep changing,
you just get more who you really are.
He says get stuck, accept it, repeat
yourself as long as it is interesting.

He says keep doing what you love.

He says keep praying.

He says everyone of us is a child,
everyone of us is ancient,
everyone of us has a body.
He says everyone of us is frightened.
He says everyone of us has to find
a way to live with fear.

He says everything is alive–
shells, buildings, people, fish,
mountains, trees, wood is alive.
Water is alive.

Everything has its own life.

Everything lives inside us.

He says live with the world inside you.

He says it doesn’t matter if you draw,
or write books. It doesn’t matter
if you saw wood, or catch fish.
It doesn’t matter if you sit at home
and stare at the ants on your veranda
or the shadows of the trees
and grasses in your garden.
It matters that you care.

It matters that you feel.

It matters that you notice.

It matters that life lives through you.

Contentment is life living through you.
Joy is life living through you.
Satisfaction and strength
is life living through you.

Peace is life living through you.

He says don’t be afraid.
Don’t be afraid.

Look, feel, let life take you by the hand.

Let life live through you.

💚

29/08/2024

Still feeling heart-full and energised after Unfurl Day Retreat.

Together with this beautiful space, I welcomed 10 incredible women for a day of forest bathing, nature journaling and basket weaving.

It was soothing, nurturing, energising, grounding, connective.

How lucky I am to call this a job.

In 2025 I'll be offering a series of Day Retreats aligned with the seasons. Watch this space!

to see what's coming up!

28/08/2024

The coundown is on! One week until a month of weaving begins in the Project Space at

I'll be hosting an open studio, running workshops (with wine!!) on the 4th, 11th, and 19th, and showcasing a little nature-inspired exhibition.

All visitors will be invited to contribute to a community weave project, to be revealed at a Celebration Afternoon on the 28th. What will we create together....?

It's going to be a heart-full experience and I do hope you can share in it with me 💚

OPENING September 4
Wed-Fri, 10am-6pm
Sat-Sun, 9am-3pm

27/08/2024

Celebrating the wonderful weaving of Colleen! ✨️💯🙌

Colleen has done a few workshops with me and recently she brought along some of her creations to show me.

I am in awe! How beautiful are they!?

I often joke that I am a "grandmother of baskets" and I am a very proud grandmother of these ❤️

Feel free to post photos of your own baskets in the comments too!

to join an upcoming workshop!

23/08/2024

Grass trees 💚

Raffia and gold thread.

Come see them (and say hi) at this September! I'm hosting an Open Studio and a little exhibition, opening on the 4th!

22/08/2024

There is nothing that the ocean can't fix. ❤️ Grateful for a few days on Yunbenun/Magnetic Island.

I am a woman of the mountains and valleys ... but here I feel like a water baby!

20/08/2024

The countdown is on! Unfurl Day Retreat is this Sunday 🌿

Unfurl is a heart-led day blending forest bathing, nature journaling and basket weaving.

You can expect to slow down, and cultivate a deep sense of calm, creativity and connection.

Numbers limited to 10 people, and there are few spots remaining. Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/870427009617 to book.

18/08/2024

An invitation to carry with you into the week ahead.

I offer this as a way to guide or inspire you to be with nature. It is an invitation, not an instruction, so please know you can change or adapt it in any way you like.

Please feel free to share what you notice with me, or in the comments.

18/08/2024

Home from my NT trip, and the gardens welcomed me back with such open arms.

Today's saunter was an absolute delight - layers and layers of leafy green, and early signs of spring.

Our group noticed the joys of slowing down; of seeing through each other's eyes; the simple pleasures of connection.

As we sat for tea, a tawny frogmouth watched on!

to join an upcoming wander.

17/08/2024

Weaving in the morning AND the afternoon, how lucky I am!! 😍

First in the lovely Botanic Gardens, then a private group in the afternoon. Yes, I do private groups! DM me if you'd like to host a little Crafternoon with your friends and fam 😘

(My phone focused on the snacks instead of the weaving in the last photo .. but they were very excellent snacks 😋)

16/08/2024

Kata Tjuta ❤️ an ancient, grounding place.

My three favourite colours everywhere I look - burnt orange, green, and lilac.

On Anangu Country.
mountains

14/08/2024

More wildflowers of Uluru and Kata Tjuta ❤️

Anangu Country is so good for the soul.

(Last photo is how I spend a lot of my time, getting up close and personal with flowers along the side of the trail! Grateful for a patient partner 🤣)

11/08/2024

Uluru is a profoundly special place.

It has so much presence and quiet power.

It leaves me with a sense of deep peace, and a recharged heart.

On Anangu country ❤️

10/08/2024

Delighted to be back on the red earth of Anangu country, making friends with all the wildflowers ❤️

I cannot tell you how much joy these beauties bring me, or how good for the soul this place is.

Forest Therapy in the outback!

08/08/2024

Waterhole. 🧡

Loopless knotted bag using waxed linen from

Swipe for some of the magical places that inspired this piece, from my time walking the Larapinta Trail in the NT.

This will be part of Save What You Can Carry, coming to in September!

07/08/2024

Last light ✨️ 💖

31/07/2024

Spot the 🐨!

I've been wandering in Toohey Forest for around 15 years, and I've never seen a koala there... until today!

💚💚💚

29/07/2024

Got plans this weekend? Come say hi at the markets!

I'll be at The What We Make Design Market at Coorparoo on Saturday, then at Redlands Coast Collective Markets on Sunday!

Heartwood Nature Bathing
Heartwood Weaving offers mini vessels, vases, bowls, plates, earrings, wall hangings and more. These woven treasures are inspired by nature and hand-made with plant fibres and deadstock fabrics by Monique in Meanjin.

⭐️Redlands Coast Collective Markets
📆 Sunday 4th August 2024
⏰ 8am - 12pm
📍 Faith Lutheran Senior College, 1/15 Beveridge Rd, Thornlands, Qld

27/07/2024

Happy National Tree Day!

Perhaps you'd like to share a photo of one of your favourite trees.

These beauties are on Yugambeh Country at Mt Tamborine. To me, they're like a gateway to another world...

27/07/2024

Toohey Forest welcomed us with open arms on our wander this morning, inviting us to slow down and helping us feel grounded and connected.

There was so much to notice.

So much to be in awe of.

So much to be grateful for.

The energy of this place is very special to experience 💚

to join an upcoming wander.