Priestess

THE BAG HAS FOUND ITS 'ONE', THANK YOU FOR THE INQUIRIES

The definition of a priestess is a woman who presides over religious rituals, administering rites

and doing healing work.

Over the last week the natural-edge deerskin pattern I had cut out months ago began to take shape:

I wanted it to be for a woman who understand the wildness of life and the holiness

of death

of cycles

and rebirths

and soul.

I want the woman who carries this to be brave as much about the waning of what

we love as she is when something gorgeous begins.

Over the last few days I have felt the soft breath of one I hold so dear as he journeys so bravely in my arms

and sometimes simultaneously I have been given a good swift roll or kick by this LIFE that

pulses inside of my womb.

My GOD, is there anything more meaningful than this place?

So while I've waited for news

and while I've watched over the sleeping form of our little beloved and his amazing

nursemaid Janey (by his side in the most awesome, powerful way)

I have tooled.

I have hammer riveted, opting out of the press I normally use: I wanted everything in here, everything about this holy time in a piece to have come not from a simple movement of a well-greased handle, but from my shoulder.

The making of this bag was both my escape and my eventual immersion into the

deep -

"I know," I said, "I'll make a bag!" A big project means the mind gets to focus on other things than the emotions, there are so many moving parts and everything requires such careful measurement

and singlemindedness...

but as the hammer fell and the shears snipped and the radio remained uncharacteristically silent

I did think...I thought a lot.

I remembered and fought acceptance

laughed and ached

found the space in between thoughts and rested there for wonderful spells...

I thought of the woman who would carry this

wished it was me (a craftswoman always knows when it's hers)

and prayed.

Every night my studio, once closed to the cats gets opened and this sweet boy gets

helped into my big chair

and given lots of pets.

The work has been put away, the dinner dishes have been washed

and we sit together for a few hours

together in the lamplight.

A Holy ritual, really.

With Love,

Allison