When I was growing up back in Denmark Stinging Nettle was a very important herb in my life. The nettle I am referring to is the Urtica dioica which is an herbaceous perennial flowering plant, native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and North America. I was very close to my Grandmother and she would teach me about herbs and so called weeds about animals and insects and about the time when she was a young girl working as a sheep herder on a small island. She knew a lot about survival. She recycled everything she could ever think of. Nothing was ever wasted. She told me how to use the stinging nettle to ward off or lessen the pain of arthritis by applying the herb directly on the skin. I thought that was a bit cruel. The darling boys in the neighbourhood sometimes flogged me with the … [Read more...] about Me and my Stinging Nettle
My Journey
My Handbag Beanie
Living together with Ulla a fibre crafter is not always easy. I get dragged along to spinning meetings, various textile exhibitions and I even have to act as her assistant when she runs her workshops and the likes. Ulla taught me how to spin in 1990 while travelling WA. I really love to sit in front of my spinning wheel and meditate and think about my next master piece to create in my kitchen. Being a chef and cooking all day long in my dreams is a very important craft for me and indeed needed for survival. Ulla often ask if I would like to take up knitting but I always refuse and refer to my knitting attempts at sea working on cruising ships going to exotic destinations in the world. Not much time for knitting and too tight anyway. Good for making rope to anchor a boat … [Read more...] about My Handbag Beanie
My Compass Beanie
I was born in Denmark in Scandinavia in 1958. In August 1988 I left my home country with my partner Peder. We travelled through half of the world to come to Australia three months later. Over the years and at the time of writing we have travelled 40 countries and much inspiration has been gained and many lessons learned. My beanie is like a compass you need when navigating the desert, savannah and tundra even when you are flying high in the sky, swimming deep at sea or walking the streets of the big cities of the world. My" Compass Beanie" comes in handy when you stroll in the big forest. In fact no matter where you are my "Compass Beanie" will show you the way and lead you on the right path. The four lower antennas symbolises the four directions East, North, West and South. When you … [Read more...] about My Compass Beanie