Sacred Crafting

a curated selection of magical things

While writing and performing music brings me joy in abundance, crafting brings me peace. I love to make and decorate colourful boxes, stones and other things, and often make these for my beloved people. Each piece is unique and marks a wonderful moment in my life. My mother loved to sew, and used to rescue bits and pieces from other people’s rubbish and fix them up. Though North American, I suppose this energy in her was a bit akin to the British ‘make do and mend’ mentality. And I thank my mother for teaching me the joy of making things with my hands.

Magical Boxes Series

Boxes for Mentors (spring 26)

I decorated these two boxes for my beloved mentors, Dene and Jan, who helped guide me through the journey to become a Member of the Order of Interbeing (Plum Village) from 2024-2026. Each has an enso painted on it, their Dharma names in letter beads, Thay’s gatha on the bottom, a small brass Buddha from India inside, along with a rose quartz heart and a lotus.

Gratitude Blessings Box (summer 26)

I decorated this box to hold spiritual tools for rituals of gratitude and blessings. This started with an intention to bless the communal gardens where I live, and to grieve some of the things that were being lost. I painted the phases of the moon around the outside, because I did a ritual every night between the first and second full moons in May 2026. On the top is a fluorite wand, along with a zebra and a kangaroo (rubber animals from my childhood), reflecting divination cards I’d drawn on Beltane.

Box for Jordan / Motherhood (summer 26)

I decorated this box for my cherished acupuncturist as a gift to her as she left for maternity leave. I wanted to affirm Jordan’s immense creativity and love, but also to send her the message that she counts as a human beyond being a mother: to pray that Jordan will be nurtured as she nurtured her little one. I painted Mother Earth - the Great Mother of us all - on the top, surrounded by the five elements of Chinese Medicine. On the side is Mother Moon, and two tokens saying ‘Blessed Family’. There are trees for life all around, a poem for Jordan on the bottom, and a mama and baby rabbit together on the inside, along with a rose quartz heart.

Walk in Light & Love Box (autumn 25)

In 2024, I contracted Whooping Cough (despite childhood vaccination) and suffered greatly for more than 6 months. I believe that I was susceptible to this bacterial infection due to emotional issues I was experiencing, linked to my childhood history of being dominated. I asked my friend Shenoah - who is part of a Shamanic Seidr group - for help, and the group ended up journeying for me. The messages that came back inspired this box (my second): decorated with phrases from the group’s experiences, and with a tiger (my power animal) and a set of healthy lungs, this box has become a statement of my dedication to healing.

Whale & Orca Elders Box (winter 25)

In winter 2025, I painted this box to honour the spirit of Whale and Orca elders who encourage me to ‘sing and share my song’ and thereby connect with others. I designed the whale figures inspired by some beautiful painted rocks I’d sourced in Cromarty. Inside, I glued a piece of ‘orca agate’ and around the sides, I painted phrases of affirmation, taken from the teachings of the whale divination cards I’d drawn. On the bottom is the entire text explaining the ‘whale and orca elders’ card.

Shenoah’s Badger Box (summer 26)

This is a box I painted for my dearest friend, Shenoah, whose power animal is the badger. I decorated it with wooden badger buttons, wise owls, rose quartz hearts and stars, a pair of amethyst earrings from my neighbour, Kim, and tokens saying ‘dream’, ‘hope’ and ‘imagine’. On the bottom are many qualities that badger possesses, and inside is a paw print, some glass leaves, a squirrel and hedgehog friend, a pewter acorn, and a small toadstool (Shenoah once went on a ‘fungus foray’!). This box was made with great love, in my friend’s favourite colours: purple, pink and green.

Love Letter Series

J is for Joe

This is a ‘J’ that I decorated for my dear friend Joe: artist, musician, songwriter, activist, father, Quaker, Buddhist and exceptional human being. I made this ‘J’ with Joe’s favourite colours: blues, greens and the brown of a sun bear (Moonbow loves Joe so much)! I also used some musical notes from piano sheet music, and the words ‘justice’ and ‘joy’ to honour my friend!

L is for Liz

This ‘L’ was made for my beloved friend Liz, a friend from childhood in Chicago. I didn’t know her favourite colours but I chose green, purple and blue, and put butterflies for freedom, little stars and the phrase ‘Liz loves labs’ - she is currently taking care of very young labrador puppies who will become assistance dogs. I also put the words ‘blessed’ and ‘beautiful’ on, for her and her life, and a little fluorite puppy at the top. She and I share a deep love for our canine friends, and we also went to the ‘Lab’ school together!

S is for Shenoah

I made this ‘S’ for my friend’s birthday, using her favourite colours. On the front are some handmade and hand painted air-dry clay hearts, as well as rose quartz beads and shiny pink sequins! On the back are some wooden badger buttons, and the phrase ‘sweet sacred Shenoah’! I am blessed to have her in my life!

N is for Nancy

This ‘N’ was decorated for my cherished Chicago friend, Nancy, for her birthday. It has her favourite colours (orange, blue and green), with horses as well as a glass sausage dog and a sterling silver Westie dog bead. Nancy is indeed ‘nurturing and noble’. Made with love!