Mehndi, Henna: art on and off the body

Henna is not just for the body anymore!

My own path in learning about henna took me from the plant to body art to visual art. We'll use this Squidoo lens to explore reliable information about the art of henna for both body art and for use on materials like wood, paper, cloth. And we'll explore how henna style influences visual art created with paint, pen, ink, canvas, etc.

Most importantly, let's have some fun learning!

One World One heART Give-Away 2008

MotherHenna's Handpainted Teapot and Cup

For this year's One World One heART give-away, we offered a TEA FOR 2 set, handpainted, signed, and dated, plus yummy edibles -- all of which went to Ladybug!

See photos of MotherHenna's give-away at:
http://motherhenna.blogspot.com/2008/02/one-world-one-heart-give-away.html

See more about world wide give-aways from some amazingly talented and generous blogging artists at the event's main site:
http://oneworldevent.blogspot.com/

And if you are interested in having your own henna style teapot and cups, check out Mother Henna's Etsy shop where we've just added a section for these items!

Workshops & Art by MotherHenna

2008 MotherHenna Workshops and Events!: Flyer with links to registration for all our 2008 Events and Workshops!
Day of the Dead Henna Style: Our Day of the Dead dolls and doll-making starter kits have a hint of henna to them!
MotherHenna's Assemblage Dolls: Display dolls made from found and recycled + bits and pieces from the art stash...
Mother's Got Stickers!: Vinyl and paper stickers from the faces of MotherHenna!
Postcards and Notecards: Some of the 1,000 Faces for your mail art purposes!

Sunday Sacred Play Days

8 Sundays throughout 2008

Sunday Sacred Play Days
8 Sundays in 2008
Noon to 5pm
Vashon Island
Registration fee: by donation
To register, please see:

http://motherhenna.blogspot.com/2008/01/2008-events-schedule.html

About the Workshop
Bring whatever art project you are currently working on this week! Henna designs, scrapbooking, fabric arts, journaling, card making, poetry, anything! We'll have plenty of time and space for each of us to work on our projects and to share our art in community on each of these Sundays. Plenty of tea provided, but please be "green" and bring your own cup! You must RSVP to get specific directions to meeting location!

Suggested attendees
Any professional or hobby artist or craftster! Just bring a willingness to show and tell about your particular art!

Facilitators
Kara Jones, founder of the 1,000 Faces of Mother Henna project, co-creator and curator for "A Peace of..."

Henna Mail Art

Want another use for henna?? Got henna laying around that is too past its peak for getting body stain? What about mail art?!!

Personally, I love to watercolor and glitter up my envelopes first. Then go to town decorating them with henna. After it's dry, then gild it with more layers of paint and deco. Let it dry dry dry.

And then send it off in the post! Photo showed here is collage of pieces I've received in exchange from other henna artists all over the world. Really fun.

Try your own mail art experiments...
miracles,
k-

Henna & Inner Peace

by Kara Jones

Most people in the U.S. hear about henna and just think "temporary tattoo" or something that teenagers have done at summer festivals. But here at HennaHealing, we've had such a completely different experience with henna.

We've heard our own clients say things like, "Wow, this is the most relaxing thing I've ever had done!" Or "This is so much more than body art." There just is something calming about the process of a henna session. The lavender oil in the paste helps, as well as doing our best to create a whole environment for sessions.

Make a cup of tea. Light a candle. Burn a little incense. Put on your favorite music. Sit on something soft. A pillow or cushion. And just be present.

This is what happens when we do henna sessions with clients. We set up that kind of environment. They come totally present, intent on the moment, the exact spot where the henna is hitting their skin. We've eased into that moment by creating the ritual around us: tea, candle, music, sitting comfortably.

We hope that this kind of ritual models how simple it can be to find the present moment. To be here now, as they say! In the week or so following your session, you have the physical touchstone of the henna stain to remind you of the relaxed and present moment. You can make a cup of your favorite tea, maybe with honey and a touch of cream. Light a candle and some incense. Unplug your phone! Sit comfortably. And just be.

If we can create these small moments of inner peace, it's so much more likely that we'll be able to take peace out into the world, too. Let henna be one of the tools you use to build your inner peace skills!

Henna, henna, henna

body art and visual art

This one is a photo of a "henna-kin" I deco'd using sharpie pens. It sold pretty much the moment I listed it on our MotherHenna.Etsy.com site which was exciting!

To see other henna-kins for sale, please see:

www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5756512

More henna...

This shows henna stained woodcuts. Each one was created in memory of a child who has died, and each was given to the bereaved parent of that child. It has been my experience that often "memorial" henna designs like this are very powerful touchstones for people experiencing grief.

For info on custom henna'd woodwork or skin head instruments, please see:

http://hennahealing.com/sessions.htm

More henna...

This photo shows all natural henna paste still on the skin -- this is *not* black henna! Photo by Hawk Jones, please respect copyright!

For larger + additional images, please see:

http://hennahealing.com/gallery_intro.htm

MotherHenna/HennaHealing on CafePress!

Henna links

Henna art & reiki healing: Information, including articles and FAQ, about henna body art, visual art, and energy body work in the discipline of Reiki.
1,000 Faces of Mother Henna: Shared rights on high resolution image of "Seek Peace" created in henna style, gallery images of the 1,000 pieces of artwork, information about movement for peace, and a mini-Etsy gallery for those wanting gifts and art items featuring the visual art of Mother Henna.
Henna Tribe: A fabulous resource for professional henna artist -- well, for anyone interested in henna really! Forum are vast, covering lots of topics, search-able, too! Articles, free patterns, artist and henna supplier listings. The Henna Tribe team works hard to make sure only all-natural henna artists are participating and offering information here!
Educate yourself about black henna!: It is your job to be fully educated before you allow anyone to put anything on your skin or hair! Make sure you understand the difference between all natural henna and "black henna" and dangerous PPD chemicals! Read this thorough write up from Henna Tribe to learn what you need to know!
Renaissance Henna - for hair!: Learn about using all natural henna on your hair! Be warned that some of the most reliable "natural" stores here in the US do not know enough about real henna and are still carrying henna containing harmful chemicals. Learn what you need to know *before* letting anyone put henna on your hair. Make sure it is all natural -- you can use powder from henna plant or indigo plant, but stay away from PPD chemicals! Check out this site for full information!
PBS Finally Jumps in the Henna Convo!: Very interesting to see PBS jump into the henna conversation here in the West finally. It really is just a brief overview, with video demo, and some sample designs. And I didn't see anything warning people about the differences between all natural henna vs. the dangerous additives of "black henna" and such. But it's a good entry point to begin learning and discussing via mass media.