Well what do you know........

Yup! I got tickets to the Ellen Show! Oct 26th! Since its Breast Cancer Awareness Month I'm going to tell them all about what I have been up to. I hope they like it. We shall see soon enough.
The latest on the Henna Art Quilt is I am bringing Fabric Panels to the Henna Caravan Conference if anybody wants to be apart of this project. I am very excited to be able to go. Meeting all of the wonderful henna artists is going to be very cool indeed. Its going to be wonderful to watch them do their magic!

I dreamt last night.....

I was on this farm talking with Ellen Degeneres and Porsha. They were showing me around. Horses were being saddled for some young ladies. I asked them if they had any donkeys. No, was the answer, so I started to discribe how cute they are. Especially the mini donkeys. We all walked from the barn area and came upon a very large westeria plant growing up and intertwining the branches of a large tree. How beautiful it was! The conversation flowed into talking about henna art. How positive experiences through henna art brought smiles and joy to cancer patients. It was a relaxing very peaceful dream. I felt I was with friends and enjoyed myself very much.
I have been thinking about trying to go see the Ellen Show. I know thats why I had the dream. I think I shall look into it. :)

Fabric Panels are available.....

If you are interested in participating in The Henna Art Quilt Project just drop me a note at lyndune2@yahoo.com. I will send you some Fabric Panels for you to do your magic. By doing it this way it will keep the project consistant in size and color and make a more uniform quilt for the the quilting artists. This has been a learning experience for me. So no matter where you are, and I mean "no matter where you are" England, South Africa, New Zealand, the North Pole, Russia, The moon I can not do. I will mail you Fabric Panels to do your magic on, so we can make the most**AWESOME** Quilt EVER!!! Lets show the world what "The Henna Art Quilt" is all about and create an awareness!!! At the same time raise some $$ to help cancer patients feel beautiful and loved.
If you have any questions please e-mail me at lyndune2@yahoo.com I will be more than happy to hear from you and answer your questions. Thank you so much for those who have contributed already!! I look forward to hearing from you.
Hugs & Blessings
Linda

There is Time.......

I have decided this is no easy task. The Henna Art Quilt Project is alive and well. For those who have sent in fabric panels ..thank you thank you thank you. I am holding onto them until I get enough for the quilt.
Something new......For those of you who want to do this, I will send you fabric panels for you to work on. This is a way for me to control consistancy within the project and make it easier for you. So just let me know. My e-mail address is
lyndune2@yahoo.com Any questions just ask.
The fabric panels I have now will still be included however the quilt will be made late this fall to early next year. The Project will still be displayed in a gallery here in Portland and it will still be auctioned to raise monies for breast cancer and cancer patients. I thank you all for your support and your gifts and your talents. The Gift of Empowerment through Art! Thank you

It was the Art and the Artist.........

I ran into a friend today on my way to a doctors appointment up at OHSU. I had a copy of Goodness Magazine with me. The one where I was on the cover with my henna head. I brought it to show the doctor.
We started to talk about my experience, my journey with breast cancer & Henna Art. For me......the experience of wearing Henna Art, the beauty of, the fellowship of, the flow of energy between artist and recipient. The gathering of friends, again the fellowship meant so much to me and still does. The tears well up again as I remember the long road I have been on.
When I first heard I had breast cancer it was a voice on the phone. It didn't mean anything. I heard the words,they were sounds. There was no meaning that physically touched me.
I remember asking "now what"..............................."you have cancer"
An avalanche of information is presented to you. There is no way else it can be done. There is too much to know...time is your enemy in partnership with the cancer.
I must say the "unknown" of it all, is the worst.
Processing the info is overwhelming. You talk to doctors,friends,family,cancer survivors who volunteer to help you get through this. The "unknown" lessens.
At first, I didn't think I needed chemo. It didn't turn out that way.
I heard "you will loose your hair"
I don't know about anyone else but its much harder to visualize loosing your hair than loosing your breasts.
Again.......the "Unknown"
For me more unsettling. My head without hair......misshapened was my biggest concern.
My hair coming out in handfuls resulted in getting my hair shaved off. There I sat........in front of a mirror. OK! Its done!
My head looked ok. "unknown" factor now "known" I decided I could live with this. In fact I took the bus home without anything on my head. Bald Bald Bald.
I tried a wig because.........well I felt that was what you are suppose to do. I wore it less than 1/2 hour, if that. Played with scarves and hats. That was all I did, just played.
I recalled to my friend how I found Wendy Rover and the gift of Henna Art she had given me. She had given me much more. The beauty of self.They say.... Beauty is only skin deep. I beg to differ. It comes from the soul. It wells up from the depths like spring waters high in the mountains.
Without sounding corny, the Henna Art I recieved from Wendy was a bridge of sorts, of how I looked at myself, skin deep, to how I got intouch with myself and who I really was deep down inside.
Henna fades in time.......but what I found through my experience with henna I shall have for the rest of my life. I found, who I am.

A Close Up Nice...............!

M M Thank you!

AWESOME Ms JANEY!

AWESOME!

Sierra....who is 8 1/2 years old. Thank you so much!

Karina..... Thank you! Beautiful!

Victoria Welsh did this wonderful Panel Thank you Victoria!

Victoria organized a Henna Art Quilt Party. I hear everyone had fun! Thank you so much Victoria! And thank you to all the ladies that sent me these wonderful fabric Panels for the Henna Art Quilt Project!

This one came without a name....please let me know who you are.

Thank you Amy, Awesome!.....

FIRST FABRIC PANELS HAVE ARRIVED!!

I am waiting for the first Fabric Panels to come in...

I know the first Henna Fabric Panels are on their way. I am excited to see them! They will be posted with all contact information and bio about the artist!
There are several quilting groups that are interested in making one. Thats great news.
I posted a request on Facebook asking for tips when applying HENNA to fabric. This is what what posted.
1. Use good quality fabric, wash and dry before starting the project.
2.Do not mix your Henna with oils. No oils or sweet stuff. Use instead lemon. Putting sugar in the henna can burn when you are setting the stain with your iron.
3. Mix Henna alittle drier than than you are used to.
4. After applying the Henna Design on fabric, let henna dry. Using a SUPER hot iron, put a PRESS CLOTH OVER the Henna and press with the iron. Once the HENNA is really dry,pick of the paste and iron again.

All really good tips......THANK YOU ladies!!!

I also wanted to take the time to remind anyone that you can also use fabric paint to PAINT a henna design on fabric. Don't limit your creativity. You can use a combination of the two if you like. Be creative! Show off your skills!

Just a Cool Experience....

I mentioned this on my Facebook page and it needs repeating because it was so cool to experience.
I was at my doctors office today getting my pre-op done for my implant surgery. I was talking to some ladies about my henna crowns and gave out Wendy Rovers contact info. I enjoy spreading the word about Henna Art and how it empowered me at a time that I needed it most. And I love to talk about how gifted Wendy is. She is so Awesome.
I started to talk about The Henna Art Quilt Project. There were several other ladies that overheard the conversation who are quilters. Each of them took down my info and they are going to contact their quilter clubs.
Here we are sitting in the doctors waiting room and as people are being called in to their appointments they didn't want to leave. I left info with several husbands.
One of the nurses even took some info from me. It was a very good day!!
This wouldn't be possible if it weren't for the incredible talent and giving spirit of the all the Henna Artists. I have said this before.....each and every one of you holds the gift of empowerment in your hands. It means more to me and others than you will ever know. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart in sharing your gift. Thank you

OVERWELMING RESPONSE!

I am so excited about how everyone is embracing this project! Absolutly Awesome!!
Please send your fabric panels to:

Linda Olsen
4426 SE 34th Ave.
Portland,Oregon
97202

I will post pictures of all panels sent me. Be sure to include your bio's and contact info cause I am posting that also. And don't forget to Sign Your Artwork!

Any questions, you can find me on facebook or e-mail at
lyndune@yahoo.com

Happy New Year!