The Power of Sound and Janet Cooper

When my wonderful friend Janet Cooper was recently in Rome, she gave me the book The Power of Sound. Janet and I both share an interest in self-healing via sound, vibration, frequency and dance.

  Janet at my studio wearing a Muy Marcottage dress

The book is based on the research of Alfred Tomatis (1920 – 2001).

While in the womb, Alfred’s mother was not at all happy about her pregnancy and tried hiding it. Probably because of this, Alfred was born 2 ½ months prematurely and, thought to be dead, was tossed into a basket. Luckily, his grandmother, took him from the basket and saved his life. But all of the negative energy he experienced inside his mom made him a sickly child. At least his father decided to take interest in him.

Alfred grew up and became an ear, nose and throat specialist.  His father, Umberto,  an opera singer, began sending his colleagues having problems “staying in tune”. Opera singers, singing at their full vocal power, can emit between 110 and 140 decibels. And, since the sound comes from within, said Alfred, even though the “energy of a singer is not comparable to that of a jet engine, the intensity of the sound is the same”. And, since “the amount of time a singer had practiced was directly proportional to the amount of damage to the ear”, Alfred deducted that it was the opera singer’s own voice that caused a loss of certain frequencies from their voice.

Alfred claimed that “the voice contains only those sounds that the ear can hear”. So, if you can’t hear it, you can’t say it. So he developed a method for affronting frequency hearing loss.

Change your voice and you will change your mind.

Motion produces vibration which produces frequency which produces sound. Sound resonates and thus affects other sounds.

Sounds can be shaped into music. Music helps make the blood flow which gives oxygen to the brain. So why not make a musical instrument to play?

PhotobucketBottle top shaker (Sistrum rattle). Made from a sturdy twig that has been lovingly wrapped in colourful material. Flattened bottle tops make a pleasant jingle sound. 30cmx16cm – size might vary due to the organic nature of this product.
kalimba, via http://www.swahili-imports.com/home/si3/page_6082_469/african_recycled_tin_can_kalimba.html
African Recycled Tin Can Kalimba

Chimes made from wine bottles + Maracas made from plastic water bottles + Cigar Box Ukuleles + Knitted ankle bells + Rubber band and Tupperware guitar.

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The first oil-can guitars were made in Africa and were called ramkiekies.

Afri-Can Oil Can Electric + Bullet shell flute + Bamboo flute.


Abu the Flute Maker Plays a PVC Sax

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Sound related:   Video blisscoded sound + Tomatis Method.

Pseudo-Tomatis Healing Sounds. Britons speak English in frequencies between 2,000 and 12,000 Hz; the French speak their language in frequencies mainly between 1,000 and 2,000 Hz. Tomatis theorized that the discrepancy in pitches between these languages makes the French “deaf” to English and vice versa. This is the primary reason it is so difficult for Britons and French to learn one another’s language.

Raise Your Voice + Set Your Voice Free: How To Get The Singing Or Speaking Voice You Want + How to Change Your Voice Pitch + How to make your voice sound deeper.

Dance Therapy

The Secret Life of an Unborn Child

Per gli amici italiani:    Frequenze che guariscono: il lavoro di Alfred Tomatis + Centro Tomatis + Effetto Mozart e Alfred Tomatis.

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Something to hug: Teddy Bear

Fred Lessing's teddy bear, via http://www1.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/nochildsplay/hiding1teddy.aspFred Lessing’s teddy bear

Teddy bears: Crafter Uses Belly Lint To Make Teddy Bears + Teddy bear tutorial + Make a unique hat from a stuffed animal + scroll down for bear, Grace Payne, City of London Resident + 1914 teddy bear + Teddy Bear American & Artist Bears.

Vintage Mohair Teddy Bear: What Is It? What Is It Worth? – Country Living + Teddy Bear Homemade Tattoo + We never forget our first Teddy Bear, homemade polaroid + Teddy Bear Birthday Cake + Rejected teddy bear.

Cashmere sweater repurposed into Panda Bear.

teddy and bear, via http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/roosevelt/aa_roosevelt_bears_1_e.htmlClifford Berryman’s cartoon of Roosevelt as a Rough Rider with a bear cub. The name Teddy Bear comes from former United States President Theodore Roosevelt, whose nickname was “Teddy”.

Photobucket Agustina Woodgate’s teddy bear rug

Teddy Bear chair by Fernando e Humberto Campana + Multi Purpose Stuffy Chair by Steven Schulz + Teddy sofa + Mrs Jermyn Turns Castoff Men’s Shirts Into Adorable Teddy Bears + Teddy bear lamp.

Upcycled Recycled Felted Sweater Plush Stuffed Animals + Create a cushion from recycled stuffed animals!

Why not turn an old teddy bear into a purse? Unusual Victorian Teddy Bear Purse + Katy Perry and bear bag + Teddy Bear Craft – Bear Purse tutorial + Gund Teddy Bear Purse Cream.

Ann ShoreThe lovely Ann Shore looking stunning in lace and amazing leather accessories

More ANN SHORE: Ann Shore is the co-founder of Story, an influential market-style emporium in Spitalfields, London + This is just the dreamiest interior I have ever seen! It is the home of british stylist Ann Shore + Story Homewear, where stylist Ann Shore sells natural linens, distressed mirrors, and other bohemian home accoutrements + more.

Via One Sick Mother

And Nicole of Craftcation sent me this info:

Craftcation is athree-day indie business & DIY conference featuring lectures and DIYworkshops with leading industry professionals on art, craft and food-centeredsmall business in Ventura, Ca March 22-25 2012. The intent of Craftcation is to provide entrepenurial skills for crafters.

Craftcation featuresmore than 50 workshops, lectures and events led by over 30 presenters like Jenny Hart, Kathy Cano-Murillo, Cathy Callahan, Christine Haynes, LaurenVenell, Nicole Vasbinder, Aida Mollenkamp, Evan Klieman, Rena Tom and The Urban Craft Center.

For more information, check out their website or facebook page.

Other:  Christopher Jonassen’s Devour: Portraits of Old Frying Pans.

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Sheila Paine, textile collector

Sheila Paine is an expert on tribal societies and textiles and is the author of Embroidered Textiles: Traditional Patterns from Five Continents and the trilogy The Afghan Amulet: Travels from the Hindu Kush to Razgrad, The Golden Horde: Travels from the Himalaya to Karpathos, and The Linen Goddess: Travels from the Red Sea to Prizren. She lives in England.

Sheila Paine article, via http://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/property_news/events_and_getaways/traditionaltextilessale.htmlWomen’s masks from Minab and Gorbedan, Sheila Paine, textile collector, sells her stash

The Power of Red and More – Travels and Textiles by Sheila Paine + Shelia Paine with the Mujahideen + Embroidered Textiles book by Sheila Paine + Amulets: A World of Secret Powers, Charms and Magic book + More… amulets + Fabric Folios + All wrapped up.

FAVOURITE PAGES, FAVOURITE BOOKS.

PhotobucketClare Coles embroidered wallpaper

Embroidery: Alice Kettle embroidery + Lauren DiCioccio + Realistic scenery + Hair embroideries + The weird world of contemporary hair art + Pricked: Extreme Embroidery + The Joy of Toile Gone Wild.

Cecilia Heffer: Lace Narratives.

PhotobucketNuntaka_nopkhun rings

Amulets as jewellery: Amulets: Sacred Charms of Power and Protection.

Inside a mummy.

LIVING WITH LESS: 28 Practical Uses for Vinegar, Nature’s Magic Cleanser + Don’t buy glasses: cut up wine and beer bottles!  Cutting glass + Bottle Cutting + Pull Tab Picture Hanger.

Ribollita Recipe: Italian Soup with Stale Bread + Panzanella  recipe, TUSCAN BREAD SALAD.

p.s.: embroidery links: Lucky Jackson.

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Grater

My son gave me the book LOW COST DESIGN  by Daniele Pario Perra. Intervista a Daniele Pario Perra + Daniele Pario Perra | Low cost design: This volume is founded on a principle upheld by leading designers: the best project is not necessarily the one that is patented, that is created by architectural firms or at the computer by leading companies, but rather the one that springs from the simplicity of daily life. Starting from this concept Daniele Pario Perra presents here the results of a vast research project carried out between Northern Europe and the Southern Mediterranean, in the course of which he documented thousands of examples of spontaneous creativity, creating a visual dictionary that strikes a constant balance between “poetic skill” and “technological skill”. The book at Amazon.

PhotobucketRecycled cheese grater jewelry stand

Top 9 Ways To Reuse, Recycle Cheese Graters + Vintage Cheese Grater Wind Chimes  + Great to be Green, grater as light fixture + The people over at Relique have a real knack for taking old, battered objects and making them, well, new and beautiful. How to recycle old cheese graters.

Inspirations for my Bedroom, scroll down for recycled graters + Cheese Grater into a Photo Frame + Rustic Living + THINKING OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE + Cheese Grater Lamp + How can I reuse or recycle a rusty cheese grater? Clocks from recycled objects.

PhotobucketDIY : Cheese grater pencil holder

And she has invented a betel nut (pinang) grater to help her with her betel chewing. Grating nutmeg + Homemade Grater.

Garlic gratersgarlic grater giveaway! + Ceramic Graters.

Repair is the new Recycle.

Bottega delle mani.

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Oranges are not just for eating

PhotobucketJan Hopkins orange peel teapot

Save your orange peels!

For instance, dried orange peels, watermelon seeds, silk cocoon, ground coffee beans, and Bombona and tagua seeds – indigenous to Colombia – are ingredients for beautifully crafted necklaces, earrings, and bracelets + Fair trade Eco friendly Orange peel necklace set one of a kind—-Gönül Paksoy and Edible Beads , coiled orange peel necklace + another orange peel necklace.

Orange Flowers – Fruit and Vegetable carving + Carved orange skins used as Christmas decoration + Mary Donald: Latex and Plastics.

PhotobucketUse skins  for candles

5 Things To Do with Oranges + More + 5 Good Uses for Your Citrus Peels.

Camels love orange peel + Pastor spreads the word via orange peel, Making art from modest things to spread belief + orange peel and silk thread.

orange peel box, Orange Peel Boxes By Regina Nunes Orange Peel Boxes By Regina Nunes

Orange, Lemon and Lime Boxes + Natural Orange Box + Embroidered Orange Peel Boxes.

Idle Moments, Tangerine Stars + Things You can do with the Skin of Mandarin Oranges when you are Bored.

Bitter Orange Peel Jam + How To Make Cupcakes In Orange Peels + How to Easily Make Orange Marmalade! EASY, illustrated step-by-step instructions! + Honey marmalade + Candied Winter Melon and Orange Peel over Greek Yogurt.

Foraging, orange peel mushrooms + Caramelized Orange Cheesecake + More Cultured Veggies  – A quickie “How To…”.

Dehydrating Oranges + Orange Peel Tea + Orange Peel is a digestive aid. It is used for abdominal bloating, nausea and poor appetite. Orange peel moves stagnant energy and helps the digestion. Also used as an expectorant for Arguably, the most important flavanone in oranges, herperidin has been shown to lower high blood pressure as well as cholesterol, and to have strong anti-inflammatory properties.

bird feeder, via http://www.justcraftyenough.com/2011/12/weekend-eye-candy-11/Bird feeder

Orange ideas + Lovely things made from leftovers + Easy Compostable Decorations for the Tree + We wish you a Smelly Christmas.

Louise Bourgeois cutting a tangerine skin in Louise Bourgeois: The Spider, The Mistress and the Tangerine + Zoe Leonard’s strange fruit + Retrospective of Zoe Leonard.

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Biodegradable Orange Peels Make Fragrant and Functional Tableware

In the tradition of the Victorians and Royalty alike, pomanders were used to mask odors. The sweet smelling scent will fill your home with citrus freshness. How to make a pomander from orangers.

For me, one of the most delicious smells of Christmas is the mix of orange, clove and cinnamon. Make colorful and aromatic groups of orange pomanders and bundled cinnamon sticks and place them in pretty bowls or platter. Pomanders from oranges + How To Make Pomanders + Orange Peel Potpourri.

Illuminate!, orange aromatherapy.

How to make an Orange Peel Chain + Orange peel art.

Recipe: Anna’s Orange Marmalade.

p.s.:  Eating oranges after dark blog + Artwork, Dried Orange Peel + Jeu d’oranges + Orange Peel Floral + Natural Orange Peel Firelighters, Recycling.

Also, citrus salutations, how to make a wreath from orange slices + Y MÁS NARANJAS PARA LOS MUY GOLOSOS + another orange rind candle.

Orange peels used to make biodegradable plates.

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