kia kaha christchurch - one year on

wooden ornament in the shape of the iconic stained glass 'rose window' of the cathedral

 

 

 

 

 

 

the real 'rose window' of christchurch cathedral - before the quake

ceramic dish from mudbird's 'emerge' range (with some pieces from my favourite christchurch jeweler, darrell of jakana jewellry)

today marks the one year anniversary of the deadly and devastating christchurch february 22nd earthquake.  my heart is still so much with the people of this beautiful city who continue to endure constant aftershocks (10 000 and counting, i believe) as well as all the layers of uncertainty, grief and trauma.  i have been spending time this morning remembering all that was lost, but also celebrating what remains - including the wonderful creative spirit that has always been so evident.  above are a couple of my favourite handmade things that have come from the dust (literally, in one case - mudbird's 'emerge' range contains liquefaction silt.  ingenious.)

sunshine on a cloudy day

this is the only vaguely crafty thing i've been up to doing for months now:  suncatchers for some of my family in christchurch.   

 they have had a horrendous six months since the february 22 earthquake which claimed 181 lives:  the CBD remains closed, there have been thousands of aftershocks to contend with, some people are still without functioning sewerage to their houses, so many are traumatised and living with constant anxiety.  roads remain damaged.  'liquefaction', has gone from a foreign word to one every child seems to know.   even though i follow what is happening in 'my' beloved city i find it hard to comprehend what the daily reality must be like.

i wanted to send something (anything) that might bring the tiniest bit of sunshine into their lives, and to let them know that they are never far from my thoughts.

kia kaha chirstchurch.  stay strong.  

my heart belongs to christchurch

...and after the floods came the earthquakes that brought beautiful christchurch to her knees.  words never come close to describing the place this city holds in my soul, so here is a little tribute in photos instead.  

(much of iconic christchurch cathedral - the heart of the city in more than one sense - now lies in piles of rubble.  this is how i want to remember it.)