Roving Horse Henna

How does one of these relate to the other? Right now I am raising funds to complete my Private Pilot License. Sales of products on my web-shop, and all appointments and gift certificates go to meeting the budget shortfall between what I have saved and what I need to finish this first certificate. Bottle lamps are marked down $10.00 from original pricing. Keep an eye out for flash sales and pop-ups in the next few weeks. Links to the shop and GoFundMe in the comments.
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It’s hard-core study time here in the Roving Horse Henna studio and Flight School Study Carrel. I figured I’d ask my henna to help me remember weather, altitude and cloud minimums by wearing them on my palm. On the top of my hand are my check lists, briefing lists, and among other things a reminder not to rush. Flight safety is about painstakingly following checklists. If I get jumpy or feel rushed I’m likely to forget something and that could turn into a real problem later in the flight. It feels a little strange, but also a little awesome to be mixing my passions like this. And it really is helping me memorize that airspace information.

You guys at know about the GoFundMe that is running now to help me cover the budget shortfall to finish my private pilot license- if you’re so inclined to donate, make a purchase in the web-shop, or even share the link it would be such a huge help. (Link in the comments…)

So- here’s a little story about what’s going on over here in Roving Horse Henna land. I’m trying to do a new thing. A thing that will change my life a bit. I’m back in school to become a pilot. That’s right, I’m learning to fly. I’ll still be a henna artist, I’ll still make art like this but I’m also looking at a second career flying planes for various kinds of operations. But here’s the thing. Flight school is really expensive. At age 52- I’m definitely a late starter, and I don’t have a 30 year pilot career ahead of me. Going deep into debt to pay for my training is not a good option. So- beyond my art generating revenue to keep itself going, and to keep me afloat in the lean henna months, it is also supporting my pilot journey. If I can sell all of these bottle lamps, that’s 1/3 of my instrument flight rating (that means I can fly safer and fly in clouds and zero visibility conditions).
Please know that any purchases of product, henna supplies, or gift certificates are greatly appreciated and will help me take to the skies. Thanks for listening to my pitch, and remember that supporting small business and independent artists helps with way more than you might imagine.
There’s a link to my shop in my bio, and also in the comments below!

Glow! These bottle lamps create such a magical shimmering glow, and are truly a labor of joyous love to create. There’s a passel of them up on the Roving Horse Henna webshop. This year they are the only holiday gift I’m making and when they’re gone, they’re gone.

Bottle lamps! My favorite thing to make at holiday time. These darlings are a labor o f love and they are even better than ever this year as I’ve added new violet glass to the offerings, and have added more layers of iridescent, glowing goodness to each piece. The shop update is live- so check them out at the web shop (link in bio and in comments).

They’re ready!!! The shop update is LIVE and 30 new bottle lamps are waiting for you to come see them! Right now, and through December 7 these bottle lamps are $10 off their regular price. It takes me about 3 hours from top to bottom to make one of these, and this year they come with both a ceramic cork and wick AND a faerie light cork so you can use them indoors and outdoors with flame and oil or with glowing twinkle lights. Check out the link in the comments and in my bio and get your while they last!
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Sometimes I do a thing and it turns out pretty good. Bridal mehndi for the super cool Mashall. It was a joy doing this mehndi, and the mehndi for all the lovely guests as well. I have to say- no matter what else I may do, I will always still do henna.
hennaportland

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve posted. I’ve been working on other projects and am back at school studying hard. But I was thinking about this sweetheart of a photo shoot and how it is, after all, the season of the witch. .

Friends!! Our intrepid leader is down for the count with Covid this week, so our crew will not be at Oregon Renaissance Faire the first weekend. (Sad trombone) BUT!!!! The beautiful and talented dancers and musicians of Baksana will be making sure our booth stays put and will keep the space warm for us with their vibrant energy. They’ll have some of their merch available, and our kits, prints, cards, and fresh henna cones will be available all weekend!!

Hey friends!! We’re in Seattle doing henna at Folklife! It’s been a little rainy, but we have hope for today and tomorrow being progressively less soggy! Come out and see us and get some henna adornment to celebrate the beginning of summer! We’re in the Kobe Bell courtyard!

Dialing in my bridal henna skills- small motifs, connecting sides, proprtion, and still have a ways to go (progress!). So grateful for the generous sharing of time and tips from and for the time and space to do this work on late into the evening last night. I feel very blessed to be able to work with this plant, and for all the learning and connection it has brought me to.

Spent some quality time with Lindsay in the henna studio this week. So grateful for the time catching up. I don’t really have words to describe how important this relationship has been in my life. Lindsay was my first student/apprentice. She started working with me in High School, and stayed on each summer through college graduation, professional certification in her field (histology!!) and all kinds of adventures. She’s just been given a promotion, joined her profession’s union, and her research is about to be published! Fancy hands for an accomplished and brilliant friend! (And we get a little bit of Lindsay this henna season too!)

I got so busy with Eid henna that I forgot about sharing the rest of the henna I did at Polar Spring . These are the feet of Darshsna, . It was truly a delight to meet you, and I can’t wait til we get to do it again!! Love the connections. Love the magic of henna. So grateful to be walking this path along with so many of you.

Henna for Eid! For the first time ever I have a safe, natural blue-black staining product to offer clients for Eid. It’s a combination of natural henna and jagua, the juice of the unripened Genipa Americanus fruit. I am so happy with the stain and consistency of this paste, and I am@confident that you will love it too. (Thanks for the paste to bring home and offer my Eid clients). And because it’s also Beltane, or May Day, which is an important holiday for me, I’m offering a special. $100/60 min appt, $50/30 min appt, $25/15 min appt. That’s a 20% discount off my regular rate. Book via phone, DM, text or email. The online scheduler won’t work for day-of appointments. All sessions in my little henna trailer in Beaverton.
Eid Mubarak! Happy Beltane!

A bank of Eid appointments has opened up for tomorrow, May 1. I have availability for 15, 30, and 60 minute appointments between 9:30 and 1:30 and also between 4pm and 6pm. I have henna, jagua, and jagua henna available. Cash discount available.

Henna on Nida’s at Polar Spring . It’s hard to believe that this was a week ago. I’m still riding the wave of community and creativity from that sweet conference and bringing it all to you for Eid appointments, parties, brides and every reason for henna in between.
I still have space for Eid appointments today and tomorrow- tech out by phone, email, dm or book directly through my online scheduler (link in bio). Hope to see you soon to share the henna love.

The third set of feet I did at Polar Spring were for Paige whose style and precision I love I’m so glad that I got the chance to sit at your feet for a while to lay this henna down. And also super glad for the work that .arts_mn did on me earlier in the day that filled me with inspiration.
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The second pair of feet that I did at the Polar Spring conference. I’m still getting back up to speed after the late nights and days full of henna love and learning, but my heart is brimming with joy and I’ll carry the energy, community, support and creativity into the busy henna season ahead.
I still have Eid appointments open between now and Monday. Book online or get in touch via text, messenger or email.

I had the most incredible time at the Polar Spring henna conference last weekend. It was so vitally important to be gathered with the henna community again, brought together by a love of the art, a love of learning, and long friendships with each other. I kind of wound up mostly just hennaing feet. Which, as you might know, is a happy place for me. In this situation, with loved ones I’ve been isolated from for so long, it felt really meaningful to honor the hard path we all had to travel to be together again. I’ll be posting more from last weekend in the days to come.
Oh- and also- I have a few spots open for Eid henna this weekend. Check the webpage, or get in touch via DM, email, or text to book your appointments!

I completely failed to take a single picture of today’s bridal henna session. Which is too bad, because I’m really proud of my work. But I did manage to get pictures of Neha’s mehndi from Tuesday. Couldn’t be happier to be working on brides and leaving my customers feeling happy, beautiful, and blessed. (It’s the henna, not me, that does the magic.)
You can book now for bridal, parties, private appointments and other events. Visit www.rovinghorse.com to book!

Today’s henna session was with a lovely young lady whose interest in art, history, and culture brought her to henna. She and her mom were telling me about falling down the rabbit hole as they researched henna and how they are so excited to learn more. This made my heart sing as it echoed my own experience with henna - everything I have learned about henna art, it’s history, the science, the connection of people, the range of cultures and traditions and ages of time and reasons why…all of that just makes my love deeper and my interest keener. It’s been a beautiful 28 years I’ve spent being in love with this plant. I’m looking forward to being in love the rest of my life. And I get SO EXCITED when I meet people who are just feeling that magical spark with henna- I’m so happy for them.

Today’s post has been brought to you by Doggo. Honey pup has been very patient t with me while I grappled with my procrasti-taxes the last couple of days, so I’m focusing on her for the rest of the weekend as much as possible. Happy spring magic time friends.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled bath-time henna goodness. Now featuring, Feet!
Fun fact about me. I love to henna feet. I know that in some cultures, those who touch others’ feet are considered lower class, lower caste, or untouchable themselves. But there is something so vulnerable about putting your feet in someone else’s hands.
Your feet carry you down every road you travel, support every choice you step toward, and they are your first method of walking away from a bad situation, or walking you around obstacles. If someone has your feet in their hands, you’re a little bit in their power. But also- it is an honor to be asked to commemorate someone’s place on their path, their moment in space and time, their road already traveled and the unwinding road to come, by hennaing their feet.
I’m honored to be in that in between space with my clients. It’s also a rest, wait, and hold still space. You can’t really walk on down your path with wet henna on your feet, or you risk missing the opportunity to enjoy the fullness of the designs there which celebrate the path that got you here….
I could go on about this for a while, so I’ll end with this thought for now: if I have ever adorned your feet- as a bridal client, as an appointment or festival client, as a friend or a child or a lover, know that it was my very great joy to sit at your feet, at that precise moment on your path, and to celebrate the journey taken that brought us both to that moment. Enjoy the path and the journey my friends. And don’t forget to give those feet a little love, even if you just look down and thank them from time to time.

A long held tradition of mother daughter Henna. So grateful to be included in this ritual .newday!

Nothing super fancy. Just hanging with a Henna friend, playing with jagua. I’m excited to be offering hand mixed jagua paste from the powdered juice. I’m kind of in love with the variation in color you can get from different wear times, and by combining it with henna. I know I’m late to the party.

Comfort, deep ease, relaxation, safety, trust. Knowing, in this moment, that you are supported, held, sheltered, sustained, nourished, rested, a person unto yourself. Practice giving yourself these messages. Give yourself the gift of actions that support you to feel these things.

How many times a day do you give yourself the opposite message? “…tired, stressed, busy, stretched, desperate…”?

I’m gonna put it out there and say that the second set of thoughts, the harried, rushed, anxious, desperate thoughts? Those are a LIE sold to you by Capitalism to Make You Buy Things. To fix your worth on your functionality as a cog in the wheel of business. To make you feel that you need something outside yourself to feel whole. A new lipstick, a bigger tv, a better phone.

It’s tricky to figure out how to navigate between the truth that lives in your body- “slow down, nourish, be gentle with yourself, rest” and the message of , “go-go-go, hurry, sleep when you’re dead, try harder” when you have to live in the modern world.

Start by giving yourself permission to go easy. By noticing the differences between the two paradigms.

And rest, friend.
Model: Elise Morris
Henna and Photo : Wendy Rover
Concept collaboration brainchild: .child
hillsborohenna

A book and a bath. Sign me up. Whether it’s just hot water, or plain Epsom salts, or the fanciest flowers and posh bath bomb that you can find; served with a class of champagne, tea, kombucha or just ice water, a bath and a book can be the answer to washing the weariness of the world off.
Of course henna helps too- it has inherent energetic qualities to keep bad mojo at bay while helping focus your attention on the beauty of your body in all it’s stages.
You can book your henna sessions online at our website for appointments at our location or yours. Magic guaranteed. Milk bath not included.
Model: Elise Morris
Henna and photography: Wendy Rover
Flowers by
Concept collaboration .child
Novel: Rain Village by Carolyn Turgeon