Adorn your body let it be an expression that brings beauty & energy
I have been practicing the art of Mehndi since 1994. I fell in love with the art through seeing it in National Geographic magazines which led me on my own self taught journey & discovery of this ancient herbs & its usages. I asked many people & women from diverse cultures that used henna from Africa where in Egypt henna was first used. Many cultures use henna in Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan , Morocco & India, many of the Arab countries apply & practice henna traditions for weddings & religious purposes. Which I have been so fortunate to take apart of.
It is through my one on one engagement with these communities & families where they used Henna, I gained knowledge & practice in private homes &
Participating as a visiting artist for community cultural events.
The beautiful thing about this plant is its journey is how it has reached so many communities all over the world and is still growing and transforming being used in so many countries for body adornment.
The photographer in me felt passionate to travel to India to study & document as many henna patterns & designs I came across. This 5,000 year old art form & its delicate patterns are erased from history since the art disappears from the skin after two weeks. There is beauty with in henna markings & the blessings as they travel & are passed down through time.
Mary Dunham is the artist behind The Eye of Henna for the past 25 years offering Henna services in New England. Mary uses henna to help people empower themselves emotionally and physically. Mary uses henna to adorn pregnant Mothers & Brides or Henna crowns for cancer patients. Mary is a Reiki Master Teacher since 2004 she uses energy practice through out her art making. Mary creates permanent tattoos in her in the sacred space at 13 Moons Tattoo Studio . Her wall murals can be found in yoga studios & private business & homes throughout New England , Jamaica & Italy.
Celebrate your moon belly growth
This is a blessed time in your life mark it with care with beauty to your belly and baby ...Are you expecting the life of child into your world soon, why not mark this amazing passage with a henna blessing design to your wonderful growing belly. This is one of the most precious times to make a memory for a mother. Henna is safe to do during pregnancy and is a healing, relaxing experience for a woman in her 2nd or 3rd trimester. Henna is a great gift to give for a baby shower or for a private session in the comfort of your own home. Babies love the sensation of the henna begin drawn on and always roll and play as henna is being applied it is one of most exciting things I get to be a part of as an artist. Their is an option to photograph the belly after it is done and receive the photo for memory to last a life time.
CUSTOM MURALS FOR HOMES, BUSINESS, WINDOWS,STORE FRONTS
CLIENTS, COFFEE BY DESIGN, 9 STONES, MOTIFS, WATERLILY, CIRCA HOME & VINTAGE, BREATHING ROOM , ART OF AWARENESS, OCEANPOINT WELLNESS, STUDIO 76, HOLIDAY INN BY THE BAY, SCHOOL STREET YOGA, SALON 658, LU LU LEMON, BECKY'S SKINCARE & MASSAGE, KARMA TRADING, ORGANIC ROOTS SALON, BHAVAN SPA,INDOOR PLANT KINGDOM, DANCE STUDIO OF MAINE, DANCING ELEPHANT, BHAKTI IN MOTION, PORTSMOUTH SPA,SAMUDRA YOGA STUDIO, CRISP STUDIO, B&B CASA MILA ITALY, ARTA FRAMING, THREADS OF YOGA, AURA,GREATER PORTLAND IMMIGRANT CENTER, MAINE TABLE RESTAURANT, BEACHOLOGY, MAGNOLIA YOGA, OCEAN POINT ACUPUNCTURE, WASSAMSKI SPRINGS, KURIER, LIVE EDGE DELI, KATAMAH BEACH FRONT JAMAICA
Sacred art made for the individual in mind body and spirit. Tattoos with inspiration originality and expression... Mary brings her unique artistry to create tattoos that ate significant and meaningful for you custom designs welcomed. Mary is certified microblading artist which is cosmetic tattooing process using micro-blades to recreate eyebrows, due to hair loss or thinning eyebrows.
Henna can bring such a powerful experience to reclaim the body while going through illness. It can help heal and empower. Henna's natual healing herb can help nourish the skin and emotionally restore self esteem and spirit.
Letter from a client
Certainly your artwork is unmistakable but in my view, simply a physical manifestation of the artistry inside. I think you provide a wonderful service and “gift” to my friend and two other women who may be scarred by their diagnosis. Both literally and figuratively. In your work you essentially “reframe” a permanent symbol making what was once a source of physical and emotional pain a source of joy ,beauty ,strength and empowerment. Your “real” comfortable compassionate yet “matter of fact” manner and energy was not secondary to the picture.
Bridal Mehndi ,Weddings, Ceremonies
Mehndi has been a tradition in India to apply to the bride to be and her wedding party a few days before the event in marking the passage of becoming a wife and starting a new life. With blessings to her and her family and friends a bride might do her hands and feet and hide a secret message to her husband to find in her henna design, the idea behind the henna stain is to not do house work or chores until the henna has worn off as a gift to the bride. This is a time for the bride to be waited on hand and foot. There are many symbols that can be drawn for a blessing for long life, wisdom, love, fertility,strength and unity. Then the beautiful henna stain is a gorgeous addition to the brides gown and her bridesmaids for the wedding day. To bring a group of women together like this way is fantastic!
Come enjoy a birthday party celebration in my studio with friends and share the love of henna. My studio is warm and inviting and can host up to 20 people. Henna Parties are such a great treat for Bridal showers, Bacherlorette, Blessingways, Birthday's, sweet 16, or ladies night out. You can bring food or drinks to liven up your personal event.
You can book hourly rates or per person rates apply.
Henna workshops and Classes
Come enjoy Celebrate New Worlds, New Cultures and Traditions, from Egypt to India. Experience the magic that comes from this medicinal herb that heals, de-stresses and beautifies our body and soul. Henna tattoos are safe and all natural that leave a gorgeous stain for up to two weeks. Learn about the history of henna, the mixing process and try out different designs & techniques in applying henna for yourself.
The Eye of Henna would love to come teach a class or Workshop at your school or local business
One of a Kind Clothing, Shoes & Apparel ,Yoga Mats, Custom designs
Henna Preparation
Use a glass ,ceramic or plastic mixing bowl.
For mixing use a rubber spatula or plastic spoon .
Empty bag of Henna into the bowl use one cup of fresh lemon juice poor in slowly mix it until it is smooth.
You can add a little bit more lemon juice if it's still needs it.
Mix until it is a creamy consistency like yogurt but not too runny.
You can add a teaspoon of sugar it will make the Henna
stick to the skin longer.
Cover the Henna in plastic wrap or with a lid.
Let it sit for 8 to 10 hours
You can put a heat lamp on it to keep it warm.
After the 8 to 10 hours you can add 1ounce of essential oils
either Tea tree ,Eucalyptus or Lavender.
For smaller batches of henna you can use 10 to 20 drops of oil.
Let it sit for another 6 hours then it will be ready to use.
Fresh Henna will stay good for a week ,keep it in the refrigerator.
You can leave your leftover Henna in the freezer for up to six months. Your henna design once it is applied on the skin
will dry in 15 to 20 minutes .
Leave henna on the skin 4-8 hours try to stay out of water
for the first 24 hours . Henna will crumble off and look orange, then turn into a beautiful reddish-brown color over 24 hours.
The henna stain will last for up to two weeks.
Enjoy and have fun.
Happy Hennaing!
Love Mary
Here is my artwork that is also available for purchase
Originals &Prints
Take a look inside my journey to India to photograph Henna artists and design. It was a daily dose of color, smells, tastes and temples from Mumbai to Goa to Jaipur,Agra and Delhi.
It was a trip I will never forget Namaste...
Stories & Interviews
