Treeney Harkin

A tactile glass design that contains essential oils which can be worn and massaged across the abdomen and back to ease period pains – a direct infusion to the muscles. Treeney tested the sizing of women’s hands, creating an appropriate tactile glass bubble with indentations to suggest grips and movements for massage, scientifically proven to boost the immune system and overall health.

Stoppered with wood and lavender, a nod to the ingredients inside, these bubbles of sandblasted glass have inserted glass balls which allow for a small release of herbal oil. The front and back set are curved in opposite ways, forming towards the stomach and back, hanging across the areas of pain to naturally sway across the body or be massaged into the skin.

Historically, a poultice was used to heal wounds by wrapping the injury in a chosen herb. To create her own menstrual healing wraps Treeney researched and selected antispasmodic herbs that help ease cramps and swelling. She hand-dyed natural silks in these plants alongside hematite and rusted barbed wire, salvaged from her neighbours’ farm, reflecting the iron ore of the earth.

To support and connect these wraps across the body she experimented with copper buckles, patinated with heat to rich reds and pinks. Pins were cast into the bark of her native trees, keeping the original texture and colour of the cast, as if absorbing the ancient memory of the wood. Finally, they were stamped in her visual language and used to adorn the gentle knots of the silk as they tied around the body.

Menstrual cramps are the most common symptom women report during their periods; however, besides over-the-counter painkillers, there are limited treatment options. My research showed that heat therapy is one of the most effective treatments for relieving abdominal cramps. Celtic mythology revealed an intricate ritual surrounding heat treatment. Women were to select a stone, cover it in meaningful symbols and then, during their period, leave it in the sun to heat before placing it on their stomachs. Treeney’s design aimed to incorporate both the mythology and the science - creating a pebble-shaped box, etched with the language of women, that opens to reveal a herbal heat pad. Filled with buckwheat, comfrey and lavender this pillow can be heated to soothe abdominal cramps.

Pre-menstrual syndrome causes symptoms of anxiety, stress, and low mood to occur in the second half of the menstrual cycle. Common symptoms often include women scratching their skin and pulling their hair. Treeney designed and cast anxiety charms to be tied into the hair to negate this anxious tension and re-direct stress related behaviours away from the body. Taking the physical form of her visual language, these pieces are bio-patinated with eggs to an iridescent blue and black. 

The female menstrual cycle can be broken down into four seasons of Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. Through these seasons, women experience highs and lows that can often go unrecognised as menstrual symptoms. Treeney designed four vessels around the yoga movements, remedies and moods of each season. Cast in environmentally friendly jesmonite and mixed with seeds, roses and bath salts, these vessels help visually identify the stages of the cycle and supply the appropriate hormone balancing remedies.

A soothing movie image shot on 16mm film following two girls, Jesse and Rieko, as they complete ancient healing rituals and use herbal remedies to bring the collection to life.