Ball Yarn – Bringing Conversations to Life Through Footy

Over the past 12 months, I've been quietly working behind the scenes on a very special project for a good friend, artist and client, Robyn Robinson from Kajeet Healing Art.

I'm incredibly proud to have played a small part in bringing Ball Yarn to life—a unique deck of 30 Aussie Rules Football Talking Cards designed to spark meaningful conversations, encourage reflection and strengthen connections.

Created by Robyn, a qualified Initiatic Art Therapist, Art Educator and Artist, Ball Yarn combines her love of art, storytelling and Australian Rules football in a way that is both nostalgic and deeply engaging.

Each card represents a position on the football field and, in turn, a position in the game of life. Through thoughtful prompts and beautiful artwork, the cards invite people to share their experiences, explore their strengths and challenges, and connect with others through conversation.

As Robyn says:

"We are all players in life's great game—each with a role, a lesson and a moment to shine."

For Robyn, the inspiration for Ball Yarn comes from growing up around country football during the 1970s. Those years were filled with friendships, freedom, community spirit, loyalty and countless weekends spent at the local footy ground. While many of those small country clubs have since disappeared, the memories—and the values they fostered—live on through the Ball Yarn cards.

Ball Yarn is a wonderful resource for men's groups, sporting clubs, schools, families and community organisations. It's equally at home around a kitchen table as it is in a changeroom or classroom, helping people open up in a relaxed and approachable way. (And if you're planning to play Go Fish, you'll definitely want two packs!)

It was a privilege to support Robyn throughout the project. My role included photographing the original artwork, designing the cards, booklet and instruction guide, and coordinating printing with the wonderful team at Tavids Print in regional Victoria.

I also worked with Robyn to update the Kajeet Healing Art website by adding an online shop, creating a dedicated Ball Yarn section on the homepage and integrating Square to enable both online sales and point-of-sale purchases.

Seeing the finished product after months of collaboration was incredibly rewarding.

Ball Yarn officially launched at Smith & Gertrude Gallery in Fitzroy during an exhibition held from 24–28 June 2026. I was fortunate to attend the launch and celebrate alongside Robyn, her family, friends and supporters. It was a wonderful evening and a fitting celebration of the passion, creativity and dedication that Robyn has poured into this project.

I'm excited to see Ball Yarn making its way into homes, schools, sporting clubs and communities across Australia, helping people connect through stories, shared experiences and the universal language of footy.

If you'd like to learn more about Ball Yarn or purchase a set, visit the Kajeet Healing Art website www.kajeet.com.au.