How it began
Yoorana Wandabaa Creations.
“Loving Spirit”
My name is Yoorana Delaney. I am a Gamillaroi woman of the Gomoroi nation. I am an artist from Inverell, NSW, the sole owner of Yoorana Wandabaa Creations, meaning “Loving Spirit,” and the creator of the concept of the Dhawun Buru.
After stepping away from full-time work to pursue my artistic talents, originally to start my wood turning business, I found myself at a pause because of limited finances and equipment. I was searching for a way to create something meaningful from what I already had around me.
One day at home, my six-year-old son showed me a video about the Japanese tradition of creating dorodango balls from dirt. That small moment sparked an idea that grew into something deeply personal.
The sun and the moon
My logo holds a sun and a moon together. To me, they are a reminder to trust in divine timing — that when one door closes, it is so another can open, and walking through it leads to better opportunities.
The process
Collecting
I travel to collect buckets of the right earth. It cannot be just any dirt — I look for earth with a natural clay-like texture and the right consistency to hold its shape.
Preparing
The earth is sieved to remove larger chunks, stones, roots and debris, then combined with a clay-like powder, sand and water until it reaches a dough-like consistency.
Shaping & polishing
The sphere is carefully formed by hand with a cup, adding small amounts of water. Then it is polished using another mixture — a process that can take days.
Finishing
I finish each Dhawun Buru with a coat of varnish made from xanthorrhoea resin, then leave it to dry before it finds its stand.
Letting go of perfectionism
For a while, I was focused on trying to make every piece perfect. Then I showed someone one of my early pieces, and they suggested leaving some of the rough patches because they gave it character. That advice changed the way I saw my work.
I began to understand that the imperfections were part of the story. The roughness showed the process, the earth, and the work of my hands. Every Dhawun Buru carries its own texture, shape, and story—just like the people they are for and the Country it comes from.
Time, effort and value
The value of each piece reflects more than the finished ball. It includes travelling and collecting the earth, materials, the time spent making and polishing, and the skill developed through trial and error. Each Dhawun Buru also has an individual stand of wood or clay, giving it a place to rest and be displayed.
As the work grows, I would like to create spheres in different sizes, develop a range of handmade stands, offer commissioned pieces using earth meaningful to the individual, and hold creative workshops.
Dhawun Buru is not simply made from dirt. It is created from Mother Earth and is a meaningful gift of connection to Country.