Thank you for looking

and giving me the hard truth. Now I need to get in front of that mirror and practise, practise.

I must admit I have always be hopeless at interviews apart from college interviews, somehow I seem to be able to do them. Maybe that's the clue, I really wanted to do those things but somehow, working in a shop or an office, doesn't have same appeal.

Anyway onto a much more interesting topic, to me anyway. Last night I saw the last in a series of programs on PBS entitled "Craft in America" called Communities, it was an amazing program. It made me want to just run away and join the communities that were featured. There are 2 other programs with it, which I missed but are being repeated in the early hours of the morning 2nd June. So my tivo has been set up. Try to see them if you can.

Up until a few years ago, painting was my main source of exploration but in the last few years, through the Internet, I have become much more involved in crafts. Its always been a sporadic effort (anything creative) on my part because things get in the way, ie family or just plain depression.

At the moment, I am exploring embroidery and bead embroidery. You'd think to to yourself, it just a few beads and floss but it really is a whole new world which can soon accumulate as much material and need as much space as you needed for any other creative outlet. (see my art blog at "Puddles of Dreams"

That is a big problem because people who aren't creative ie Gordon, just don't realise you need space to be creative. At the moment I am based at the Kitchen table as it a good clear space with lots of light (until dinner time of course). However, as I have become more involved, the supplies have begun to pile up. What was one oversize tote bag, is now an oversize tote bag and 2 cotton storage crates. However, that doesn't include the fabric and batting which is upstairs where my (at the moment, being repaired) sewing machine sits.

Most of my supplies however are in the laundry/art room. It doesn't feel very creative in that room as everything is crammed in and then the washing/drying is lying around (mainly the kids stuff).

Anyway I thought working at the kitchen table was working out fine but Gordon is beginning to niggle about it, so I will have to find another comfy place to be creative. However, hope is on the horizon as once the kids start back to college at the end of August I am claiming dibs on at least one room upstairs. Gordon will moan but tough, it's the one thing I can actually do and maybe create money but that really isn't important to me to be honest (should be, I know). Gordon is not hopeful that I can make money this way and is honest about his views. Who can blame him when in the 30 yrs since finishing art school, I have yet to make a dime out of the pursue of happiness!

Sunday musings

This weekend has been a good one so far.

Yesterday we went down to Festival Beach on Town lake in Austin, to see the annual Dragon Race held by the Asian American Cultural Center. We didn't actually see that many of the races as we arrived after the first round and just missed seeing the Freescale team, but we did meet up with some of Gordon colleagues, who were doing a BBQ. Part of the program were displays of Asian dancing by the many groups who live in Austin and Texas. I only got a couple pics as we spent most of our time at the BBQ.

Today I finally finished the beaded doll I have created for my sister in Canberra which you can see at my art blog and now I am going to put away my bead for a week or two, to concentrate on the other projects I have going at the moment.