I am in lovely San Diego at the moment, charming place, great students...going to the desert tomorrow- very exciting
and am nearly back in Australia so looking forward to seeing boys and family
and dreading the packing up to move along. Still how do you eat an elephant? one bite at a time, same with clearing out and packing!
Am having a house moving sale- look at my newly renovated site
www.fionawright.com and find the sale page.
For anyone thinking of a website here are some notes I have made for a friend, they are so easy once you get started and you can fix them when you need to
Building a website with Yahoo site builder.
If you can use a word document or Microsoft publisher you can build a website.
I use yahoo because they have proved reliable, easy to use and a reasonable cost. They also host my website, everything meshes together well.
I can make changes when I want to and do not have the enormous cost of someone else building my site, and the delays in getting alterations done.
take time to map your website out on paper
time to work out a simple plan, an obvious layout so your info is easy for viewers to navigate.
how many pages do you want?
what name and information will those pages have?
what is the look you want for the site?
often good to have a ‘template’ that all pages will be based on, same colour background perhaps, name of site at top, buttons for moving through pages
something at the bottom? If you have this base it can be copied and placed on each page prior to entering its individual info.
It will look smoother as you flip through the site if there is a continuity of background not things jumping around.
People can look at the info you are sharing not spend all their time searching for it!
Pre-planning those details can save a lot of time putting the site together
go to http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/smallbusiness/webhosting/sitebuilder2/basics/basics-07.html
download sitebuilder
For this you do not have to pay money, you may have to have a yahoo ID, which is free.
When downloaded,
1.open programme
2. use the wizard on left side to start a new site.
3. open a new blank page [home page is always called INDEX and will be the first page a website opens at.
4. like publisher text is put in text boxes and can be moved around
Get this far and we will talk again….
email me for a nudge if you are ready
see ya
Fiona
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
The California Rug and her creater Vicki Fraser, sorry my photos just do not do either of them justice, surfice to say they are gorgeous.
A glimpse at the beautiful coastline around Mendocino
A glimpse at the beautiful coastline around Mendocino
14 April 2008,
Is he getting to know me so well?
I was talking to Parveen and telling him I had been asked to come back to teach [I have also been saying to him I want to wind down- it is hard work…] and he laughed!
I was surprised, he usually fusses, or worries not laughs –when I asked why he said “well you work too hard and are tired but if you sit still you get bored and start thinking of things to do…what am I to do with you?”
Nice isn’t it? when we are in the same location I know he tries to look after me by distracting me, take me to a movie or dinner, things to chill out but I think he knows when I go off I over do it to fill up the time until I get back to India.
I do find the pace of life there healthier for me.
Nice to feel known.
Been up to Mendocino http://www.mendocinoartcenter.org/over the week end – such a lovely place north of San Francisco. Saturday the sun was warm, the water like glass and the balmy air piqued by the scent of the sea and the redwood forests all around, Sunday dawned with the same promise and then in the space of a breath clouds rolled up from the sea and all became cool, damp and mysterious, no more view just the echo of the sea bell through the mist.
Met up again with a friend I made last time Vicki Fraser, she is a master weaver who has been tired to the town, almopst literally, for the last 14 years creating a wonderful rug encompassing the State of California.http://www.californiarug.org/ Truly beautiful work it is now off the loom and being groomed for presentation. All the materials come from the State and the dyes are all naturally derived -a monumental task she had set herself and achieved.
With her baby ready to fly the nest what will Vicky’s next challenge be?
We are talking of her joining me as co-host on some of my tours in the future- with her extensive expertise in weaving and many things textile- oh wow.
I caught the local bus up to Mendocino, listening in on conversations [ I am a shameless snooper when travelling, gives you a feel of the local character] the hot topic is the need for change. People here feel trapped behind an Administration that is not looking after them, involving them in things that are none of their business and not doing anything to address the very pressing issues of most of the country- poverty, lack of education opportunities and adequate housing and health care.
This is supposed to be one of the most affluent countries in the world and yet if you step of the gravy streets you could be in a third world country with a level of potential violence you don’t often find over there.
I wander everywhere in India and many other places and never feel in danger, in America I have a few times walked into the wrong area, in broad daylight and realised it was real stupid! So sad people anywhere have to live that way- this country is not supposed to be a war zone.???is all one can do.
Is he getting to know me so well?
I was talking to Parveen and telling him I had been asked to come back to teach [I have also been saying to him I want to wind down- it is hard work…] and he laughed!
I was surprised, he usually fusses, or worries not laughs –when I asked why he said “well you work too hard and are tired but if you sit still you get bored and start thinking of things to do…what am I to do with you?”
Nice isn’t it? when we are in the same location I know he tries to look after me by distracting me, take me to a movie or dinner, things to chill out but I think he knows when I go off I over do it to fill up the time until I get back to India.
I do find the pace of life there healthier for me.
Nice to feel known.
Been up to Mendocino http://www.mendocinoartcenter.org/over the week end – such a lovely place north of San Francisco. Saturday the sun was warm, the water like glass and the balmy air piqued by the scent of the sea and the redwood forests all around, Sunday dawned with the same promise and then in the space of a breath clouds rolled up from the sea and all became cool, damp and mysterious, no more view just the echo of the sea bell through the mist.
Met up again with a friend I made last time Vicki Fraser, she is a master weaver who has been tired to the town, almopst literally, for the last 14 years creating a wonderful rug encompassing the State of California.http://www.californiarug.org/ Truly beautiful work it is now off the loom and being groomed for presentation. All the materials come from the State and the dyes are all naturally derived -a monumental task she had set herself and achieved.
With her baby ready to fly the nest what will Vicky’s next challenge be?
We are talking of her joining me as co-host on some of my tours in the future- with her extensive expertise in weaving and many things textile- oh wow.
I caught the local bus up to Mendocino, listening in on conversations [ I am a shameless snooper when travelling, gives you a feel of the local character] the hot topic is the need for change. People here feel trapped behind an Administration that is not looking after them, involving them in things that are none of their business and not doing anything to address the very pressing issues of most of the country- poverty, lack of education opportunities and adequate housing and health care.
This is supposed to be one of the most affluent countries in the world and yet if you step of the gravy streets you could be in a third world country with a level of potential violence you don’t often find over there.
I wander everywhere in India and many other places and never feel in danger, in America I have a few times walked into the wrong area, in broad daylight and realised it was real stupid! So sad people anywhere have to live that way- this country is not supposed to be a war zone.???is all one can do.
Friday, April 11, 2008
a helping hand please.
hello all,
thank you for the comments on my recent posts...
it was a bit political I guess, I had not thought of it that way just a concern for the people at the centre of these locations....
as you might know I am very supportive of a streetkids project in Pushkar Rajasthan...
well I have made a new website [ and will look after it ] for them...the internet is such a valuable tool for sharing information.
Do you mind looking over the new site http://www.shakti-streetkids-pushkar.org/
and letting me know about glitches, typos and etc.
If there is something you find can you site the exact page it is on, so I can track it.
try the email addresses to for a quick hello and to see they work- if you write I will reply and we will know it works...
Building a website is a big task, checking it is harder when you know it so well
thanks in advance
aren't the little munchkins cute? I do enjoy being involved with kids [ and happy not to be the permanent teacher- I must admit]
bye
Fiona
thank you for the comments on my recent posts...
it was a bit political I guess, I had not thought of it that way just a concern for the people at the centre of these locations....
as you might know I am very supportive of a streetkids project in Pushkar Rajasthan...
well I have made a new website [ and will look after it ] for them...the internet is such a valuable tool for sharing information.
Do you mind looking over the new site http://www.shakti-streetkids-pushkar.org/
and letting me know about glitches, typos and etc.
If there is something you find can you site the exact page it is on, so I can track it.
try the email addresses to for a quick hello and to see they work- if you write I will reply and we will know it works...
Building a website is a big task, checking it is harder when you know it so well
thanks in advance
aren't the little munchkins cute? I do enjoy being involved with kids [ and happy not to be the permanent teacher- I must admit]
bye
Fiona
don't judge a book by its cover...
10 April, 2008
That is what my grandmother used to say [ along with 1000's of other gems...]
the more I travel, the more I realise we are all basically the same.
Don't get distracted by the administration of the country, the inhabitants all want a fair go, the right to bring their children up in health and safety and a decent job and wage to bring it about.
Traveeling in America meeting American's I am constantly amazed by the generosity of these people...so many foundations and personally funded initiatives to help others, further research, endow the arts...
I know from the outside you have a view of the administration but the people I am meeting are not happy with that...and really hope for change.
Being Australian I was living with a front man I detested, whose policies were taking Australia down very dark paths, I had to answer questions of people in other countries- politely worded "so what do you think of Australia's....?" It was hard -not agreeing with the governemnt but the image set by my government was leading other people to think I too, was like that.
I really hope the new guy Rudd brings change...seems good so far.
so some wonderful things I have come across in the States, apart from the very warm welcomes.
That is what my grandmother used to say [ along with 1000's of other gems...]
the more I travel, the more I realise we are all basically the same.
Don't get distracted by the administration of the country, the inhabitants all want a fair go, the right to bring their children up in health and safety and a decent job and wage to bring it about.
Traveeling in America meeting American's I am constantly amazed by the generosity of these people...so many foundations and personally funded initiatives to help others, further research, endow the arts...
I know from the outside you have a view of the administration but the people I am meeting are not happy with that...and really hope for change.
Being Australian I was living with a front man I detested, whose policies were taking Australia down very dark paths, I had to answer questions of people in other countries- politely worded "so what do you think of Australia's....?" It was hard -not agreeing with the governemnt but the image set by my government was leading other people to think I too, was like that.
I really hope the new guy Rudd brings change...seems good so far.
so some wonderful things I have come across in the States, apart from the very warm welcomes.
The Explorers Club http://www.explorers.org/ I was lucky enough to be taken to the monthly dinner and talk, upon my arrival in SF. I was nearly asleep when I arrived - jet lag and then Lee, my host said "Explorers Club" WOW!! I picked right up.
How amazing, the lady talking that night is currently the head vet at the Marine Wildlife Rescue Centre in SF, fresh from a gig as Veternarian to the Mountain Gorillas where you had to back pack your clinic up to your patients!
The other topic that was hot there was the Global Heritage Fund, http://www.globalheritagefund.org/ a privately set up fund to help protect sites in the third world of global importance. They work on the idea that if you help improve local conditions then the local people will get behind you and help protect the sites.
Small world... about 3 years ago I met a man in the Calico Museum in Ahmedbad http://www.calicomuseum.com/ who was in India working for some fund setting up a project to protect an Indus Valley site[ one of the oldest agricultural sites of humanity] I did not remember the name of the organization but have often wondered how they were going- that was them! and it looks very good.
And then on Tuesday Marty Jonas a local artist took my under her wing, we visited the Bernicia Arts Centre to view the latest show of a group she is involved with- Great work http://www.edgeartgroup.com/ keep an eye on what they are up to...
Marty is a talented artist and a talented collector of art, she was kind enough to give me a guided tour of her house, many galleries would envy her her venue and swoon over her collection, so many things to see in the 'flesh'- Barbara Lee Smith, Kuba cloth from Rwanda, her work, Jane Dunwald, me, Jan Beany and Jean Littlejohn, Afghani embroidered and beaded coats....so many I feel really honoured and a bit shy to see a pice of my work on the same walls.
What a wonderfully rich day.
and she showed me about Instant Indigo...another great find, thank you, thank you, thank you
Thursday, April 10, 2008
San Francisco hmmm??
Just out walking, been hearing sirens all day and now there are helicopters overhead.
I went out for a walk away from where I thought the action would be. People everywhere seem a little twitchy, some young guys asked if I had seen protesters...
cops everywhere, all the homeless people and there are alot in sight seem aditated today as well.
Many people here talk 'en plein air' not all use a mobile phone.
Perhaps the helicopters and sirens are interupting the reception for those doing it 'au natural'..... I don't know...but they seem agitated today.
I have sympathy for the protestors when they are non-violent. Gandhi used peaceful protest to bring light on a dark situation and eventually change, the protestors are bravely trying to help bring scutiny into nationas actions.
On the TV they are talking about the disappointment of the flame runners, yes I am sorry for them but they do come from a background that has supported them to excel in their chosen field. The protestors are asking for that type of freedom for other peoples across the world.
I do hope the sports people get to compete, they have worked hard... yet I wonder what I would do if I was in their situation, I do not want to sweep under the carpet the genocide happening in part of the host country,
I have met many Tibetan refugees in India, non-violent pressure is what they continually work for, the right to keep their own culture, speak their native tongue in schools, equal opportunity in the their country...
gentle, determined and ever purposeful people, I can only admire.
I went out for a walk away from where I thought the action would be. People everywhere seem a little twitchy, some young guys asked if I had seen protesters...
cops everywhere, all the homeless people and there are alot in sight seem aditated today as well.
Many people here talk 'en plein air' not all use a mobile phone.
Perhaps the helicopters and sirens are interupting the reception for those doing it 'au natural'..... I don't know...but they seem agitated today.
I have sympathy for the protestors when they are non-violent. Gandhi used peaceful protest to bring light on a dark situation and eventually change, the protestors are bravely trying to help bring scutiny into nationas actions.
On the TV they are talking about the disappointment of the flame runners, yes I am sorry for them but they do come from a background that has supported them to excel in their chosen field. The protestors are asking for that type of freedom for other peoples across the world.
I do hope the sports people get to compete, they have worked hard... yet I wonder what I would do if I was in their situation, I do not want to sweep under the carpet the genocide happening in part of the host country,
I have met many Tibetan refugees in India, non-violent pressure is what they continually work for, the right to keep their own culture, speak their native tongue in schools, equal opportunity in the their country...
gentle, determined and ever purposeful people, I can only admire.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
in Groovy San Francisco
"It is not the breaths we take in life,
it is the things that make us breathless,
that matter the most."
8 April, 2008
In groovy SF, it is a lovely relaxed town ...
I have a few days to spare between engagements so trying to catch up on office work and came across that quote I gleamed from a student in NZ months ago.
a good thought to contemplate ....
Just spent a lovely week end in the company of Karine owner of the Sewing Workshop [ the bonus was meeting some of her great family as well- a noisy family home is like nectar after many hotel rooms]
it is the things that make us breathless,
that matter the most."
8 April, 2008In groovy SF, it is a lovely relaxed town ...
I have a few days to spare between engagements so trying to catch up on office work and came across that quote I gleamed from a student in NZ months ago.
a good thought to contemplate ....
Just spent a lovely week end in the company of Karine owner of the Sewing Workshop [ the bonus was meeting some of her great family as well- a noisy family home is like nectar after many hotel rooms]
The Sewing Workshop www.thesewingworkshop.com has been running sewing classes in Sf for 32 years and as well have a range of other treats available. One of those extras is me! we are already planning a return performance for 2010 [2009 is already booked out for me]
so I do look forward to be able to catch up with the meny wonderful people I am getting to know in SF and her wondeful galleries and, and, and...
Monday, April 07, 2008
NY and flying high
4 April 2008
On the plane to San Francisco. New York was amazing,
Such energy and excitement. Now that is a city!
I walked and walked.
Yesterday I went to The Metropolitan Museum of Art for the whole day and really just skimmed the surface of what there was to see.
I always recommend to my tour clients, take extra batteries, and have been planning fro days to put them in my bag- well I ran out in Central Park on the way to the museum!
Not a bad thing really, I just looked and was not interrupted by stopping to photograph, I just looked and looked and looked. I also did not stress out trying to remember everything, if the Gods are kind I will visit again [I also did not end up in visual overload trying to hoard images and then nearly bursting into tears , which has happened in the past]
So I had a lovely day-dreamy looking day and when I went to to sleep last night all these wonderful images floating around in my head.
Gainsbourugh again with his soft feminine woman and wonderful layered, dynamic backgrounds- all so idealised.
A wonderful Courbet show- Courbet laid the foundation for the modern art world in the mid 1800 when he decided to paint the everyday world, and people of it not idealised or grand themes. He was also a keen observer of the human condition from these works.
Gorgeous Egyptian stuff, Greek red and black ware, the images on the vases are tantalizing and make me realise how strong a restrained palette, can be for impact visually. The drawing style is rather simplified but set off with small details….
I am realizing I really like tapestries from the 1500’s. The rich imagery, telling complex stories and when you get up close the mark of the hand where they have been stitched together. So representative of the human condition we are all part of a big picture and all make our mark in the details. And a whole series of Kuba cloth from Democratic of Congo, oooohhh what wonderful cloth! I’ve seen some wonderful bark cloth from Uganda in the past- that area is starting to having more tourists in- wouldn’t that be exciting? Day dreaming there…
Whole rooms from other places and eras, amazing to see them juxtaposed together,
All together a very rich and exciting place….
On the plane to San Francisco. New York was amazing,
Such energy and excitement. Now that is a city!
I walked and walked.
Yesterday I went to The Metropolitan Museum of Art for the whole day and really just skimmed the surface of what there was to see.
I always recommend to my tour clients, take extra batteries, and have been planning fro days to put them in my bag- well I ran out in Central Park on the way to the museum!
Not a bad thing really, I just looked and was not interrupted by stopping to photograph, I just looked and looked and looked. I also did not stress out trying to remember everything, if the Gods are kind I will visit again [I also did not end up in visual overload trying to hoard images and then nearly bursting into tears , which has happened in the past]
So I had a lovely day-dreamy looking day and when I went to to sleep last night all these wonderful images floating around in my head.
Gainsbourugh again with his soft feminine woman and wonderful layered, dynamic backgrounds- all so idealised.
A wonderful Courbet show- Courbet laid the foundation for the modern art world in the mid 1800 when he decided to paint the everyday world, and people of it not idealised or grand themes. He was also a keen observer of the human condition from these works.
Gorgeous Egyptian stuff, Greek red and black ware, the images on the vases are tantalizing and make me realise how strong a restrained palette, can be for impact visually. The drawing style is rather simplified but set off with small details….
I am realizing I really like tapestries from the 1500’s. The rich imagery, telling complex stories and when you get up close the mark of the hand where they have been stitched together. So representative of the human condition we are all part of a big picture and all make our mark in the details. And a whole series of Kuba cloth from Democratic of Congo, oooohhh what wonderful cloth! I’ve seen some wonderful bark cloth from Uganda in the past- that area is starting to having more tourists in- wouldn’t that be exciting? Day dreaming there…
Whole rooms from other places and eras, amazing to see them juxtaposed together,
All together a very rich and exciting place….
Thursday, April 03, 2008
NY NY
3 April 2008New York, been hanging out with a friend wandering around New York.
Robin has girls and likes to shop and look, this is rather novel for me as I am not used to this approach but it has been fun, as she mainly looks at textile type things.
So we have hit braid shops http://www.mjtrim.com/ has unbelievable stuff,
Beads on Fifth http://www.beadson5th.com/ were wonderful. Fabrics go to Mood Fabrics http://www.moodfabrics.com/ all have wonderful ranges and seemed to have very good prices, these were like lolly shops for grown ups.
New York is such a buzz, so big but really walkable from one end to the other. Today there is a chill breeze but yesterday was balmy so we spent hours in the evening just wandering the streets looking at all the lights and people, very enjoyable.
This morning we pushed our way through Arctic blasts north along the edge of Central Park to the Frick Museum http://www.frick.org/ . What treasures! This was the home of the iron magnate HC Frick, this was his private home, and it does have a home like feel which is amazing as it is also really opulent and full of the most wonderful collection of pieces. What a range…Gainsborough’s…look at the delicate backgrounds, inspiration for subtle effects in felt for scarves…majestic Titians in a magnificent masculine room….rare 15 century enamelware, luscious vibrant colours, lively imagery. 2 Turners, such wonderful light he catches, simple layers of paint fine details and such impact…I love Turner. Medieval Egg Tempura paintings, lot of gold and vivid colours, some details impressed into the surface…my eyes are full of such splendours today.
A yummy scarf in a shop window...just passing...
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