Bhutan- trextile trails

I met a lovely couple- Moira and Phil.
it is amazing what fun you can cook up in a hotel room- now if my sons heard me say that , they would snicker...but you know I am a textile person so of course it was to talk textiles!!
Just being cheely!
Back to the story, Moira and Phil have a special place in their heart for Bhutan, initially they went there to trek, now they return to visit friends and help with medical matters in the country.
This is Moira proudly displaying a kira[ traditional woman's dress] woven for her by a friend Dorjie. This very fine work is similar to pices Dorjie has produced for the royal family.
and in a way it is what brought us together.

Since falling under the spell of Bhutan and its friendly people Moira and Phil have had fund raising events to bring books for schools and medical journals to hospitals, they heard of my tours and thought I might be interested in bringing visitors to the country.



That is an easy one, "YES!! please."
It is a magical country , The Land of the Peaceful Dragon, its king was famously quoted a few years ago as saying "Gross National Happiness" was more important than Gross National Profit as he gently brings his country into the modern world.
So come 2010 I will be heading off to Bhutan at the time the rhododendrums flower with a tour group...stay tuned to http://www.creative-arts-safaris.com/ for more details




These silks drying on my front verandah represent an end to an era...like a farewell flag to Gresford and Australia, they will be the last I get to dye and dry in Australia, I imagine- brings a lump to my throat.

packing and proud Mama pics

this is my boy! Zac
he has been painting quite commitedly for a while now,
the one below he produced in response to a local save the enviroment happening,
here he is in my studio stencilling onto some of my silk- we are producing a piece together. [ he was not overly amused with my taking his photo- imagine if he knew it was on here??]
Proud mother syndrome on my part...

packing, getting rid of heaps of stuff and there is just a bigger pile of things around!

I live in hope I am making headway- the eternal optomist!

Far North Queensland and Hundertwasser and Klee

Last weekend it was Far North Queensland and teaching the workshop "Inspired by Hundertwasser and Klee"

Completely enjoyable and wonderful and responsive class and a superb location.
Here is a little scenery in and out of the classroom.

I enjoy the sharing of teaching I always feel as inspired as I hope I send my students hope feeling.

Doesn't the Universe work in mysterious ways?

I have not done much art work myself recently and been questioning if it is a valid use of my time -considering volunteer work I could do and etc...

where can I make the best contribution to the world?

Last night a small suggestion at a dinner led to a small opening for producing a piece that was in the back of my mind for a while as a little wish and then this morning an email from someone I had been dreaming with for an exhibition in 2010...so I suppose there is an answer for me.

Do the lot!

Madly packing up my house, getting rid of stuff...so much has dust on it and has not been touched for a while, why do we keep those things?

By handing it on, recycling it -it is going to be valued and used by someone else, rathering than just making a storage issue.

It is sad sometimes the packing up and moving on, this is a whole new phase of my life...yet the closer I get to minimising some of my responsibilities and traveling light for a while the more exciting it seems.

I miss being Mum and hanging with my boys but it is a normal part of life for them to grow up and become independent, about time I did too!

beaded jewelery and fabric painting

Went visiting a friend the other day- she makes the most scumptuous jewelery- I felt like I had opened the treasure chest in Aladdin's cave.
It is mostly based on stitched bead work and she was making a pile of suggestions we might be able to use at Shakti Project for income generation.
[ I am sorry these photos don't have enough sparkle and OOOOHHHH effect- the peices were truely lovely]

Her taste in combining semi-precios stones, perals and glass beads is what makes them work so well, all her suggestions I have noted down and they will become the basis of a design package I can share with those wanting to develop these ideas further at Shakti Project.

I have been excited and nervous about the big move...just saying that makes nervous bubbles pop up....it has been good to go through my stuff, realise what I no longer want and put aside those things that I do want.
Very good therapy!
I used to paint fabric everyday, which

I miss, I then had to sew it into clothes everynight- which I DO NOT Miss at all!This is a dupatta [ a scarf an Indian lady would wear], it is the finest silk ][ you can see the tabletop markings behind it] I am getting ready for my new life based more in India...I love the clothes and feeling so feminie in a Salwar Chemise and scarf...all

floaty and beautiful colours and so feminine...and being foreign I can be a real dinky-di Ozzie girlie some days in a pair of pants and a Tshirt!
I plan to put a beaded edge along the scarf so it drapes well and does not float off with the slightest breeze.

OK off to packing and sneezing for a while, then packing and off to work in warm Cairns, far noth Queensland for the week end!