Fabric collage by Catherine Darcy

I will be running a craft group for Dromana Community House next term on Thursday Evenings from 6:30 – 9:30pm.  It will essentially be a tips and techniques class looking at lots of mixed media and textile art methods.  Please contact the coordinator Michelle if you are interested:

Email:  info@dromanacommunityhouse.org.au
Website:  www.dromanacommunityhouse.org.au

As I look around me, a couple of hours before my friend arrives for the night, I have gone into a panic at the state of the house, and yet here I am writing my blog. I know that by the time I finish writing I will be so far behind that I will be hit with a wave of remorse, aka guilt, for spending so much time doing what I want to do and not doing what I should be doing. I hate that word…

Well I’m back and only 5 days have passed! Five! I can’t believe it and I still haven’t done half of the things I meant to. Oh well, bit of bad luck really. Last Thursday I started my knitting and crochet group and I blissfully realised on that morning, that I could sit back and knit for the whole afternoon and not even worry about what I should be doing – I am working!! Don’t you love it when you find a way to feel totally at peace with spending hours doing what you want? I think I actually love my job. I’m off to hunt through my bags of wool and patterns. Hope your world is being kind to you!

Source image: Happy Woman Isolated by Petr Kratochvil

Alas, I struggle on.  “Tomorrow,”  I say, “thank God there is always tomorrow!”  Actually tomorrow I am going to Melbourne to attack the last bastion – Youtube!! I’ve done one of the free workshops through Chisholm and Auz industry and thought I knew it all. Yes I did have a go at uploading myself but I ended up with two Google accounts and I’m not really sure how. Very scary – brings on the breathing in a paper bag again! (Just when I thought I was getting the handle on being IT savvy.)  Another headache for my poor friend who helps me with (read ‘does’) my IT stuff! Oh well – don’t try, can’t learn and it is lots of fun.  Been checking out lots of things on YouTube and the net – amazing amount of information out there.

Just as I was about to start my lesson plan for my class delivery assignment Robyn has rung and needs a quick lesson over the phone on how to use Inktense pencils.  Alas I will have to go talk ‘creative’! thank God there is always tomorrow – the lesson plan can wait another day!

Cath

The teacher decided to play her favourite game from Spicks and Specks – yes, you guessed it: “What was your first concert?”  Oh my God!  How do I do this one?! She starts at the other side of the room and by the time it gets to me I can feel my heart pumping – do I skip 20 years and say someone I saw in the 90s or do I  ’fess up’ and go for my first ever concert in the 70s? Oh God I say… ” I don’t know if you will know him”… I think I am embarrassed to say it. (Oh my God, was it really that long ago?) I blurt it out – yes, Festival Hall circa early 70s – Roy Orbison!! I sigh a sigh of relief, for I have chosen a path of truth, in the spirit of the game! (I’m not sure if the teacher really did know who he was or if she was just being kind – but there were a lot of blank faces around me).

Alas I say, I survived, although it would have been a hoot to compare my first concert with more of my contemporaries, so come on girls – get out there, have a go.  Do a course, join a group, do a workshop, whatever – it’s really good fun and it makes you feel good about yourself.

Did you know that if you don’t already hold a nationally recognized qualification that you can be subsidised by the government in the VET (Vocational, Educational and Training) Sector? The range of courses and training available is huge and covers many areas. Many other colleges have great courses, as do community centres and neighbourhood houses, consider doing one just for fun or interest or to further your work life. You never know where one thing can lead you to.

Cath
ps I still love the ‘Big O’.  Now I’m off to do my homework!

Source image: Creating Her Own Way by Frits Ahlefeldt

That was  the catch cry from my youth (one of them anyway) – can’t remember who said it but I think of it every time I sit in front of my blog or my Facebook site.

I have always seen myself as a Luddite who is hopeless with technology, and I must admit I would much rather sew than play on a PC, but the thing I now realise is that I have always basically taught myself – unfortunately, not always very well!  I have been blessed with a determined spirit and so I press on, albeit with much swearing, screaming and ranting.  When the dog slinks out of the room with her tail down, I know I have lost the plot and need to ‘walk away’ and go make a cup of tea! (she slinks like that when I’m watching the footy too! I call it passion, others may say madness).

However,  I am now seriously searching out information and determined to learn things that I always believed were out of my reach.  It becomes demystified when someone explains it to you, or teaches you in a way that you can understand (unlike the ’12-year-old’ who works at a particular mobile phone shop. Isn’t there a law against minors working?) and I am finding it a lot of fun although sometimes frustrating.

I still can’t work out how I send messages to myself when I think I’m sending them to someone else! Who cares, practice makes perfect. The thing I do love about technology is the incredible range of information out there that can bring such a richness to our artwork and connect us to like-minded people. And lots of it is free. My next project is to learn how to use Google/gmail as it has so many fabulous tools that are free. I am working on a couple of joint projects and hope to set up files that we can both use at the same time. Alas, I will have to wait till my niece comes to visit.

I used to have an address book with “I can’t believe it I forgot to have children” on the front – when it comes to keeping up with technology, I can see I really have missed out!

Cath

Postscript: Amazing! Since writing the above, I was reading a magazine and saw an ad for a person doing workshops called ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’ based on the book by Susan Jeffers!  There you go, spooky.

Source image: Help Key by Petr Kratochvil

I’m sitting here in my little house staring out the window and wondering how it got so cold so quickly. Not that I’m complaining – I love the changing seasons! But my office is at the other end of the house where the heater is and I can’t stand the buzz of the small portable one, so easy to be distracted! One of the problems of having all my textile art stuff cohabiting with my office stuff is that there is a constant pull to go and play when I am trying really hard to keep my focus on all things ‘business’.

Just sent some great photos to The Shire’s Arts on the Peninsula blog. They are posting all our classes which is great and they have great information for all of us here on God’s own peninsula! I so love it here. I love being so close to the water. We had a massive Norfolk Pine across the road which I loved and defended it to every visitor who said ‘shame about the tree’. The other week it was cut down and I admit I had a little cry as it was being slowly dismantled, it felt like torture. It wasn’t my tree and so I just went about trying to find the ‘joy’ about it all and one night, not long after I walked into the room as the sun was going down, I looked up and thought I was looking at Atlantis! The Melbourne skyline which I couldn’t see before was absolutely beautiful. I suppose I am the eternal optimist but I do believe you have to deal with the hurt and then find the best in every situation. Now I look every night to see what beautiful view awaits me. Bit like my new business I suppose. It was painful closing and losing Pamela but now as I am sitting here with Harold the cat on the table and Lily the dog at my feet, I think that life is pretty darn good.

Well, I think writing this constitutes good work done! so now I can go and play for a while! Um… the dishes are still waiting, I haven’t sent that email, I have to send those photos on, haven’t done that flyer for Tina’s scarf class, got clothes in the machine ………….bugger!

Cath

Source image: Sea And Horizon by Petr Kratochvil

I will of course let you all know when the exhibition will be.

As most of you are also aware, Robyn has been having treatment since we closed the shop. I am happy to say that she has just finished and is doing very well.  We expect to see her lovely self wandering around those shoe shops and boutiques very soon.

Life is full of wonderful and sad moments, I remember reading recently that life is never ‘all good or all bad’ it ebbs and flows between the two.  I am referring particularly of course to the birth (unexpected as most of you know, because I bored you to death with the story) of my nephew Peter. He is three months old now and is just a little bundle of Joy.  It is amazing just how much love one tiny little thing can generate.  Thanks to all of you who were interested in his arrival. Just wanted to let you know that he is perfect and his Mum and Dad are doing well too!

Back to Business…..

Our website, stationery, etc, are still undergoing changes to reflect the new setup but I just wanted to outline briefly how Textile Artistry Online works.

My first intention is to continue running high end, high standard Textile Art Classes on the Mornington Peninsula. Thanks to your kind participation in my survey, I was happy to find information that has helped me restructure and to be clear on what we offer. Our main client group is ‘women of a certain age’ many of whom have built up skills in the art and craft field and who are looking to take those skills into new areas. It takes courage to learn something new, to step outside your comfort zones (I know I’ve just been to TAFE!).  One of the things that we offer is a safe and happy place to do that.  So rest assured the cakes and chocolates will continue, as will the high standard of delivery. Classes will be in a range of venues including the Dromana Community House, Mt Eliza Community Centre, Main Ridge and the Old Shire Offices in Dromana.

Secondly, I will be offering teachers, suppliers and other artisans the opportunity to advertise their own classes or products via my web and list. This will mean that you will be able to check out other classes and profiles of teachers you may have an interest in.

Thirdly, I will be running Specials each month which will give you the opportunity to buy products at discounted prices.  I am only going to hold a small range of products and will extend the range as I go.

Considering that many people have requested my assistance in helping them move into teaching or to help work through an issue with their own planning or businesses, I am also available for sound boarding/mentoring.  If you think I can help you with any of the above, please get in touch.

I have booked a number of fantastic teachers over the year and by next year hope to have a more comprehensive list much earlier in the year.  It is difficult to get some artists here as plane flights and accommodation costs, on top of the teaching fees and small classes, makes it too expensive.  I am looking at a number of ways to share the costs with other groups, associations and businesses to try and keep costs reasonable. It looks fairly certain that Martien van Zuilen, feltmaker, teacher and community artist will be joining us in October. Martien is the founder of the Victorian Feltmakers Inc who now resides in Perth.  What a wonderful legacy she has left Victoria and we will be honoured to have her here. You can check out her site on: www.martienvanzuilen.com

Victoria also has many unique and talented artists and we are extremely happy to welcome Catherine O’Leary and Phyllis Hoffman to our classes along with local artists Tina Whitely and Lee Vause.  We welcome back Marilyn Townsend, Connie Wheeler and Jill Taylor. Other classes are in the pipeline and will be updated accordingly.  Carole Redlich and I also have a plan and if we can ever get together again we will put it into action.  Carole is now living in Colac so it’s not that easy to catch up but stay tuned!

I will endeavour to run a number of Introduction/beginner classes to give people an opportunity to get their techniques up to date for some of the more involved classes coming up.  I realise that with using such talented people, the costs of classes are expensive so I am happy to work out a payment plan for people if this helps. Just let me know.

I have finally set up a Facebook page so there is a forum for you to communicate.  You can find it at:

www.facebook.com/pages/Textile-Artistry-Online/124831200928759

(If we get more than 25 people clicking its ‘Like’ button, we can get a much better Facebook address)

Once I’m over the terror of learning new technology I hope to use it regularly.  It will be a great follow up for classes where you will be able to swap stories or check out information from workshops you have attended. It will be nice to have a place to share what you’ve done since the workshop with others who were there.  Often too there are things or bits of information that we can’t remember when we get home and try to do it ourselves, so this will be a great tool.

Hope you are all well and happy and have a lovely Easter Break.

Cath

Let’s make this a place to learn and to unleash your creative spirit!

You may have noticed that our website is starting to undergo some changes accordingly – stay tuned as we provide more information.  If you have any queries, we’d love to hear from you.