Tribal Fibres as well

There's just so much going on in my life at the moment - and it's one of those cases where if anyone asked me what I was up to I'd be hard pushed to describe it as busy as it feels, but all I know is that it seems like there's a lot on my plate and I'm always busy!! 

Currawong and I are having a 'men are from mars, women are from venus' elongated moment, trying to work out how to communicate so that I can express my feelings without him feeling like I'm hurling accusations at him and telling him he's not good enough.....can other women relate to that one? 

Keep meaning to put more pictures of things for sale on Etsy, but typing minutes, and writing legal letters, and shopping, and giving advice, and listening, and networking and little/big things like that take up vast amounts of time that don't get spent on my passion at the moment. Still. I keep reminding myself how incredibly lucky I am to be able to spend all my time either playing with my kiddies, being part of a community, or plying my passion as it is! 

How incredibly greatful and fortunate I am that I've chosen a life without compromise, so I don't have to do what the majority of folk have to do - mortgage and compromise their souls to pay their mortgage.... I was trying to explain that to Griffyn this morning. Again, I felt so blessed that I've got to explain to him that a huge amount of people in our country have to come up with huge amounts of money just to live in houses, and in order to make that money, they often have to work in jobs they don't really like. I love that it's a strange concept to him and us. 

We live in a community, and pay a minimal rent to live on 86 glorious acres with people we love, no compromise necessary. And because we live on these glorious acres with people we love, we can go on trips when we please, cause we're not working for other people in jobs we don't like, and the people we love will look after our space while we're away. I may be repeating myself, but sometimes I still feel like I gotta pinch myself to see if it's really true! 

And we may be having more opportunity to go travelling soon, because we're not really digging the school thing.......unfortunately it seems that the only thing my Griffy is learning at school is how to get punched in the head, how to recite nasty little rhymes, how to tease people different to him and who are differently mentally abled, and how to get teased constantly. I'm not really up for it. My kids are full on and loud and probably know more things about big concepts than some people think fit, but they're still basically pretty honest and innocent. And I like that. I like them being fairly sheltered from the big mad world. 

And I reckon we can do a lot better a job of teaching them than their school at the moment. Speaking about teaching them - they're so inspired to stay at home at home at the moment that they've pulled out their homeschooling books and I'm helping them as I write this! In answer to my questions about the physical violence and teasing, I'm being told that 'that's just what kids do' and I don't agree. I think that's 'what kids just do' because that's what we allow them to do, instead of taking the opportunity to change those behaviours, say that it's not allright, and teach ourselves and each other how to do conflict differently. 

Cause when you look at the big world stage, it's hard not to notice the big bullies and teasing that's running the world at the moment, and I don't know about you, but I'm not okay with that at all. 

And if I consider that I'm living in the Microcosm of the Macrocosm, then it's up to me to learn and teach within my micro world how to do things differently, respectfully, and for the good of all!! 

Anyway, enough of a rant. I'll keep writing about all this though, because it's what's happening in my life at the moment. 

Here are some more photo's of Tribal Fibres, taken by the beautiful Sienna.

Tribal Fibres

So I didn't take many photos - 3 in fact were all I managed, because there were so many gorgeous people to talk to, women to help dress, and things I wanted to do all while holding Balthazar, who by the time the event finally came, was well and truly over the whole thing. He'd been there since about 11.30 in the morning helping me pfaff the hall though, so he's excused. I was thrilled to see Red Catherine, and Sandy Soul, and my fairy godmother Catherine Christie, as well as so many other folk I didn't expect and was glad to set eyes on. As well, the beautiful Sienna was taking photo's, as well as other folk, and some videos were being taken, so I figured Sienna's photos would be heaps better than mine so I let my trigger finger rest!

You wanna know the very best thing about Tribal Fibres?? When the people who've bought my wares in the past heard I was doing it, and it would be an exhibition kind of thing, every single one of them who came along brought thier wearable art with them, sure that if I was displaying my art I'd want thier particular artwork as well!! I got to see all my old friends again, brought in bags and baskets to revisit the creatrix..... I'm so glad that the folk who have bought my 'yarns' love them so much that they take them visiting!! And expect that they belong in my exhibitions.... Just wish I'd had more room! Ha! I could fill a couple of halls with the creations that have gone to other homes...

What can I say to truly describe what a wonder and joy it was, to finally see such a long held dream come true - to see my creations moving and swaying and being danced in! By such gorgeous women no less... With all the luscious tribal accoutrements to add to the overall visual splendour. I was buzzing the whole night...

And there was a sweet little ole lady who nearly everybody I've talked to had a story about. She sure got around. She was introduced to me as Alison's mother, and she was a hoot! Had a lot to say about a lot of things.

Grasshopper was spectacular as usual, and the guests just rounded out their general brilliance beautifully. I especially loved those flutes. The Faerie Queen and Lizard Queen were generally splendid, and it was wonderful to see them strut their stuff and their beautiful creations again. It struck me in the wee sleepy hours that the core of the event was the Maccy Market crew, and we are so bonded and committed and used to each other and working together, that the whole thing just slid along in the flow without a hitch. And we all did well!! Everyone had a great result in their particular passion....

I wonder if we could and would and should do it again...with a few different items and dancers and flavours added in.....

Stay tuned for more photo's when Sienna's come online.....

I dream of Etsy

Yeah, I know, I know, haven't been writing on here much lately, but there's been a lot going on! Getting ready for Tribal Fibres has been consuming most of my time, and I'm realising as I'm writing this that I don't think I've even mentioned Tribal Fibres yet.......nope, I haven't.

Picture this. Gorgeous tribal belly dancers, dancing to rhythms and moods from muscled, good looking and grooving drummers and flute players, and wearing my wearable art, the Lizard Queens stunningly unique and funky recycled and innovative fashions, and Hannah Faerie's one of a kind, ceramic jewellery. I love the alchemical mix that we're brewing with this event, and I'm starting to suspect it may be one of many...

But that's not why I'm writing this quickly inbetween wrapping wire and finishing off belts, I'm writing because I finally listed some things with Etsy. Not some of my more stunning things granted, but things nonetheless. And at least it's a start. I don't know why, but I was a bit phobic about putting things for sale on the internet. And now I've done it I don't know why....

So we went out the back of our community and decided the water tanks were a good backdrop, and inbetween squalling babies, cooking dinner, and trying to get that gorgeous late sunlight, we squeezed in some good shots!

The best ones were of my man (of course) but the green head got a look in too.

Stay tuned for some sumptuous shots of Tribal Fibres soon to come, and in the future I'm going to go on a bit of a rave about a Self-Taught Guild - a guild for people who have found their own path to their passions, without doing courses, or university degrees or gaining any other form of outside sanction to pursue thier driving concerns. A guild to support, inspire, and give words to the esteem you have when you've worked something out for yourself, and have let the inspiration flow purely from your heart, untainted by anyone else's experience or 'rules'. I've realised I have a lot to say on this subject, and my sister reminded me of a conversation we had about a year ago about the virtues of the self taught anything. The idea turned into a Guild today, and I'm liking it.