Just clicked into the blog and it said I hadn't visited for 8 months, 16 hours and 32 minutes.  Not possible I say!!!!!  No Joy - you're not that disorganised - are you????  Aaagh.                                               

Have recently read 'Eat, Pray, Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert - loved it!  Have tried meditation many times of the years - have all the books!!! - but after reading Elizabeth's book decided to give it another try and now can't wait to get back to my little 'spot' each morning and night.  It's said that meditation helps organise ones life - and it is quite amazing that it seems to be working!  I've been achieving soooo much more each day - and have even made it back to the blog.

Getting organised for classes starting next week with Pam Grose.  That woman is the best - and we're all excited about the projects she has for us.  If you haven't taken a class with Pam you really are missing out on same valuable instruction!  Jill Maas will be here in August too teaching - we are certainly fortunate!!!

Next month we have our 'Grumpy Goddess' get together, where everyone brings along an idea of something they'd like to try - and we work it out together and have a 'play'.  In past get togethers we've covered some really interesting topics, trying things we weren't game to try on our own.  We've learned heaps and had tons of fun along the way - of course solving a few of the worlds problems while we are at it!

Am doing TAX at the moment - that three letter word.  I can't say this aloud but am doing the last three years!!!!  Isn't that a disgrace - but at last am in to it and will have it all finished by the end of the week - what a relief!  What will the fines be.  Hate to think - but my fault!

Better get back to it.  Also sending out Art Doll 1/4 magazines etc - so they will be in hot little hands over the next few days.  Now I've taken the plunge, hopefully I'll be back soon with more time and more news!  Hope all is well in your retreat.  Happy creating!  Joy

Just sent this in - the title 'Where have you been?' came up - but no writing.  Did I do dat????

Well - success.  See how I go this time.

Here we are in Rajasthan, on our way to Gujarat - both interesting states in the north west of India.  It has truly been an amazing holiday so far - India is really too incredible and too different to describe!  The colours of the saris just take your breath away - the women are so beautiful and take such care, decked in beads, bracelets, nose rings, toe rings etc! 

Finally purchased some fabric!  It takes some time to get used to the 'system', and the bargaining.  Went yesterday and watched the fabrics block printed.  We went out to a factory, which was a stroke of luck as we'd been shown the process several times at the parts of factories they show the tourists.  It really is too much to think that the fabrics are completed totally by printing with small blocks!  The placement is perfect each time - years of practice I guess - and some have four or five colour overlays.  The part they don't show normally is the young lads out in the big vats of acid and something else - a neutraliser - can't think now what it was - but these young boys up to their knees in chemicals stomping on the fabric.  Life is so cheap here - what are they absorbing?  The same in another place we went - young boys embroidering saris.  They are embroidered - all over - all by hand!  I couldn't imagine it was done by hand - but seeing is believing.  The factory owner said they go to school in the morning (????) - and then work in the afternoon.  All looked quite good - but we pushed open another door we weren't supposed to - and the room was dark and chocker block full of kids working - how long will there eyes last.  All I can do is give donations to organisations that fight for workers rights.  It is taking along time - but changes are being made.

Reading in the paper about a woman committing suicide over dowry demands - and young lads being murdered as their neighbours were arguing with the boys parents - woman bleeding to death on road as no one would help her!  Life is soooo cheap - and yet there is so much beauty and history as well - and so many developments happening.  The women's organisations are strong in some areas, forming co-operatives to sell their crafts.  Maybe the boys need more support.  They have small hands and can do the embroidery.

I could talk for hours - but patient Russ is sitting and waiting.  We are at Pushkar today - off to Ahmebad tonight.  Planned to go by train but couldn't get on.  The roads are quite scary - madmen!

In the cities there don't seem to be any road rules - and it works!  Cars just cut straight across each other at roundabouts - and people let them in.  No aggression!  Horns toot non stop - and that warns people ''I'm coming thru" - and everyone just co-operates. 

Hope all is well with you wonderful folk at home .  Miss all the news - but will catch up soon.  Take care - happy creating.  Talk again in a few days - hope this one goes thru - really annoying the last couple went into cyberspace!  All the best.  Joy