A Cup of Tea with Me

Most of my life, my scales have balanced more heavily toward the wallflower end than the social butterfly one.

A happy day is working in the studio by myself, sometimes with music but usually in silence, a tea break whenever I want one and having a good giggle as I finish up the latest collage or art doll thinking, “I’m just having too much fun!” My self thinks I’m pretty good company and the never-ending list of things to do is far too long to ever become lonely (I think). Friendships are important but have always been three or four of quality rather than of quantity. Is that a Gemini trait?

Despite the fact that I like working alone, having a few art friends over would be a welcome change. Maybe a show and tell of recent projects rather than getting out all the supplies to actually create something. I don’t work well when I have to converse at the same time. You know…'can’t walk and chew gum'….that’s me, only it’s 'can’t carry on intelligent conversation and paint at the same time'. Or glue. Or cook. Open plan kitchens aren’t for me, at least if you don’t want a scorched dinner. Here, have some nibblies, leave me to myself for a shake while I get things ready and after dinner we can talk till the wee hours.

The times I’ve gotten together with my art and craft friends to have a 'a day of it' the afternoon somehow drifts off course when somebody asks “Do you know how to [insert craft conundrum here]?” Must be the instructor part of my brain saying, “Come on, tell them, you have the information they need.” Next thing you know we’ve got a mini-workshop happenin’!

Many times, I don’t know how to do it, but I can think on my feet and invent as I go along. This comes in handy during workshops because nobody can tell if it’s something dreamed up on the spot or if it’s a technique you’ve employed for years. It helps to have a pencil always at hand to jot down the things that do work. Another thing I don’t do well is remembering. This necessitated a page, no – a section, in my household notebook entitled Things & Where I Put Them. “Remember those red charger plates I bought on sale last Christmas? Has anybody seen them??”