About Me & This Blog

ME AND THIS BLOG

It's hard to write something about one's self without it sounding like a resume for a job.  It can be too self-important, too desperate or just plain boring.  I can't guarantee this will be any better   - but here goes:

I'm not sure that we know when we are children that we are learning skills that will last a lifetime.  As a young teenager in London, England, watching my maternal grandmother as she made the most amazing flowers from paper I didn't realise that I was being injected with the 'creative bug'.  Neither did I realise that my paternal grandmother was doing her bit of inoculation when she allowed me to practice with her treadle sewing machine.

Of course, my father was the initial instigator and daily supervising instructor.  He was a real handyman kind of guy.  He could do anything:  Mend a clock, build a shelf, cook a roast dinner or polish a floor.  An unusual man for his time he saw nothing odd in teaching his daughter how to hold a bunch of brads (very small nails) in her mouth prior to hammering them into an object.

In due course all these sub-conscious lessons came together.

I became a mother — my most creative job so far!

I became a painter - not very good, judging by the fact that I didn’t make any money doing it.

I became a writer,  This afforded a little more monetary success. My 'How-To' articles included making balloons from fabric, a children's slide from wood, and building a fort for play.  I remember one time my editor wanted to focus on gymnastics for very young children.  So, I built a trampoline from a tire, a balance beam from a piece of 4" x 4", a collapsible high jump and various other items.  I think I had as much fun building it as the children had playing with it. 

Other published articles were often of a humourous bent.

I am old now.  My saws and my hammers are long gone away to never, never land.  My sewing machine occasionally makes a temporary appearance.  However, I have cupboards full of fabric which will eventually turn to dust if this machine does not come out more often.

My latest booster shot for my 'creative bug' came when I discovered Adobe Photoshop.

Now, I'm resurrecting my writing skills as I type as fast as I can in an effort to recall as many of my cockney youth stories before they too turn to dust along with me.

Thank you for reading so far.  I did warn you that it might be boring!

Should you by any chance wish to learn what I've done with all my creative learning I would be honoured if you visit my stores at ETSY:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/arttoart  - this one's been around forever!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Printopolis  - this one's more to do with printing - you probably got that from the name, eh?

https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/LearnToDoIt  - some patterns and some items I've sewn and constructed.

Phyllis