haven't written in (quite) a while...

...but I promise to be better.

Recently, I have been cheking out many different crafters' blogs and have been really inspired.  Firstly, to make "stuff" and secondly, to update my blog more frequently.  I must convince myself that blogging mustn't be profound.

So my resolution is to write more and make more.  I already created a drawing/sketching/doodling/writing/scribbling journal.  Maybe I'll take pics of it once in a while and add them on here.  Also, since I have been living in Poland, Ihaven't really been making too much.  I did weave a bit this summer, and I have crocheted a few hats, but I am nowhere near the US output levels.  This MUST and WILL change.

Maybe I should talk about what I've been up to in the last year since moving to Poland.
1.  I have been teaching English.  I love it!
2. I got a puppy, her name is Inka.  (Will try to add pictures - she's adorable.)
3. I am studying art therapy.
4. I will have my bedroom remodeled before the holidays.
5. I got engaged. (Wedding July 2008)
Those are probably the biggest things.  I feel like I've accomplished so much more, but they're smaller things and some of them are less tangible.  Some can only be understood by others who have moved here to Poland (like dealing with government offices - don't get me started).

I am working on some major projects that may determine the focus of my life for the next few years.  Some I cannot divulge just yet, but one that I can is the Art Factory Artist Residence Program (more info:  http://www.myspace.com/artfactorybialystok ).


Today was a beautiful day.  I had the opportunity to sleep in until about 1 p.m.  It was snowing most of the day and the dog was going crazy (she can see through the balcony door what is going on outside).  In the evening (around 11 p.m.), Pawel and I went out for a walk with her and she just loved it.  We were throwing snowballs to her and she would catch them and eat them.  Then we went to our usual spot, behind the puppet theater and just by the new opera (being built at the moment), and we built a snowman.  I don't think I've done that in a few years.  I intend to go back tomorrow and photograph it if it's still up.  Although chances are small, because it's raining now, so it will probably melt.

Christmas Eve pictures at my grandparents' taken by Pawełek

my grandparents' Christmas tree


self-portrait by Pawełek


Marta and Janusz and some of the 12 Wigilia dishes (some were vegan)




 

An essay on hats

Think back to the first time you ever heard of hats. There are many factors which influenced the development of hats. Until recently considered taboo amongst polite society, hats is not given the credit if deserves for inspiring many of the worlds famous painters. Inevitably hats is often misunderstood by the over 50, who just don't like that sort of thing. Relax, sit back and gasp as I display the rich tapestries of hats.

Social Factors

While some scholars have claimed that there is no such thing as society, this is rubbish. When The Tygers of Pan Tang sang 'It's lonely at the top. Everybody's trying to do you in' [1] , they could have been making a reference to hats, but probably not. More a melody to societies dysfunctions than a parody of the self, hats is crunchy on the outside but soft in the middle.

Primarily hats builds trust among the people. To put it simply, people like hats.

Economic Factors

Our world is driven by supply and demand. We will begin by looking at the Custard-Not-Mustard model using the median instead of the mean, where possible.

Housing Prices
		hats

It is apparent from the graph that the influence of hats is strong. What is the secret to its strength? Of course housing prices looms over hats this cannot be a coincidence. Supply Side Economic Tax Cuts Tax deductions could turn out to be a risky tactic.

Political Factors

Much of the writings of historians display the conquests of the most powerful nations over less powerful ones. Placing theory on the scales of justice and weighing it against practice can produce similar results to contrasting 0

To quote the famous political Bartholomew H. Amster 'The success of any political system can only truly be assessed once the fat lady has sung.' [2] I couldn't have put it better my self. When it comes to hats this is clearly true. Perhaps the word which sums up the importance of hats to politics is 'participation'.

While hats may be a giant amongst men, is it a dwarf amongst policy? I hope not.

Conclusion

How much responsibility lies with hats? We can say that hats may not be the best thing since sliced bread, but it's still important. It collaborates successfully, 'literally' plants seeds for harvest, and is always fashionably late.

As a parting shot here are the words of super-star Ozzy Poppins: 'I would say without a shadow of a doubt: hats ROCKS!!! [3]

---

[1] Tygers of Pang Tang - The Cage - 1982 MCR Records

[2] Amster - The Popular Vote - 2002 Worldwide Publishing

[3] Your guide to hats - Issue 98 - T36 Publishing

Paideia

Maciek making sure I work hard.

The result of not working hard enough or maybe not effective teaching.

I can't remember. It hurt though.

Me pretend teaching a pretend Business English class.

NEWS: September 16, 10-13:30, we will have an open house for parents and children for the English Through Art for Kids course. If you are in Bialystok, have children or know anyone who does, you should come for mask decorating and more information.

Paideia ul. Ciepla 1 tel. 0 516 783 995

Also, we are starting private conversation courses with native speakers. Call the above number for more information.

some pictures from Gierzyce (I think that's how you spell it)

thoughts on Bialystok.....

Wow!!! So much can happen in a month! I am in love with the most amazing man in the world, and what' even better is that he loves me just as much. ( I am a pretty amazing woman, after all.) I can't believe how well we get along, and how much fun we have together, and how much we have in common. I could probably gush on about this for hours, so all I will say is that I am in LOVE and this is it. This is the real thing, and it's the most wonderful feeling in the world.

Another thing I am excited about is the Education Center a few of us are working on.  It is called Paideia Education Center, and our mission is to build a cultural community in 
Bialytok by providing a meeting space for education and self development.  We provide cultural activities, such as art classes and exhibitions, guest speakers, and trips.  Paideia also offers support for foreign visitors staying in Bialystok.  

We offer:
-- art gallery
-- art classes (in English for children and adults)
-- health and wellness lectures
-- business English classes
-- conversation classes with American native speakers
-- introduction to Polish language and culture
-- international student services

The GRAND OPENING will be September 30.  We will open with an art exhibition.  Give people a chance to check us out and give a presentation of what we are and what we're doing.

A few nice things about Bialystok that I didn't expect:
-- I can find a lot of vegan things that I need, although I am still hoping for almond milk
-- there is even an organic beauty store
-- there is a great vegetarian Indian restaurant that is cheap
-- I learned to like beer, but I may never learn to like vodka

I have been cooking a lot now.  Mostly because I have the time, and it's a good way to kill a few hours.  And it's cheaper (most of the time), and definately healthier.  My newest experiment was veggie burgers from scratch, which isn't that easy, but they came out good.  I gave it another try yesterday with some Indian spices and they came out even better.  Pawel and I have been cooking a lot together, which is so much fun.  Sometime soon I plan on baking my own vegan bread (whole wheat with sunflower seeds, of course).

That's it for now. I will write more in the future.

Ula, Michal, Asia, and Pawel in Bialystok

last fall collection images

some more hats from the fall collection