3/31/2005

Filed under: General by site admin

I returned to the Children’s Palace today and “my” girls. Today we made trading cards. Again collaging with fabric, objects, ribbon and magazines. The Children’s Palace is a former Soviet building with a gold dome. Today it offers programs for children but with a fee. I learned that many of the girls in my group are from poor families from southern Almaty. I am amazed at how well they follow directions. Not once did they use the fabric scissors for paper. Unfortunately the idea of actually trading the cards did not happen but this is not bad for they seldom get to keep anything they make so I am happy to tell them that I don’t want their works. Again it is so hard for me to understand the Soviet mind. They were at first hesitant to create something of thier own and not something that came from me. I am deeply sad when our time ended. And happy to know that the girls also wanted more time together. I can only plant a seed of love and hope that it is nutured.

The crowd for the afternoon was HUGE! We ran out of chairs. Again they are sponges just wanting to absorb all I have to offer. They find my interest in their textiles interesting but they hunger for new while I want them to appreciate and use their past. They want me to return. It is hard because my heart is still with Georgia but if I could I would help anyone and everyone. My only frustration was that people took more than the fabric than was offered. I don’t know if I have enough to demo tomorrow but how can I fault them. We have so much and they have so little. Again I am reminded that I am blessed. I can only hope that you too will know that you are too. Karen