learning to sing

I sing in choir. Practically my whole life.

It's brought me the most amazingly beautiful, exhilarating, challenging, fun experiences. Met a Best Friend and a Husband. Fortunately I still have the Best Friend.

I love it, and with all this practice and education along the way, I've become a reasonably good singer. It means so much to me that I know I need to improve to keep up up with the rising standard of my current group, Auckland Choral

And therein lies the flaw. I've never had a formal lesson from a singing teacher and I'm terrified to start. All these years I've been hiding in the crowd, gotta have 2 more people or I can't let a sound out.

Why?
  • fear that I've never been any good - this is nonsense! all those successful auditions over the years...
  • fear of constructive criticism - might have to work a bit, too bad
  • fear that it can't get any better - surely must be able to squeeze a few more degrees of beauty
  • fear of change... my old dragon, many times slain and reincarnated

so! tonight I'm going to commit to lessons with Ken Cornish, a singer I greatly admire, and see if I can Get Over It

wearing my art on my sleeve

I made this cuff a couple of years ago at a fun sewing weekend with 2 dear friends.  We each taught a technique.  Portraits & weaving will come here sometime.

This begins with a heavy Pellon foundation covered with velvet, then interesting scraps, ribbons & braids machined down with programmed and free stitches. Cut to shape, decorate the edges, button/beads, loops to close and it's ready to wear.

It's the only piece of my work I wear - and it comes to work sometimes as a Wonderwoman deflector bracelet.  Definitely worked today!