Creative Cafe Members Introductions

[Jill]

It has occured to me that we have nowhere in particular on Creative Cafe for members to introduce themselves to the group and so I hope you will all be able to do that here now.

Just to start things off I am Jill and I live in Brighton in the UK. I started Creative Cafe with a small group of volunteer friends and some donations in 2007 and we opened the site in November. I have a mental health disability and we have made a point of saying 'Don't Let Disability Mean Inequality' but not in pushing disability issues on this site. Mainly I'd like to show that although a high per cent of our members do have disabilities we can hold our own when it comes to creativity in this world. I think this shows up each week in each new Spotlight Slideshow where it is impossible to tell the difference between the photos contributed by members who are disabled and those who are not unless we are featuring a particular member who addresses the subject. To test this have a look at the Spotlight slideshow and see if you can guess which photos are the work of those with disabilities and which are not?
I enjoy being a volunteer organiser for Creative Cafe even though I have found that there is a lot more work behind the scenes to be done than I imagined there would be.

Apart from Creative Cafe my interests include reading, patchwork, music,suduko puzzles, drinking a lot of coffee and playing with Dickens the cat!

Update February 2011

I have now got a serious physical disability in the form of COPD which makes breathing difficult and is very tiring as well as the mental health disability. In the last year we have seen a lot of attacks on disabled people here in the UK in the form of being called names and having our disability benefits threatened. I have therefore become a lot more politically active and joined protest groups to try and protect the best interests of disabled people. I believe that in order that our saying "Don't Let Disability Mean Inequality" has a chance to become reality we disabled people need proper benefits and services which put us on an equal playing field.

 

Bye for Now

Jill

 

[Josephine]

Hi, I'm Josephine. I'm from San Francisco California. I do oil paintings and household crafts made from recycled goods. I am on ning promoting my website, which is dedicated to relieving stress in pregnant women.

[Tina Donovan]

Hello there!
My name is Tina and I am a freelance artist. I paint in oils and with pastels and make the odd installation projects. Creativity is the best thing in the world. I went to art school to find out about the business side of this trade and to have access to countless art books and art history lectures. Before this I was pretty much self taught. I love libraries, books, 2nd hand book shops, art galleries, sculpture parks, and architectural structures. I have an interest in environmental issues as well as humanitarian and human rights issues.
I am also a big believer that the world should slow down. Unfortunately it is the little people that end up getting caught up in this whirlwind.
I also have 2 wonderful children who I love dearly. They are so funny and make me laugh a lot. And I am proud of them.

[Josephine]

i totally agree, the world does need to slow down.

[Princess2008]

Hi all, I did introduce myself before hehe and I think a few people know a bit about me from my where do you come from post but anyhow I am living in Tunisia but was born in England and packed up and moved here just 2 years ago. I am living with my fiance and we get married in May. He is actually the creative one and I just kinda follow behind but I love it and have found something I enjoy doing, we have started a wedding business where we make hand-made tulles, candles etc and are hoping to expand. Otherwise thats about it, I love to read and write - I love writing articles and over the last few months have also been working as a freelance writer as well as being a teacher.

[Jade]

Hi everyone my name is Jade and I have just signed up to the site. This place looks very interesting so I'm looking forward to looking around and seeing what I can offer to this community.

[WILMA (aka Julia)]

Been here a while now but BIG hellow to you all and hopw your enjoying whatever is is that brought you here to this fantastic site!

I make hand crafted greetings cards for any and every occasion, wedding invitations and various items of wedding statioanry, cake toppers and lots lots more......Im totally addicted to crafting....

Im married to David and live with our Daughter Kate whos a little star and very level headed at 14, not to forget my gorgeous puppy Charlie lol

Im currently dependant on my wheelchair for all outdoor trips and use stick and the walls furntiture etc indoors!

Im disabled due to a neurological illness (suspected MS) so now can not work in my previous role as an Ambulance Driver/attendant which I loved!

However, as I love crafting so much Ive set up a little business so its keeps me busy when Im well enough to do anything!!

Had a few weeks of bad days lately so not a lot of crafting been done but heres to healthier good days!!!

So thats me.....Wilmaflinstone....Julia!

xxx

[LizzyT]

Hi, I'm LizzyT, I am from South Yorkshire in the UK. I am married, work part-time, I have a 7 year old daughter, 2 grown up children and 2 grandchildren. In my spare time (!!!!) I like to make jewellery, I also love to knit and crochet. I sell the things I make in my shop on Etsy - http://lizzyt.etsy.com. Another interest of mine is my blog - http://lizzytdesigns.blogspot.com.

[Jill]

Hi and a BIG Welcome

to all our great Creative Cafe members in this discussion.

Just wanted to say that you are welcome to start a discussion to promote your own website or project and they go in this category: SEE HERE

We are now getting picked up in the search engines so it is also a good idea to add tags to what you write and to any photos you upload.

Bye for Now
Jill

[Jill]

Hi

Thought I would put this discussion up to feature again and see if some of our many new members will join in introducing themselves and hope we will all get to know each other better.

Bye for Now
Jill

[Jill]

Hi Gayle

Good to have you join us. I like patchwork as well although I don't get so much time for it these days. I used to spend hours and hours doing patchwork projects. I really like the one you have on your etsy shop at the moment.

Everyone is welcome. The more the merrier around here I hope!

Bye for Now
Jill

[Jill]

Hi Denise

I am glad we are being listed on google now anyway! Thankyou for joining us and for the blogs you have added already which are full of some very useful information and references. Very interesting.

Bye for Now
Jill

[Dawn Howard]

Hi, Im Dawn from Manchester and I work as a freelance artist. I love anything creative ....card making, pottery, quilling, beading, flower arranging....just to name a few! I look forward to finding new crafts I haven't yet tried.