Gallery
From the time I was a child, I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands. I entered and won many colouring contests. As a teenager, however, working with my hands took on a totally different aspect. I became the family seamstress—out of necessity. My parents didn’t have much money. So it was my job to sew drapes, cushion covers and clothes for my family. I even sewed a suit for my youngest brother to wear on the day of his First Holy Communion.
After I shed my responsibilities as family seamstress, I began to enjoy sewing again. I’ve made countless gifts over the years for baby showers (crib mobiles, stuffed animals, baby blankets and clothes, etc.), birthdays and Christmases.
Since I joined Creative Works Studio about two years ago, however, I find that three creative activities give me the greatest pleasure and help me manage my mental illness most effectively: sculpture, painting and photography. These form the core of my personal medicine.
While I was going to school in Malaysia (the country I came from), we never had the opportunity to work with clay. During my first clay session at Creative Works Studio, I hesitated. I didn’t want to get my hands dirty. Yes, I’m kind of funny that way. However now that I’ve overcome my initial resistance, there’s no stopping me. I’ve made a whole load of ceramic pieces, some of which I shall feature here.
I find it utterly thrilling and a real privilege to be painting again after so many decades away from it. Painting offers me great opportunities for healing, creative expression and just playing.
In April of this year I was so blessed to be able to travel to Singapore, where I enjoyed a glorious visit with my brother, James. I hadn’t seen him in five years. James took me to a huge department store, Mustapha Electronics, known around the world for its great prices. There I picked out a sleek, girly-looking (purple!) digital camera. I absolutely adore this little gadget. It gives me great joy—as I capture moments in time that tug at my heart. I’ve now enrolled in a night course in digital photography so that I can learn to use as many features as possible that this little piece of technology offers.
