International Womans Day 2008

Today I celebrate my good fortune of living in a country that endorses peace and equality for woman. Where I can live and create in a place of peace! I pray for those women less fortunate living in barbaric conditions facing oppression, forced to endure atrocities!

Canada's theme for 2008 is " Strong Woman, Strong World"

Empowered Woman secure a brighter future for everyone

This is a purse I made to commemorate International Woman's Day
I debuted it at Purse-onality, it was met with a few really nice compliments. Pepper scored me a huge canvas bag from a lingerie store, only because she went to great lengths admiring it. The incentive to purchase canvas bag was relinquished free when Pepper offered to buy it! Full of joy she presented it to me knowing it would be perfect to paint on. I painted over the company name with acrylics then coated it with flexible varnish. I put my regular purse inside of it, then when I need an extra bag I quickly remove my purse! It held a large amount of groceries.

This poem was written two years ago for INWD

I thought I'd repost it to go with my purse!

Mother, daughter, Sister, Lover

I am a woman, and I cry when no one can hear
I have huge dreams, I never share
I have fantasies, I dare not reveal
I have unrequited love, that is never recognized

I am the white noise in the home
Persistently preparing, repairing and doing at all times
I love deeply, with vision, constant hope, pride and joy
I have a relentless faith, in life, in god, in family, in future

I carry the burdens and secrets of others
Hold guilt to my heart, where empathy,
Forgiveness and optimism obstinately reside
Often suppressing passion, and creativity

I do my duties without fail, or resentment
I stand alone in my failures and regrets
I give, even when there is but a pittance
I get less, expect less, and take less, feeling like I am less

I am taken for granted, heard with rare acceptance
I am courageous, beyond my expectations
I am the unpaid teacher, waitress, homemaker, and psychologist
I am the solver of problems, and scarcely put first

I have thoughts, I feel ashamed to share
I have wants, I will never reveal
I have needs that no one will heed
I have a lonely soul, which I can not seem to feed

I am a woman, and I cry alone, about what isn’t
What will never be, what is lost, forgotten, not forgiven
Not recognized, or realized, or capitalized, I cry about
Poverty, and love forlorn, for loved ones, and love forgotten

I am a woman, resilient in majestic proportions,
I am a woman, of maternal magnificence
I am a woman, with imperial abilities
I am a unique woman, the queen of my family
And heart of my home!
The other side of my purse also altered has this poem modge podged over the heart, then again coated with varnish!