My friend, Susan Eyde, used to live in Lansing. We danced together in an apprentice troupe called B’nat Habibi (Sisters of Habibi… the main troupe is called Habibi Dancers).

Susan moved to Tucson, Arizona right before all the remaining B’nat apprentices auditioned into the main troupe. I miss her very much. I do keep getting news of her now and then, and once in a while she comes back to Lansing. When I’m lucky I’ll run into her at Altu’s Restaurant or New Aladdin’s.

Well, Susan was just interviewed for a long article in the Tucson Weekly. Susan is doing a sort of modern twist on the style of dance I perform. My teacher (Yasmina Amal) studies in Egypt and with other mideastern teachers, and does her best to stay with their styles and techniques. Susan studied with my teacher when we were learning, but then she on her own and is developing her own style. She’s electric on stage, and it’s no surprise to me that she is doing well in art-filled Tucson.

You might like to read the article. I only wish their photo were larger. The photo here I took in April 2000, when Susan was performing at a dance club in Dearborn (near Detroit).

I can not stick to only one artform. It’s interesting, because for about 8 years I swore I was a “one song canary” and I did art only with polymer clay. How much I’ve changed since then!!!

A year ago we were at Meijer (local discount mega-store) and they were closing out sandals. In the little girls’ department there were some marked XL, which fit me perfectly (I wear a size 6US shoe and have slightly narrow feet). They were something like $1.50USD. Brian bought them for me.

I loved how they fit, but they were pastel and very very girly. They had three buckles, all shaped like a heart and colored in pastels (pink, lavender and blue). Ugh. I am not a girly-girl. But they fit so well!!! And it’s so hard for me to find something that fits!

Well, the sandals I had last year finally literally split in two. I had to do something and do it fast. This year’s ladies’ sandals at Meijer fit differently and are not comfy. Boo Hoo. So out come the girly sandals.

I glued together the broken old sandals long enough to get to Michigan Fiber Fest. Then at night after classes were over, I schemed. I got some chip-resistant nail polish enamel and painted the hearts a shiny magenta color, several coats. Then the next night I got out my permanent felt-tip markers, and I decorated the heck out of the boring white leather.

I love these sandals!!! They do have their own personality and they definitely clash with a lot of my printed/flowered skirts. I love them for what they are!

And here’s my secret out to the world: These are my very own Fast Florida Footies. As in, the first ones I ever kept and wore.

I have knit at least 3-4 pair for myself over the years (and two pair for Mom), but mine always ended up on display at this or that yarn shop. This pair I finally kept and wore. This photo, taken last week, was the first day I ever wore the FFFooties of my very own design. The shoemaker’s kids have no shoes, as they say!!!