I printed the photos and most turned out well except the one with the stair case and exposed wiring.  This will be great for people to see what needs to be done in terms of safety.  Finish electric work.  Jyoti has told me this is one of their next 2 or 3 priorities.  The plastering is coming along well. Monalisa is looking great in yellow not sure which girl that is with her. That's Pinki and Anupa with Monalisa and maybe that's baboo in the glasses.
 
Great to read the updates and all your wonderful work Wendy. Its so amazing how this is all coming together. You are absolutely perfect for this job and were obviously hand picked  by the blog angels to help create this exchange between our two cultures and help this cause. I know how the children's well being and education, from all countries around the world is such a vital part of who you are, and your big heart for the children really inspires me and all who you are working with. Thank you so much Wendy from all the children and all of us who are privileged to work along with you. You are such a vita link in our project. Love from all the children, Jyoti, Monalisa Pinki Anupa and Angela.
 
Please post the above paragragh onto the blog. Not sure how to yet but I will learn soon.
 
Well firstly we had a fantastic day at Devonport markets. I went with Toni who came along to help and talk to people. She knows lots of people there. Toni is having a morning tea to raise funds on the 6th Dec at her daughter inlaw's place. I will give a talk and show the Dichroics which are proving to be really popular for Christmas presents.
 
Kathy from the Barn remembers you and is going to sell movie tickets for us in her shop and bought one of the pendants I made last week plus I sold another one of mine too. Alister said, "Well of course, cos they are just as good as Nick's."  I didnt believe it at first, but now I do. I will have to order some more today for the Devonport show next week.

People were so supportive of what we are doing. Tassie people and the poorer ones are all so giving.     
 

The Monalisa Project

MOVIE NIGHT FUNDRAISER

TIME AND COST TO BE ADVISED

Director: Gabriele Muccino
Cast: Will Smith, Thandie Newton, Jaden Smith

Dichroic Glass Pendants
What is Dichroic Glass?  Developed by the aerospace industry and eventually discovered by warm glass artists, Dichroic glass has been used in the making of jewellery for about fifteen years.
Dichroic is defined as having more than one colour, especially when viewed from different angles.  The glass is coated with 15 to 45 micro-thin layers of metallic oxides, such as titanium, silicon and magnesium.  It is then fired in a high temperature vacuum furnace.  Dichroic coatings transmit certain wavelengths of light, while reflecting others.  The transmitted colour is different from the reflected colour.  Dichroic glass is very expensive to produce because of the manufacturing process and is only produced in Italy and the United States.
 

Making a Dichroic Glass Pendant (see photos)
Dichroic glass is hand cut, fashioned into a design and fuse-fired in a kiln at a temperature between 825c and 925c.  Each pendant is then worked and fire-polished again.  Some pendants may get fired several times before they are completed.  Each pendant is annealed (soaked at an annealing temperature in the kiln) for strength.  The bails used on these pendants are .925 sterling silver or gold plated.

Available From

Angela May
PO Box 1078 DEVONPORT TAS 7310
Phone: 03 64236441

Email:  monalisa.project@aapt.net.au

CC: angelamay@dodo.com.au

It's a privilege to be associated with this brilliant group of people who don't know each other and yet can come together and collectively make valuable contributions to the overall project, even if it's not with money.  On behalf of Angela, Jyoti, Monalisa, Pinki, Anupa, Gunjan, Chandini, Ragini, Shivani, Babo, and Vishay, I say thankyou for your contributions, your suggestions, your great ideas and your interest in the Monalisa Project.

DONATIONS:  Thanks to Angela May for tirelessly working to achieve so much in such a short time.

Thanks to John and Annalisa Cook.  John has given many art lessons to the children and they have been proud to follow his guidance and improve their art.  After all, art is important across the cultures.  If you see Angela, ask to see the children's  art with John's helpful hints and ideas.  In fact, that's something that we should put here.  

Thanks to Sue MacAulay, a generous donor who has no conditions attached to her gifts.  The children had been very afraid at night without windows or doors. Sue heard of this and made her gift available for what Jyoti considers the highest priority.  Thankyou Sue.  Now they feel safe and warmer too.

Thanks to Peter Clark, Wyn Dane, Elsa Marshall, Diana Mund, Fil Adams, Bernadette Seebacher who have provided financial assistance for the overall project.  Your donations have enabled the housing, feeding and educating of children to continue in excellent conditions.  A couple more rooms have are being plastered and painted.

SPONSORS:

We've talked about how hard it can be to come up with $50/child every month.  Perhaps each child could be sponsored by 5 people at $10 each.  This gives the child a sense of extended family - parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters and on and on.  It's also really hard for Jyoti to make ends meet each month, but incredibly she does.  And she keeps detailed records about everything.  All ideas on this are welcome.

John and Annalisa Cook are sponsoring Monalisa and Jyoti.

With the sponsorships it's so good for the Indian children to feel a part of your lives and they are all very grateful to have you in their lives.  But more than that, as Lani said, "If we help the children with their education, then they will be able to pass that on when they grow up". 

Thanks to everyone involved in this project.  It's especially nice to know that we are working as a group here for the group there.  It's somehow more personal this way.

And me - what's my contribution?  Well, I'm now a blogger!  And in this I can offer a forum for everyone to put in ideas, or just say hello to everyone else.  So come in and don't be shy.  Please.