Hi Suzie,

I have been puzzling over your comment that you are "too girly" for plaster - do you mean the physical side, it IS often heavy work. I work with lots of women on construction crews, never witnessed too much attitude problems, but it does exist. Many of the trades here now work 10 to 12 hour days, that does take a toll on anyone. Many work only part of the year, and look after their health for the rest. After a while, you get like those ancient rock stars - it takes six months of getting in shape enough to work for six months!

Have you visited Sister Lucia's fresco website, http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/6304/fresco/feminine.html where she discusses "The feminine and fresco creation"? She successfully argues that women have a knack for fresco because they are nurturing by nature, and that fresco demands this nurturing.