Sunday, May 25, 2008
Thursday, May 01, 2008
out of the frying pan and boned in the ass with a red hot poker
why do i only think to post here when life sucks?
Anyway, life sucks. Not in a calamitous 'oh my goddess its all over' kind of way, just in a 'oh crap, here we go' kind of way.
firstly on monday we (that is myself and the rest of the students in my jewellery course) found out that the Diploma course (being the second year of this two year course I'm doing and the year where we learn how to actually apply our skills to the business world) runs out of national accreditation at the end of this year. Which wouldn't be a drama except that the institution that runs the course has decided that they don't want to spend the time, money or resources devising a new curriculum to be accredited. The upshot of this is that there will be no diploma course for not only jewellery-making, but for woodworking, printmaking, photography or ceramics, hence none of us learning the first year stuff will be qualified to be anything but hobbyists, and will not even have the basic requirements for moving into the industry for which we are studying. We are not impressed.
We, the students, are meeting with the department head early next week to get the full story, after which we will decide on which avenues are open to us including writing to ministers, petitions and gaining public exposure through the local media, as well as industry back-up. When I have more info it will be on here. Any support would be welcome. Help us fight the power to defend our right to education!!
As if this news wasn't enough of a bummer, I found out today that my boss is retiring. They haven't managed to find a buyer for the business so we are closing down at the end of July. Hence I am out of a job. I have time to find something else, but I'm really stumped as to what to look for. After working in this place I'm not entirely convinced that retail jewellery is my choice for a career, but neither am i really excited about returning to something like Wankworths. I'd really like to maybe start turning this jewellery-making gig into a real business, but I don't have the capital. 'Tis a conundrum.
Speaking of this jewellery-making gig, my first 2 pieces for the Swarovski Crystal Park design competition for this year are completed. I have a couple of pics here to show them off, but they will be modelled by my ghenkis' sister, the gorgeous kay-kat.
the first pic is of a crown I've been working on for months. It is made from copper wire and features amethyst swarovski bicones, a large snowflake drop and 2 baroque drops.
This second one is a vintage-style choker made from hand-wound and hand-sawn copper jumprings to which i applied a patina to give the antique look. they're assembled in a modified byzantine weave and interspersed with swarovski pearls in cream, faceted rounds in garnet and topaz bicones with smoky topaz baroque drops. there's a gold swarvoski flat back in the pendant (which was bought). The lace is gorgeous i think!
In more jewellery related news, I'm heading to meeting of a co-operative business venture on tuesday night to see if they like my stuff and will allow me to become part of their group. the commitment is a modest financial one and one day a week minding the store and in return i get 2 whole cabinets to myself! If I get in it will be a significant investment on my part as they specialise in silver and silver prices are currently going up faster than gold was several months ago! Gold is coming back down a little though, which is cool because I have a big project in mind using gold. that, however will have to wait for a while.
Anyway, I've vented and updated enough I think. wish me luck with the activism and job seeking and co-op joining! Next update I will include contact details for people that, should you feel so moved, may be written an angry letter in response to my training provider choosing not to provide training! Stay happy ya'll!
Anyway, life sucks. Not in a calamitous 'oh my goddess its all over' kind of way, just in a 'oh crap, here we go' kind of way.
firstly on monday we (that is myself and the rest of the students in my jewellery course) found out that the Diploma course (being the second year of this two year course I'm doing and the year where we learn how to actually apply our skills to the business world) runs out of national accreditation at the end of this year. Which wouldn't be a drama except that the institution that runs the course has decided that they don't want to spend the time, money or resources devising a new curriculum to be accredited. The upshot of this is that there will be no diploma course for not only jewellery-making, but for woodworking, printmaking, photography or ceramics, hence none of us learning the first year stuff will be qualified to be anything but hobbyists, and will not even have the basic requirements for moving into the industry for which we are studying. We are not impressed.
We, the students, are meeting with the department head early next week to get the full story, after which we will decide on which avenues are open to us including writing to ministers, petitions and gaining public exposure through the local media, as well as industry back-up. When I have more info it will be on here. Any support would be welcome. Help us fight the power to defend our right to education!!
As if this news wasn't enough of a bummer, I found out today that my boss is retiring. They haven't managed to find a buyer for the business so we are closing down at the end of July. Hence I am out of a job. I have time to find something else, but I'm really stumped as to what to look for. After working in this place I'm not entirely convinced that retail jewellery is my choice for a career, but neither am i really excited about returning to something like Wankworths. I'd really like to maybe start turning this jewellery-making gig into a real business, but I don't have the capital. 'Tis a conundrum.
Speaking of this jewellery-making gig, my first 2 pieces for the Swarovski Crystal Park design competition for this year are completed. I have a couple of pics here to show them off, but they will be modelled by my ghenkis' sister, the gorgeous kay-kat.
the first pic is of a crown I've been working on for months. It is made from copper wire and features amethyst swarovski bicones, a large snowflake drop and 2 baroque drops.
This second one is a vintage-style choker made from hand-wound and hand-sawn copper jumprings to which i applied a patina to give the antique look. they're assembled in a modified byzantine weave and interspersed with swarovski pearls in cream, faceted rounds in garnet and topaz bicones with smoky topaz baroque drops. there's a gold swarvoski flat back in the pendant (which was bought). The lace is gorgeous i think!
In more jewellery related news, I'm heading to meeting of a co-operative business venture on tuesday night to see if they like my stuff and will allow me to become part of their group. the commitment is a modest financial one and one day a week minding the store and in return i get 2 whole cabinets to myself! If I get in it will be a significant investment on my part as they specialise in silver and silver prices are currently going up faster than gold was several months ago! Gold is coming back down a little though, which is cool because I have a big project in mind using gold. that, however will have to wait for a while.
Anyway, I've vented and updated enough I think. wish me luck with the activism and job seeking and co-op joining! Next update I will include contact details for people that, should you feel so moved, may be written an angry letter in response to my training provider choosing not to provide training! Stay happy ya'll!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
i forgot this place existed...again
i honestly do just forget that i have a blog. I guess when you couldn't be arsed listing down all the boring crap that happens from day to day, having a blog just isn't that much of a priority.
anyway, my new job is ok. I mean it shits all over my old one, don't get me wrong, but I'm not entirely comfortable there. The fact that I'm only there on probation for three months and they're not giving me a lot of hours and they're still interviewing and trialling other people for the same job doesn't help me to really feel at home. That and the price tags on everything. I mean I know the stuff we have really is worth that price, but I don't think I'm entirely comfortable working in a place that only stocks the best in pearls, watches and diamonds and has the snooty attitude to match. Not that I'm having a go at the people who run or work the place, everyone's pretty cool and down to earth, its just the way we have to act because of the sort of clientele we're trying to appeal to. the jewellery itself is also painfully traditional and boring. diamonds, gold, pearls. SNORE! anyway, we'll see how it all pans out. If they're not going to keep me on though I'd like to know sooner rather than later so i can look for something else.
On the other side of the scales, the course is still awesome! My classmates and teachers all seem to be more interested in art jewellery, individual stuff that has some real feeling and narrative to it. Although a few of my pieces really haven't worked all that well, I still feel like I'm learning from the bits I've stuffed up and thats what matters most i guess. next week: cuttlefish casting! dusty.
anyway, my new job is ok. I mean it shits all over my old one, don't get me wrong, but I'm not entirely comfortable there. The fact that I'm only there on probation for three months and they're not giving me a lot of hours and they're still interviewing and trialling other people for the same job doesn't help me to really feel at home. That and the price tags on everything. I mean I know the stuff we have really is worth that price, but I don't think I'm entirely comfortable working in a place that only stocks the best in pearls, watches and diamonds and has the snooty attitude to match. Not that I'm having a go at the people who run or work the place, everyone's pretty cool and down to earth, its just the way we have to act because of the sort of clientele we're trying to appeal to. the jewellery itself is also painfully traditional and boring. diamonds, gold, pearls. SNORE! anyway, we'll see how it all pans out. If they're not going to keep me on though I'd like to know sooner rather than later so i can look for something else.
On the other side of the scales, the course is still awesome! My classmates and teachers all seem to be more interested in art jewellery, individual stuff that has some real feeling and narrative to it. Although a few of my pieces really haven't worked all that well, I still feel like I'm learning from the bits I've stuffed up and thats what matters most i guess. next week: cuttlefish casting! dusty.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
when life throws you lemons, throw them back and demand champagne!
so the people who know whats going on are the only people who read this blog anyway! But its important to reply to my last post. I just read it. holy raving mad emos batman!
It hasn't been that long since i posted that and since the replies and reassurances from those who read it helped me to do what I said at the end of it. Pick a direction and go for it.
So I sat down and organised a few things and sent out some letters. Then I got a phone call saying i got the job. And I sold something on Etsy. And I hung out with friends and family.
And now I only have one shift left at woollies and a few days off before I start at my new job as a salesperson in a Jewellery shop, which compliments the course I'm still loving. I'm nervous as. More so than i was at the interview! because now i have to prove it all. My enthusiasm, my reliability, my ability to learn, my integrity. I have to stand by all the things I said to get me where i am. Its a good kind of nervous. A self-challenging 'I'm about to learn something important about myself' kinda nervous.
So I'm feeling much better. There's movement, there's a future with a little more definition. And there's a much happier cherry in the middle of it being able to enjoy and be grateful for all the good things in my life! (that means you!)
It hasn't been that long since i posted that and since the replies and reassurances from those who read it helped me to do what I said at the end of it. Pick a direction and go for it.
So I sat down and organised a few things and sent out some letters. Then I got a phone call saying i got the job. And I sold something on Etsy. And I hung out with friends and family.
And now I only have one shift left at woollies and a few days off before I start at my new job as a salesperson in a Jewellery shop, which compliments the course I'm still loving. I'm nervous as. More so than i was at the interview! because now i have to prove it all. My enthusiasm, my reliability, my ability to learn, my integrity. I have to stand by all the things I said to get me where i am. Its a good kind of nervous. A self-challenging 'I'm about to learn something important about myself' kinda nervous.
So I'm feeling much better. There's movement, there's a future with a little more definition. And there's a much happier cherry in the middle of it being able to enjoy and be grateful for all the good things in my life! (that means you!)
Thursday, February 28, 2008
brain muscle strain
have you ever thought? I mean so much that it kinda hurts and you feel dizzy?
I've been like that through the last week or so. Its like there's so much going on in my brain that conversations i have, even important ones with people i care about, seem like they're coming at me through a funnel and I'm just catching a few words because my brain is being so loud. I think in circles and my mood goes around with them. I think about all sorts of things: work; study; inspiration; the future; coffee; jewellery; my own abilities; resumes; research; organising; money...etc.
Its all a bit random to put here. It doesn't go away and let me sleep. I feel motivated one moment, and gloomy the next. I think of all the things I should have done, been, said. I think of all the things I could do, be say, achieve. I think of how to do it all and how lost I am when it comes to doing it. I think I don't have the courage. I think I'm to angry not to do something. I think I'll fail, or that even if some things change, the important stuff wont. And just what is the important stuff? What are my priorities? Are they right, am I doing this right?!
I should count my blessings. freedom, family, friends, love, kinship, health, home, stability. I should be happy with these things. I am happy with these things. There are other things in the way though. things that drag me away from feeling good about what I've got and make me feel sad about where I am, where I spend my time and in what mental state. Its unhealthy. Its frustrating, and unfair.
Does everybody feel this way sometimes? maybe I'm mental, or have a disorder brought on by unfulfillment. don't most of us feel that way some time? like its not enough, like there should be something, somewhere, better for us to be. there has to be something better. If there's not I don't think I could stand it.
And now that last sentence looks like I'm suicidal. I'm not. I could never be. I guess I have some courage after all because I could never consider that an option. So that leaves me with change. Making a change. No one else will do it for me. I have to take that grain of courage and make a change. Pick a direction, make a break. Stop. Breath. Escape...
and try again.
I've been like that through the last week or so. Its like there's so much going on in my brain that conversations i have, even important ones with people i care about, seem like they're coming at me through a funnel and I'm just catching a few words because my brain is being so loud. I think in circles and my mood goes around with them. I think about all sorts of things: work; study; inspiration; the future; coffee; jewellery; my own abilities; resumes; research; organising; money...etc.
Its all a bit random to put here. It doesn't go away and let me sleep. I feel motivated one moment, and gloomy the next. I think of all the things I should have done, been, said. I think of all the things I could do, be say, achieve. I think of how to do it all and how lost I am when it comes to doing it. I think I don't have the courage. I think I'm to angry not to do something. I think I'll fail, or that even if some things change, the important stuff wont. And just what is the important stuff? What are my priorities? Are they right, am I doing this right?!
I should count my blessings. freedom, family, friends, love, kinship, health, home, stability. I should be happy with these things. I am happy with these things. There are other things in the way though. things that drag me away from feeling good about what I've got and make me feel sad about where I am, where I spend my time and in what mental state. Its unhealthy. Its frustrating, and unfair.
Does everybody feel this way sometimes? maybe I'm mental, or have a disorder brought on by unfulfillment. don't most of us feel that way some time? like its not enough, like there should be something, somewhere, better for us to be. there has to be something better. If there's not I don't think I could stand it.
And now that last sentence looks like I'm suicidal. I'm not. I could never be. I guess I have some courage after all because I could never consider that an option. So that leaves me with change. Making a change. No one else will do it for me. I have to take that grain of courage and make a change. Pick a direction, make a break. Stop. Breath. Escape...
and try again.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
the twelve days of crafty freedom
so today is the first day of twelve that i don't have to even think about work (oh yeah except for having to go in on thursday to work out my new roster cos the slack bastards needed me to kick them in the arse and say 'uh, management? yeah, its me. fix my friggin roster!!!'). Outside of that I am crafting, sleeping and probably eating way too much for the next week or so, then I start at my jewellery making course on monday! WEEEEE!
I've already fixed a necklace, made a pair of earrings and finished one of the last round of petals on my first really good beaded rose. 4 petals to go and then some leaves and i'll post it on deviantart. it may not seem like a big deal, but i had to get books from america to show me how to do it properly!
On the Faellyn front, I'm up to my 5th prototype of her head. just can't get the shape right. I'll work it out. eventually!
In the words of Bug: keep 'em dangly, dogface!
I've already fixed a necklace, made a pair of earrings and finished one of the last round of petals on my first really good beaded rose. 4 petals to go and then some leaves and i'll post it on deviantart. it may not seem like a big deal, but i had to get books from america to show me how to do it properly!
On the Faellyn front, I'm up to my 5th prototype of her head. just can't get the shape right. I'll work it out. eventually!
In the words of Bug: keep 'em dangly, dogface!
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
goings on and stuff
sorry again for my slack posting habits. thats what i get for having such a boring life!
well its about to take a bit of a change soon, because in 2 days i will be free from the slave-driving demon that is Wankworths, at least for a week and a half, while i take a week off and then start my jewellery making course on the 18th. its gonna rock so hard! I can't wait. for the week off or the course, that is, both are exciting in their own way.
I'll be spending the week off, between tidying up this place, getting stuck into a range of crafty endeavours as i try to beging building up some variety to my etsy inventory, as well as have a few things prepared for my dear Raedella's very exciting new venture into retail-land. Stay tuned to her blog for more developments of that here. I'll also be working on my entry for this years Swarovski Crystal design competition. I think i mentioned it in a previous blog, but let me recap/ update. I'm making a cloth doll, her name is Faellyn the Mystic, and she's a fairy! Her wings will be wire and crystal, her tiara will be crystal flowers and drops, there'll be crystals in her hair, flatbacks on her dress, a crystal wand, and embroidered butterfly with flatbacks on her hand, flatbacks and embroidery on her shoes and she'll be adorned with wire and gold-thread jewellery also totally festooned with crystals! At the moment I'm still making prototypes of her head and body to get the look and proportions right, but hopefully soon i'll figure it out and can get stuck into all the really fun stuff! Stay tuned here or on my deviantart for work ion progress pics!
take care!
well its about to take a bit of a change soon, because in 2 days i will be free from the slave-driving demon that is Wankworths, at least for a week and a half, while i take a week off and then start my jewellery making course on the 18th. its gonna rock so hard! I can't wait. for the week off or the course, that is, both are exciting in their own way.
I'll be spending the week off, between tidying up this place, getting stuck into a range of crafty endeavours as i try to beging building up some variety to my etsy inventory, as well as have a few things prepared for my dear Raedella's very exciting new venture into retail-land. Stay tuned to her blog for more developments of that here. I'll also be working on my entry for this years Swarovski Crystal design competition. I think i mentioned it in a previous blog, but let me recap/ update. I'm making a cloth doll, her name is Faellyn the Mystic, and she's a fairy! Her wings will be wire and crystal, her tiara will be crystal flowers and drops, there'll be crystals in her hair, flatbacks on her dress, a crystal wand, and embroidered butterfly with flatbacks on her hand, flatbacks and embroidery on her shoes and she'll be adorned with wire and gold-thread jewellery also totally festooned with crystals! At the moment I'm still making prototypes of her head and body to get the look and proportions right, but hopefully soon i'll figure it out and can get stuck into all the really fun stuff! Stay tuned here or on my deviantart for work ion progress pics!
take care!
Friday, January 25, 2008
it hasn't even started yet!
I just heard the big news about blunty3000. if you don't know, i ain't gonna tell ya!
So I've been a bit busy making jewellery for a friend's wedding lately. I've already posted the pic above on deviantart, as well as more detailed pics of the crown itself.
And before I was even finished making all this (and before they've even announced it!) I've started my plans for this years Swarovski Crystal Park design competition. You remember last year: the corset, the coronet, the full set of india jewellery and about half a dozen other cute little things that blew my budget out of the water. Oh yeah, and me bugging you to vote for my stuff in the people's choice section of the competition. Well, this year is gonna be different. cos I'm only submitting one piece. And its so left field they won't make me the winner. I'll be lucky to be a finalist. But dammit this is a good idea and I REALLY wanna make it! What is it you ask? probably not. why should you care?
You'll find out in the next couple of months as it gets put together anyway, and once again i start begging for votes!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
expanding my profile!
ok, so i'm trying to raise my profile a little because i make some noice stuff and put it on etsy.com and a lotta people look, but nobody buys, so i've signed up to facebook. I tried myspace, but it was doing something weird when i tried to sign up, so i'm not happy with it. Anyway, this blog will be streamed through to my new facebook.com profile which is here!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
flowergirl incubation
that's right! my stormy is spawning a girl! yay! i claim flowergirl dibs! unless raedella needs her first of course, godmothers rights and all. oh yeah and the fact that she's more likely to become a missus loooong before i am!
So congrats to storm and dukayn, and let me know if you need help with anything for the spare room this weekend, although i'll warn you i've never painted a wall all one colour before! *wonders if a mural in the baby's room is an acceptable babyshower gift*
In other me news (cos my friend having a kid is all about me of course), i've just enrolled for the jewellery making course and am just finishing organising my new work roster and a weeks holidays before the start of term on 18th feb (3 days before my birthday which is, unfortunately, going to be the first day back in the meatroom on my new roster!). My ghenkis has expressed his concerns over the fact that i will be at tafe 3 days a week and at work 4 days a week, not allowing me any time off. I'm not sure if his concerns are so much over my stress levels or the fact that i'm going to take them out on him! To tell the truth i'm not really worried about it too much. I mean when the school holidays come along i'll have 3 days a week off and even when i am in class, i'm doing something i really want to do, i get to learn new things and be creative all day, for 3 days out of a week. after the last 6 months or more of working where i am, getting up at 6am to go to work for 8 hours then going home again, even the fact that i don't have to start at tafe until 9am is going to be a novelty (for the first couple of weeks anyway!) Anyway, we'll see how it goes. there are other people at the supermarket who came forward to take my job when they heard i might be going back to uni full-time and leave the place altogether, so i'm not so worried about cutting back my work hours if i need to. I'm just not ready to let go of a full-time income just yet!
There's also the fact that the money i make can be saved up if i don't have the time to go anywhere (although having to drive across town and back every single day is going to increase my petrol costs). I'm planning to have quite a bit saved by the end of the year, my tax return included, to start working on an internet-based business. this is something that has been on my mind for years, and has fluctuated in size from a market stall to a mansion! I think managing a website while i'm studying either the second year of a jewellery-making diploma, or even doing a jewellers apprenticeship next year, will be enough of a challenge!
take care groovers!
So congrats to storm and dukayn, and let me know if you need help with anything for the spare room this weekend, although i'll warn you i've never painted a wall all one colour before! *wonders if a mural in the baby's room is an acceptable babyshower gift*
In other me news (cos my friend having a kid is all about me of course), i've just enrolled for the jewellery making course and am just finishing organising my new work roster and a weeks holidays before the start of term on 18th feb (3 days before my birthday which is, unfortunately, going to be the first day back in the meatroom on my new roster!). My ghenkis has expressed his concerns over the fact that i will be at tafe 3 days a week and at work 4 days a week, not allowing me any time off. I'm not sure if his concerns are so much over my stress levels or the fact that i'm going to take them out on him! To tell the truth i'm not really worried about it too much. I mean when the school holidays come along i'll have 3 days a week off and even when i am in class, i'm doing something i really want to do, i get to learn new things and be creative all day, for 3 days out of a week. after the last 6 months or more of working where i am, getting up at 6am to go to work for 8 hours then going home again, even the fact that i don't have to start at tafe until 9am is going to be a novelty (for the first couple of weeks anyway!) Anyway, we'll see how it goes. there are other people at the supermarket who came forward to take my job when they heard i might be going back to uni full-time and leave the place altogether, so i'm not so worried about cutting back my work hours if i need to. I'm just not ready to let go of a full-time income just yet!
There's also the fact that the money i make can be saved up if i don't have the time to go anywhere (although having to drive across town and back every single day is going to increase my petrol costs). I'm planning to have quite a bit saved by the end of the year, my tax return included, to start working on an internet-based business. this is something that has been on my mind for years, and has fluctuated in size from a market stall to a mansion! I think managing a website while i'm studying either the second year of a jewellery-making diploma, or even doing a jewellers apprenticeship next year, will be enough of a challenge!
take care groovers!
Friday, January 11, 2008
whats in a name?
Your fairy is called Moth Cornglimmer
She is a creator of bounty and harvest.
She lives close to crystal caverns and stalagtite grottos.
She is only seen when the sun sets on the day of a completed harvest.
She collects crystals to wear on her dresses. She has butterfly wings the colour of yellow corn.
My vampire name:
The Great Archives determine you to have gone by the identity:
Magdalene Darling
Known in some parts of the world as:
Bast of The Horned One (double-ew tee eff is a Bast?!)
The Great Archives Record:
Sworn to one more ancient than the devil.
So ok, i'm a little bored. its hard to play guild wars and eat pizza at the same time!
um, so, yeah. I think new years and christmas and stuff have happened since i last blogged. it was all good. had to work through most of it, but yay for overtime pay on public holidays. Blunty3000 (close personal friend, people! I should be famous by association!) came to town and we got drunk with another one of our dear friends Murray the Music Man (read: will busk for beer) who should be a daddy in the coming weeks, if he's not already. I do tend to be out of the loop on these things. Anyway, was a good night, and awesome to see my Blunty again for the first time in ages!
And now i am full of pizza and it is time to pwn some Am Fa and Jade Brotherhood noobs. or something.
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