Just Blown Away!

Clyde's Choice Dahlia from Owen Shelley's Garden, Bexley 2010

This post has nothing to do with my business but I just had to share. Today I was walking home and these two young girls stopped me to ask about the arm brace on the left wrist. I just couldn't believe it--this level of concern from two young primary school-aged girls who didn't know me from a bar of soap. One of the girls had dislocated her wrist in the past and was interested in what had happened. It's these crazy little interactions you sometimes have that make you realise that the world still retains some beauty and compassion.

I have been a bit down over the last couple of days because it is looking like I will need wrist surgery. It has been diagnosed as a Barton's fracture which isn't particularly common and nearly always results in plate insertion. I knew my arm was fractured 4 weeks in but the management process has been slow (now at 9 weeks). There is now the issue of paying for specialist treatment, which is covered by insurance, but having to gain constant approval has slowed the process down.

Aside from a couple work colleagues who have asked me how I am going, most staff are too busy to care and the 'inconvenience' of this injury is something no one really wants to acknowledge. I just have to suffer in silence whilst some tasks take me 3 times longer to complete than if I had full use of both my hands. Not that I have stopped working at the pace at which the school expects. I have been carrying on like nothing has happened 3 days per week and using my days off to attend appointments.

It is really starting to take it's toll of me now as I am getting a little behind on the schoolwork etc. I am at the school 9-10 hours per day but the number of before and after-school meetings of late makes it difficult to mark and prepare, even in that time frame. My advice to anyone reading this--never take a job unless you have worked there at least a couple of times first. You just never know when you will become fatigued on a rainy day, not see a step and fall with an outstretched hand onto hard asphalt. When you cease to be in 100% health, people will doubt your value.

I am guilty of not putting myself first in this situation, allowing days of extreme busyness at school to distract me from dealing with my wrist. But how can I book appointments when every minute of my day is accounted for and it is school policy to keep our phones switched off? I didn't even realise that I needed a Workcover Certificate until 6 weeks in. One meeting at the beginning to talk about my injury would have been all that was needed to educate me about what it means when you hurt yourself at work. If anyone out there has a question about a Barton's fracture of the wrist or anthing else, please drop me a line. I wouldn't wish this experience upon anyone. And it's about the get a whole lot more complicated...*sigh*

Thanks so much to those girls who really brightened my day :)

2014 - Year in Review

Sadly, it has been an extremely challenging year. It started off amazingly well until I had a fall at a workplace and landed on my outstretched left hand. This eventually resulted in surgery, lots of pain, and lots of regrets... 

So productivity over the past 5 months has been virtually non-existent due to this injury and the subsequent strain it has placed on my life. I've attended approx. 50 appointments for various reasons, including physiotherapy twice per week. For the most part, I have had to put 'Green Gifts' on hold and have just been selling existing stock to cover business overheads. At least these fees aren't anything like the financial pressures faced by a 'bricks and mortar' store.

Despite this injury, I am hopeful that my future isn't as bleak as it has felt at times. The apparent misalignment of my radius and ulna (despite having surgery) worries me a great deal and the sensation of the two bones hitting against each other continues to cause discomfort and swelling. My self-supporting business was going rather well but the injury/surgery has been and may continue to be a significant hurdle to any future growth...only time will tell.

On the markets front, I am struggling (well actually, someone else has been doing my stall for me of late). Tourism in the Blue Mountains appears to have dropped due to ongoing roadworks, inclement weather, and global economic pressures on visitors. It is not worthwhile anymore but I will stick with it in the hope that it may improve throughout 2015. I am actually making a loss practically every time I go now and am only doing it out of loyalty to the organiser at present. I try to stay productive by doing other things whilst I'm there but it's getting harder to justify the loss of time and money.

Sorry for the rant! Sometimes it helps to express yourself even if no-one reads it :)

Utopian World

 Sandwich Shop, Montmartre, Paris

Tablecloth Shop, Rue de Rennes, Paris

 Le Petit Mâchon, Rue Saint Honoré, Paris

 Picking out beads for a handmade necklace or two, 
Marche aux Puces de Saint-Ouen 

My father always told me that I live in Utopia--this was a criticism of me--he desperately wanted me to exit my dream world. I never fully understood what he meant. I do now. I like to be immersed in beauty, art and creative pursuits. However, this was never encouraged. I eventually found myself within the four walls of a classroom. Kids are lovely but the environment isn't. It's very stifling and repetitive and menial. And, oh, the mundanity of conning kids into learning who aren't really interested...

I find myself dreaming about holidaying in Europe again. It's this kind of escapism that really irked my father. I always resort to it when I'm frustrated. I'm back in the classroom teaching again this term--that'll do it! You just feel trapped by the constant marking, assessing and rousing on kids. And, at this school, there is a bit more of that than usual. Am I motivated by the paycheck? No. But, I had to get back into it or I would have had to sign up for a 5-year reaccreditation process. No thanks. Already spent 6 years at uni taking the profession as seriously as a person could take it, and another decade teaching thereafter...

Please enjoy my small selection of photos taken in Paris last year. Thanks to my Uncle and Aunty, who invited us to their 40th Wedding Anniversary celebration in Holland, the trip came into being.

A little bit tickled...

Photo by Soy Co., NSW, Australia

Over the years I have been making handmade stationery, I have rarely ever seen the final product (place/table setting, bomboniere gifts etc.). It has been a labour of love for many customers. By the time emails have been exchanged, and the items have been made, packed and posted, I often realise that it hasn't been worthwhile monetarily. I don't charge a lot, so some customers are truly thankful and offer to send me a photo. Of course, no-one actually has followed through with this due to the busyness of life etc...

Recently, however, I received an email from a customer wanting some more items and she included a pic to illustrate that she wants the same tag with different text. I think the bomboniere gifts she has created (top) are just gorgeous--so beachy and rustic! I just love the natural jute twine she has used and the whole vintage feel of her arrangement. The tags look great too, if I may say so myself!

The other day, I received another email from a customer who I think makes candles. It was so lovely that she took the time to share the final products with me and inspires me to keep promoting and expanding my tag designs.

However, I have had to take up a temporary teaching position to retain my accreditation. I'll be making items on a limited basis until the rest of the year. I have scaled back my eBay store so less enquiries and orders are received over the next 6 months :( My other online store will still be available for customised orders :) I'll still be doing my market stall, but am away for the next two weekends. See you on 26th/27th July!

I miss Paris...

 A collage of some of the photos I took in Paris

I guess it's natural for people to fall in love with vacation destinations. For a start, they're feeling relaxed as they're on holidays. Secondly, it's something different from the norm. I've always wanted to go to Paris but was never exactly sure why. I guess I sensed that it was an amazing, creative place. Upon going there, I discovered that it is not merely creative but has a certain magic about it. Sure, there were some pickpockets, opportunists etc. roaming around in different areas but the general essence of the place was extremely unique. Yes, I am possibly going out on a limb, having only spent two weeks there, but there were certain things I observed about that huge city which made it remarkable in my eyes:

1) The People. The people are amazing and make the place what it is. I love the way that French people speak at a normal volume, in a very a pleasant, almost demure, way. I also found them to be incredibly helpful and polite (bar the odd, jaded employee at busy tourist spots). Overall, I found Parisians to be very friendly and creative people. From what I observed, they do frown upon loud, obnoxious types, but politeness and appreciation goes a long way in Paris.

2) The Environment. The city has an wonderful balance between the natural and made environments. For a large city, it is also generally kept spotless. Yes, I realise that the amount of money coming into that place is astronomical, but a lot appears to be spent on keeping the city looking beautiful for the local residents as well as the many 'out-of-towners' who trawl around the place at any one time.

3) The Metro. I just love the design of the city and the Metro system is the fastest, most convenient way to get around. I had a special weekly ticket which allowed me as many trips a day as I wanted. Sometimes attractions were closed, so it didn't take long to jump on the Metro and visit another one. Even when using the Metro, there is still a lot of walking to get to actual sites. It was great to see so much of Paris this way.

4) The Sites. Paris has some wonderfully unique attractions such as the catacombs and beautifully maintained cemeteries. What I love most is the accessibility of all of the attractions. The entry prices are very reasonable and do not exclude the average person from experiencing them. There is a certain freedom one feels in Paris. Despite the hoards of tourists, the sites are still authentic and not bogged down by OH&S signage etc. I found this refreshing for such a busy city.

5) The Art. Although not a particularly 'crafty' place, Paris is very arty when it comes to traditional art forms such painting, sculpture and drawing. I observed sketch classes taking place wherever I went (such as in the Botanical Gardens), walked through to a sculpture exhibition in the middle of a town square, and saw painters in action in Montmartre and in art galleries. Many people valued sketching and painting as a leisure pursuit, which seems rather rare here in Australia. I somehow felt that I fit into the place, a place which highly values creative expression and the importance of diverse visual interpretations.

Getting Creative with Lite n' Easy

This post has absolutely nothing to do with cards or craft, I just felt like sharing :) If you find that you need to eat your Lite n' Easy microwave dinner during the day, you can still come home to a decent feed. Here's how:

Yesterday, my lunch item was the Roast Chicken Tender and Mayonnaise on a Round Roll. I chose to eat this at dinnertime instead as I needed something a little more hearty during the day to get me by.

I made this small bun into a decent meal by slicing it into four pieces:

Then I dug out some cheese I had left over from another meal. I have always loved cheese but have purposely never allowed myself to indulge in it (throughout my entire life). Then I sliced up the rest of a tomato I was supplied with the week's food (nothing goes to waste!):

I defrosted the frozen chicken tender in the microwave as per the instructions and sliced it into smaller pieces:

 

Then I cranked up the sandwich maker and started assembling my mini meal. Don't forget to use the mayonnaise provided and spread it onto each of your four slices. Place your slices 'mayonnaise-down' at the top, of course. I always use foil to line the sandwich maker so there is no mess should some of cheese ooze out etc.:

And voila! Two tasty little toasted sandwiches made out of left-over ingredients (all part of my weekly food allocation). Once slightly cooled, I cut each one in half and enjoyed every morsel! It took forever to eat these toasted sandwich halves as opposed to one small chicken and mayo roll. If you think this was a helpful idea, please feel free to add a comment below.

 

Dream a little dream...

 Seconds after taking this photo, the butterfly dropped away from its chrysalis

and started to flap its wings. It was such a wonderful sight to see...

Photo taken at Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam

"Dream with me, escape with me, fly with me, imagine you are everything you've ever wanted to be. Dream, dream, dream..."

This is an excerpt from a song I remember vividly from a musical I performed in as a child. In many ways, I am living my dream to be creatively employed every day of my life. In other ways, however, the world is a harsh judge and laughs in the face of 'silly' dreams. On the whole, I don't let it worry me but I do need to deal with the perception that people have of me. It saddens me that people in our culture judge a person's worthiness by their occupation. Even when I was a school teacher, and an extremely dedicated one at that, people ridiculed the profession. Since having a break from it, it is amazing just how many everyday people knock teachers. It makes you feel like a real chump for ever considering the profession. The biggest shock to me has been the many thanks I receive from customers for doing what I do now. Why wasn't that thanks forthcoming over the years I toiled and served as a teacher? Truly bizarre society we live in...

I still love teaching, and can remember many wonderful interactions I've had with students. I still remember a casual day I once did in Caringbah NSW in 1998. This wonderful little Year 1 class just loved their day so much. Out of their own accord, during lunchtime, I presume, a number of them got together and wrote little notes for me which they presented at the end of the school day! I was just one random teacher in the scheme of many they must've met, yet their display of kindness for the efforts I had made in giving them a unique day whilst their regular teacher was sick, just astounded me. I still have those notes...

Since having a break from teaching, I must say that my life has been calmer. I have been able to focus on what really matters in life: savouring special interactions with people, being positive in the face of pessimism, and being an encouraging presence...

Significantly, I have had more time to look around me and appreciate just how lucky I am despite not leading the perfect life, materially, that some Aussies strive for, despite the drawbacks in my life, and despite my lack of worldly success, so-to-speak. Because life is not measured by our external representations, but by who we really are as people. I encourage you to appreciate the beauty of life, rather than gripe about the dreams that haven't yet been fulfilled. I know that it has completely changed my outlook on life, and for the better :)

The Monuments Men

 

 'Sunrise' by Roy Lichtenstein, 1965

 'La Muse' by Pablo Picasso, 1935

 'Bedroom in Arles' by Vincent van Gogh, 1888

'Luxe, Calme et Volupte' by Henri Matisse, 1904

 'Water Lilies' by Claude Monet , 1919

I saw the movie 'The Monuments Men' last night. I loved the premise of the film but suspect that the subject matter is not for everyone. The cinematography was superb--truly an aesthetic feast for those who love the beauty of scenery and light and art. The cast was fantastic, and the movie met my expectations and more. Again, we're reminded of the insidiousness of that much-maligned regime and, as always, are left wondering how it all could have gone so far. The scale of the theft perpetrated against the innocents is yet again as sickening as ever (e.g. thousands of gold fillings stored in barrels). Although the film did lack pacing and a few other vital elements, I believe strongly in the purpose of the film: to uphold those who risked and lost their lives to preserve the beauty, history and cultural significance of art.

Having been to Europe myself last year, I had the opportunity to experience, in some small way, the sheer scope and scale of historical artifacts, artworks and other contributions by incredibly talented and dedicated people throughout time. The Louvre was just overwhelming in its size and magnificence. I spent all day there and actually saw quite a large proportion of the collections. My feet were so sore that I couldn't walk properly later that evening (this is not a usual occurrence for me!) I was just so compelled to see as much as I could--such is the voracity of my aesthetic eye. It's just the way I'm wired; I'm so visually attuned and can't live without the stimulation of looking at wondrous things.

At the top of this post, I have shared a handful of the artworks I saw in Europe (where flash-free photography was permitted). I saw many great works by 'the masters' but happened to snap more of the modern works. The pics don't do the artworks justice but will always trigger within me the memory of having experienced them in the flesh :)

Upcycled Wrapping Paper

Upcycled wrapping paper was used to make these cards

I am often taken aback by the people who like my market stall because of its jewellery items, most of which I hand bead, create and put together myself. My heart drops a little because I am actually a 'paper crafter'. When they just keep going on about the jewellery items, I point out that I really don't specialise in it and that I love making cards and stationery. They're always a little shocked and then take a polite, yet disinterested, glance at the handmade cards on display. It's strange to me how some people love the self-adorning aspect of jewellery, but don't really value the encouragement and care that can be expressed when giving someone else a special card. I have had to accept that some people simply don't get it. Of course, I still do keep doing jewellery items, as it helps pay the stall costs, but it really isn't my passion.

The cards above were made using old wrapping paper (from Holland) as the background design. I just love collecting interesting paper to use on my cards. Being 'Green Gifts', I am always trying to reclaim, reuse and upcycle as many materials as possible in my cardmaking. Being a bit of a hoarder, I don't like throwing out beautiful things that I know will make a unique, one-of-a-kind card. Recently, a wonderfully generous lady I know gave me hundreds of old, used greeting cards from the 60's, 70's and 80's. Printed greeting cards were made so beautifully then (they're nice today too, but different). The dry embossed surfaces and wet embossed titles in gold and silver are just exquisite, and I almost don't want to part with these beautiful cards. However, I have been upcycling them into new handmade cards, and this will continue for many years to come! How wonderful it is to be able to revive old cards and convert them into new, fresh cards! I really enjoy this creative process and I encourage you to give it a go too ;)