Photography

When I was a child, I wanted to be a photographer. All you needed was a TAFE qualification to get yourself up and running but my father was bent on me gaining a degree in a field that was more 'academic'. Little did he know just how visual our world was to become due to the emergence of the internet, the power of visual imagery, the globalisation of communities and the onslaught of capitalistic branding. My father wanted me to be a journalist--one of those upfront people seeking out the news. Although I am very good at asking questions, and would have been suited to being a journalist, lawyer or detective (this trait of question-asking drives the people in my life to distraction), I am actually a rather reserved person and feel more comfortable 'behind' the camera.

I am finally considering investing in a decent camera as I've never owned one despite loving taking photos. The pic above was inspired by a recent walk I did around the base of a mountain. I noticed that a particular tree had recently dropped its leaves and the colours were just amazing. I love leaves; their intracacies, designs and shapes are fascinating. I picked up a few and snapped a couple of shots. I stuffed the leaves in my pocket and two days later they were completely brown and dry!

Although I classify myself as an amateur (obviously), I have sold a number of my photographs over the years. I would like to try to widen my audience in 2015 as it is really rewarding when someone appreciates a well-framed shot (albeit lacking the level of clarity that a top lens can achieve). My photographic cards currently sell for $2.50 each, plus postage. Packs of 8 are available for $27.50 (including registered post). Please drop me a line and I'll email you the current link for purchasing them.

Hope is all I have right now...

Long time, no posting. The reason being is that I had a simple, yet unfortunate, fall about 4 months ago which has limited by ability to make things. Above is a card I made a while ago using a vintage greeting card. A lovely lady from my markets gave me large quantity of these 'cards from the past' and it has been a joy to 'upcycle' them. They sell for between $2.50 to $4.00 and each card is one-of-kind.

In regards to my injury, it was a joint-based fracture of my left radius (non-dominant hand). I don't know how I would have coped all of this time if it had been my right wrist. I had surgery and the post-op x-ray is concerning when compared to the pre-op x-rays (the fracture isn't even discernable on those). The current x-ray shows a piece of bone (either a slither or something more) and the surgeon did not allow me to get a CT scan at that point (4 weeks after the surgery) to find out what is going on. He played it down and sent me on my way for an agonising 8-week wait before the next check-up (approaching soon). I am hoping that it is not a piece of bone from top volar corner of my radius (with a ligament attached to it).

The pain has been terrible and is only just starting to settle down. I will try to get the bottom of this because my wrist is still feeling very sore and weak around my ulna and the regular sound/feeling of my ulna hitting the radius is disturbing and painful. I am hoping that my wrist is not out of general alignment due to this displaced bone. I don't understand why I couldn't get a CT scan at the time. I even begged my treating GP for a referral and he wouldn't agree because the surgeon told him everything's fine.

The pain has been worse than that of the initial fall and fracture but it has lessened of late and I feel a little better overall. I am still worried about the future of my wrist. The surgery was supposed to prevent early arthritis but I won't really know the outcome until I see the next CT scan. I am hoping that the imaging place does a fantastic job and that everything will be clear to see. It's my only hope to finally find out what is going on...

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.