[Jewelry making - Article 00279] - Re: [Orchid] "Retraining" help wanted

[Zen Sojourner]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

    WOW!  I came back from the long weekend and my mailbox was
    overflowing with good wishes and advice from so many list members! 
    I got only one negative response (he or she is blocked now). 

    I was very upset when I wrote the posting, especially because of the
    situation with the car.  It's going to take some time before I can
    find somebody to fix the darn thing, if ever.  In the meantime, I'm
    carless and can't afford to drop upwards of $600 (by the time you
    add fees etc) on this class. Plus the 100 mile one-way trip to get
    there.  I dropped it Friday, and also found out that because of
    having hit the deer and the distance I had to drive, I may be able
    to get 100% of my fees back. 

    This is a state university, four year, and I can't understand why
    the shop is so woefully inadequately equipped.  Two torch stations
    is just ridiculous.  I have to admit, it never occurred to me that
    the instructor might be spending so much time on design issues in an
    effort to make up for the fact that there's just not enough
    equipment to concentrate on fabrication until one of you guys
    suggested it to me.  I wanted "hands on" and this class was not
    going to give it to me.  I was pulling all-nighters just to try to
    "get caught up" on the design lingo.  (Yeah, I'm aware that speaking
    the lingo is really necessary to be able to convince the instructor
    that maybe some of MY ideas might have some validity, too, and I was
    doing everything I could to alleviate that situation - I COULD have
    spent all summer doing that if the instructor had bothered to let me
    know it might be an issue!).  I did find two or three not totally
    useless books on design that I'll probably continue to pursue
    (although not pulling all-nighters anymore to do so). 

    Additionally, a big part of the reason I signed up for this class
    was to see a REAL LIFE studio so I could get some ideas for how to
    set up my own studio.  That, also, I was not going to get from this
    class, given the woefully inadequate state of their equipment. 

    I'm in South Central Missouri.  The nearest "big towns" (eg not
    very) are Springfield, about 100 miles away, and West Plains, about
    45 miles away.  Neither has an art association like the one I left
    behind in Huntsville, Alabama, which is where I got my initial
    training almost 15 years ago.  Kansas City is about 6 hours away. 
    St. Louis is about 3 1/2 to 4 hours away. 

    I have, however, discovered that there is an open studio
    (specializing in ceramics, silversmithing, woodworking, photography)
    in Columbia, Missouri, run by the Art Department of the University
    of Missouri.  My son attends there, and although it's a 3 1/2 hour
    drive, as a student family member, it'll only cost me $25 a semester
    to become a member and get access to the studio and all their
    equipment.  I'm really hoping for some weekend open studio hours... 

    I'm also taking note of the workshops that several people have
    mentioned.  I hadn't thought of it before, but at around $600, an
    intensive hands-on workshop isn't likely to be any more expensive,
    and IS far more likely to be of some actual use.  When I'm "with
    car" again, maybe I can pick something like that up, even if I have
    to drive somewhere far to get there. 

    I really appreciate the outpouring of caring and encouragement from
    you guys.  I can't express how much you all have done to help me to
    lift my spirits again.  Thanks again! 

Sojourner

____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________