[Nfb-krafters-korner] Still Seeking Training in Crafts forOccupation

Wed May 4 18:06:44 UTC 2011

No, I have no connections with India.  Perhaps, you're thinking of
another member.  My case is actually very strange.  I am from America
and still live there.  But I am a strict Greek patriot with no
Hellenic blood.  My ultimate dream in life is to move to Greece,
become a citizen and do something for my country.  I've taught myself
the modern language (Dimotiki), have just completed a free course at
kypros.org and am now starting one which becomes extremely advanced
(to the level of Katharevousa) from FSI (also online and free).  I've
been totally blind since I was two-months-old.  I enjoy trying new
foods but I love cooking them even more, especially from scratch.
Like you, I enjoy learning about all sorts of things as well.  To be
truthful, my name is not Eleni Vamvakari.  It's Tiffany.  I chose
Eleni for it's connection to being Greek (Greece = Hellas, Greek woman
= ellinida etc) and for it's sacred one to Hellen of Troy.  I chose
Vamvakari for it's relation to Markos Vamvakaris, a musician/singer
who has inspired me a great deal.  Hopefully, one day, I can make this
name legal.

But I don't want to get in trouble for getting offtopic.  If anyone
would like to get to know me better, feel free to e-mail me offlist at
magkisa 83 at g mail dot com, to add me to msn (scholar 1983 at hot
mail dot com, only for messenger/not e-mail) or to check out my
Facebook page at

http://m.facebook.com/profile.php?v=info&refid=17

and to add me if you wish.  Sorry for the strange writing in the
addresses.  Just trying to avoid spam or bots adding me.

I love your idea of checking meetup!  I didn't even think to look
there!  Maybe, I can start up a group and see who's interested in
joining, if one doesn't already exist.  It's sad about caning.  I just
wish that there was some kind of directory of places that still teach
the so-called blind trades.  Since you mentioned India, they're one of
the countries which still do!

Talk soon,
Eleni

On 5/4/11, Carol <csiegel at bellatlantic.net> wrote:
> I Eleni, I know how it feels to be frustrated.
> There is something on the net called "Meetup."
>
> This is an organization which somehow lists groups in your area, that people
> have organized with specific interests.
>
> I have tried to find crafts groups in Baltimore also with no luck.
>
> I don't know if this idea will be of help, but this is only a suggestion.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Carol Siegel
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Eleni Vamvakari" <magkisa83 at gmail.com>
> To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2011 9:50 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Still Seeking Training in Crafts
> forOccupation
>
>
>> Thanks for the suggestion.  I've been looking for individual teachers
>> and groups for well over a year now, which is why I'm so frustrated.
>> I actually contacted the only basketry guild near me and they were
>> unable to help.  I e-mailed several basket makers and at least two
>> chair caners, all local, but got no response.  I also e-mailed a
>> decent number of schools for the blind, all around the country, which
>> either used to teach manual trades or which looked as if they might,
>> and not one of them wrote back.  Thanks to Joyce, I'm now in contact
>> with a master broom-maker, who is also skilled at several other
>> crafts, including chair caning.  He is extremely knowledgeable and
>> helpful, but he's a bit busy at the moment so is not able to devote
>> time to teaching me.  I guess I'll try searching again and see what I
>> find.
>>
>> All the best,
>> Eleni
>>
>> On 5/3/11, Annette Carr <amcarr1 at verizon.net> wrote:
>>> Eleni,
>>>
>>> You might want to look into Groups and Guilds in your area that focus on
>>> the
>>> various types of crafts you want to learn.  There might be classes, or
>>> individual people who would be willing to teach or mentor you.
>>>
>>> HTH,
>>> Annette
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Eleni
>>> Vamvakari
>>> Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2011 3:24 PM
>>> To: List for blind crafters and artists
>>> Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Still Seeking Training in Crafts for
>>> Occupation
>>>
>>> Hi everyone,
>>>
>>> I know that I haven't written in awhile but I now have a landline so can
>>> join in on the phone chats.  In any case, I'm still subscribed to the
>>> list
>>> and am still trying to find places which teach the crafts that I want to
>>> learn so that I can do them for a living.  For those new here, My plan is
>>>
>>> to
>>> make baskets, brooms, soaps and maybe candles and to give them to a
>>> program
>>> called Pathways to Independence, which works with the New Jersey
>>> Commission
>>> of the Blind.  They come to your house, pick up the products that you
>>> make
>>> and then sell them at craft shows and give you all the money.  As some
>>> here
>>> may remember, I was considering starting my own business.  I still have
>>> all
>>> the e-mails from the discussion on how to do so and thank you for your
>>> help.
>>> But I'm really nervous about all the paperwork, particularly taxes and
>>> losing my benefits etc. if I don't make enough, especially since my
>>> earnings
>>> will vary in the beginning and I have to account for materials, shipping,
>>> insurance etc.  Of course, I could get help from SSI, but that in itself
>>> is
>>> a long and very complicated process.  I was told by the leader of
>>> Pathways
>>> that I'm legally allowed to keep all of my earnings from them, since they
>>> and I are registered with the Commission.  So I'll use them to test the
>>> waters so to speak and to make some extra money.  Note that I'm also very
>>> willing to learn other crafts that I can then sell.  Keep in mind that I
>>> know nothing of knitting, crocheting or sewing and have never seen colour
>>>
>>> or
>>> anything else.  But that doesn't mean that I'm unwilling to learn.
>>>
>>> As I said some time ago, I found a huge list of furniture stores around
>>> the
>>> country, which either cater exclusively to or which offer chair caning,
>>> and
>>> some even offer basketry.  My hope is to work with one of these for a
>>> regular income.  Many are in New York, and some are even in New Jersey.
>>> But
>>> I feel a bit strange going to them without training.  I found only one
>>> place, the North Carolina Center for the Blind, which teaches
>>> seatweaving,
>>> along with basketry, bead work and a few other things, but they're not a
>>> residential facility.  I've done extensive searches online but the most I
>>> could find were centres which offered some arts and crafts classes for
>>> pleasure or industrial arts, which, in it's modern context, apparently
>>> refers to wood working with power tools and the like.
>>>
>>> My counselor is willing to help me, and indeed, the NJ Commission used to
>>> offer programs for these crafts but no longer does so.  But he hasn't
>>> been
>>> able to find anything and this is going on over a month.
>>> So I'm really hoping that since several people have joined since I did,
>>> that
>>> someone here can help me.  Joyce, I know that you're in a place which
>>> teaches caning.  Is it residential and how long does it last?  Perhaps,
>>> The
>>> Commission might be willing to pay for it.  Does anyone know if there are
>>> plans to teach any of these here in the future?  If there isn't an actual
>>> place where I can learn these things, would someone be willing/able to
>>> tutor
>>> me or do you know a teacher, perhaps retired, whom I could contact?  I'm
>>> sorry for being repetitive, but I wanted to sumarise my situation here
>>> for
>>> those new to the group and to update my progress for the rest.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Eleni
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
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