[Nfb-krafters-korner] Still Seeking Training in Crafts for Occupation

[Blindhands at aol.com]

There guilds for all that you speak about.  I would research first in  the 
National Guilds as Basketry, Seat Weaving, etc.  Don't be afraid to  pick up 
a phone and make some phone calls to the people/leaders of these guilds  
and talk to them.  Ask for contact info for people in your area.   Maybe there 
is not a guild that meets close to you, but then follow up with the  
contacts that you get from National. for people in your state.  Who knows  you 
might find exactly what you are looking for real close to you.
 
Be willing to take some of these chair caning classes.  Look in the  senior 
centers near you.  That is how my Mom le that seniors have in the  senior 
centers where I live.  You might have to pay like $20 per year to  belong as 
a member, but almost all the classes that are available in the senior  
center handicap folks can join in.arned how to cane.  Handicap people have  the 
same privileges 
 
Joyce  Kane
_www.KraftersKorner.org_ (http://www.krafterskorner.org/) 
Blindhands at AOL.com   

 
In a message dated 5/3/2011 9:41:06 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
amcarr1 at verizon.net writes:

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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