[Nfb-krafters-korner] Still Seeking Training in CraftsforOccupation

Carol csiegel at bellatlantic.net
Thu May 5 17:21:41 UTC 2011 

Hi Eleni, I feel that all cultures and languages have their beauty.

I'll send you a private Email.

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: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 2:06 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Still Seeking Training in 
CraftsforOccupation


> 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
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
>>>> Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> Nfb-krafters-korner:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/amcarr1
>>>> %40verizon.net
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
>>>> Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> Nfb-krafters-korner:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/magkisa83%40gmail.com
>>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
>>> Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> Nfb-krafters-korner:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/csiegel%40verizon.net
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
>> Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Nfb-krafters-korner:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/magkisa83%40gmail.com
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
> Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Nfb-krafters-korner:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/csiegel%40verizon.net

More information about the NFB-Krafters-Korner mailing list