How to make a crystal fascinator tiara

Hi

Having a go at a 'how to' instruction video as an experiment. Just don't seem to have time to do more as I'm too busy making jewellery!

Ideally would like to do more of these and to show some of my silversmithing work - will get round to it eventually!


S

The Open

Finished working on Sunday - it was really hard work for very low pay. I was quite surprised at how the catering staff are treated. I found this to be quite an experience and it makes me realise that it is truly worth studying and gaining a degree. Having a job with good conditions and pay is paramount - as long as you enjoy it.

However, a lot of my experience will be relevant for events management and how it all comes together.

Today I have been finishing a commission which will be delivered tomorrow.

I have 7 brooches to add brooch pins to and then polish and finish.

Need to go to bed soon.

The Open

Just back about an hour from working at the Open. Today I started at 10.00 am but I wasn't on duty till 11.30 am. Today was a busy day for the R & A staff as it is the last day before the championship begins. I was kept fairly busy but not as busy as yesterday. Also I started later so was not as tired. At 5 o' clock I decided to walk around and browse the merchandise marquee. There was lots of golf clothes etc and I was tempted to buy. I then went to the 18 th green and sat and watched the players coming in. It was a beautiful night and the sun was warm. What a fabulous setting - looking over the sea to Ailsa Craig!

I am starting at 8.30 am tomorrow so it's bedtime!

Goodnight

ps all jewellery orders will resume from Monday

My work experience

Yesterday I started my job at the Open. I had originally been asked to do waiting tables from Thursday. However, I was asked to work from Sunday to Sunday. I am managing and running the private staff dining area for the R & A Staff. This is an area where staff can 'get away from it all' and have breakfast and also lunch. There is a buffet as well as a hot dish of the day.

I am responsible for attending and waiting on the staff - there is self service but I need to ensure that all areas are stocked up. I also ensure that the coffee is made and kept fresh. Tea and hot water has to be maintained. I also tidy and clear tables and return all dishes to the kitchen.

All items have to be recorded on the till although no money changes hands. I must say that this is physically hard work and I am on the couch with my feet up. My feet are sore even with wearing proper leather shoes - an experience indeed!

It is only 9.30 pm but I am up at 5.00 am tomorrow so it's time for bed!

Goodnight

z . . . .z . . . . z

A new experience!

Today I was working at the Open at Turnberry. You might ask - what is the Open and why were you working there? Well this is the British Open Golf Championship and I applied to work there for the fun of it - to experience working during a major event. This, I hope, will enrich my understanding of Events Management - always useful for my lecturing as well as my own business.

Basically I was part of the set up team for the various hospitality restaurants being set up. I was quite amazed at how much work is needed and how the areas look once set up. It was really hard work but it was a beautiful day and we had lunch provided sitting looking out to sea to the Ailsa Craig and beyond. Basically I was cleaning, setting up tables, sorting out food supplies for the various restaurants etc. The pay is the minimum wage and so I experienced what it is like to work on a very low wage.

I begin working in the Links Restaurant next Thursday - this is a fine dining restaurant and I will be waiting tables. This is waiter service only and so this should be an excellent opportunity. I am looking forward to doing this - this will be for 4 days. I am glad that this not my real job as it is really hard work and very physically demanding.

However, the experience will be worth it!

Will post more next week . . . .

New post

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Korma stains on the carpet

I thought I might write about things that go on in my life that are fairly mundane compared to jewellery designing etc . . . the kind of things that I'm sure others have experienced. Today I was at a fair so this involved getting everything together and going at least one hour before to set up. Today I was organised, today I deliberately got dressed up and wore one of my new pearl choker designs, today I thought 'today I will be ready for 11.00 am (when the fair starts) - instead of rushing as usual, beads of perspiration running down my back, attending to customers while I am STILL setting up (usually about noon)'.

Today was going to be so different - what a lovely sunny day as I drove over to Troon - Arran looked quite magnificent and all was well with the world. Until . . . got the car parked and started to unload - oh no! So busy tidying my car that I left my covers for the table and my mannequins for the tiaras. No way could I set up until I got these from home. Next step: phone T and ask him to bring them over? That would be find but . . . mobile phone a bit wonky - got cut off - he phoned back - I couldn't get through - left message. Finally got message. Went in and sat down - couldn't really do anything. T arrived at 10.25 am - this gave me 25 minutes to set up my stand!

Obviously - impossible. Just set up as best as I could and left the rest - it still looked pretty good and no one really knew of the background! T for coffee and doughnuts which was quite a treat - don't usually eat much at fairs.

Had a good day and met a lot of people and have 2 commissions. Pretty tired after all that and then I get home - what is on the carpet? Yes you guessed it - No 1 son has had the rest of last night's korma while watching TV and there are remnants of yellow sauce and rice on the lounge carpet. But hey what's new? Unfortunately this is a regular occurrence and he can't really help it. Of course you might think that this is normal for a teenager anyway but No 1 son has a condition which causes him to be more prone to accidental spillages etc. (dyspraxia) Yes I should be more understanding and 99% of the time I am. Every now and again it really gets to me.

So even although I was exhausted I just had to get down on my knees and armed with stain slayer I attacked the said korma with great gusto! Of course once you start this you always see more, don't you? So I discovered other less noticeable 'spillages' which had to be attacked!

Having completed all this I felt quite satisfied and the carpet looks pretty good - until tomorrow perhaps?

Now you understand the title?

I'm writing this with the Madonna concert on Sky 1 - one of my all time favourite singers/performers despite some outrageous episodes in her life.

I'm on twitter too - still to get used to it!

Goodnight