so 45,000 times 3 years of graduate school = hella lot of money.

[textileowl]

Therefore, the graduate school thing is currently pushed back at least a year.

$1100/month school loan payments is way too much to spend hoping I can get a fantastic job (+70,000) in fashion and not burn out within the first few years.

Having hashed out the numbers with Jeff's parents, who were fabulous and - while difficult - know money and the economy much better than I do.

So what to do for now?

Work at Mascot - so far I enjoy it and am keeping the flubs down to a minimum.
Work at David's part time when possible - they pay more per hour and it's a good side job even if only for a couple of hours

Research  grad school some more.
- Email UNC and find out what was wanting, what I could improve and what they want to see if I apply again
- Look into more schools

Theatre work when/if possible

Develop a couple of research and sewing complete outfit projects to build portfolio.
This should include undergarments, headgear, and accessories

- linen 1780's gown
- medieval?
-regency?
- victorian
- something 1900's?
-menswear
-  opinions, suggestions?

We've also discussed moving to a cheaper apartment to help save money and try to get our debt controlled. Jeff's parents have offered a one bedroom they own, which they've been having trouble renting out. It's a good bet we'll take it and most likely on a reduced rate. It would mean moving, but we have been anticipating that all year and it also gives us a chance to really plan out how we want the space to work, to organize and ditch things that have been taking up space - metaphorically and physically.

So here is where we'll stay for a while. We need to try and be more social, get out and enjoy Columbus while we can.

Would anyone like to help??

Comments

[gigglingwizard.livejournal.com]

Do you ever sell custom work? Like wedding dresses or Renn Faire garb and the like? It seems to me like that could be pretty lucrative. If anything, the danger might be that you'd get sucked into it and end up not going on to grad school because, "Hey, I'm already making a great living sewing my own creations. What do I need school for?"

Shall I just keep your funnel? Call it even for the jars?

I don't know if either of you guys are into gardening, but if so, you could sign up for the new community garden I'm managing on Maize Road. It's free, it'd allow you to grow some of your own food (or fiber or dyes or whatever), and you'd get to meet the other gardeners.

[textileowl.livejournal.com]

I have sold some custom work, mostly ren garb as I have no real desire to design wedding gowns. Working at David's Bridal both in customer service and alterations during Bridal Christmas will kill anyone's muse very quickly.

Selling ren garb can be pretty lucrative, if you either sell quick and cheap off the rack demi-garb, or can convince people that $400- much higher is not expensive because of all the materials, time, and skill that went into their garment. You also need to be able to go to faires for weekends, buy a booth or rent (which can be very expensive because you may need to build onsite), or have a website up that gets a lot of traffic. We've looked into this a bunch, since Jeff does leather work and right now it can't work. Neither of our jobs allow for the time off to make and sell, nor do they make enough money to buy the goods to make product.

Call the funnel even for the jars, timing has been off for months. Is there a winter market this weekend?

Gardening would be fantastic... where on Maize are the plots located? Time would be our biggest problem here, but I'll talk with Jeff about it. It would be nice.

[devikat.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Good luck! I'd love to compare notes with you (though I'm not going to try and put any applications in for at least a year now... wanna see how much debt I can pay off first).

[textileowl.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I can definitely compare notes. The biggest problem I have with looking is not knowing where to start. Where are you looking?

[devikat.livejournal.com]

I'm looking at UNC too... although there's also a program at Univ. of Virginia... But UNC has the Costume Tech specialty that I really want. I just don't know what kind of background the people applying usually have, especially how it compares to what I've done so far.

I took a few years off after college, and didn't do anything theater, because I was convinced I'd never make any money on doing the historical costumes that I wanted. Not only that, but I hardly sewed for my self for the longest time. Now in the last year I've done a lot of different shows, and I'm starting to get back to my own personal research... I just feel like there must be tons of people who've done more than I have...

So, if you don't mind, I'd love to hear more about what work/shows you've done, etc... Maybe we can give each other ideas about what area we can improve on?

[textileowl.livejournal.com]

Heh, I graduated this fall with a degree for Textiles and Clothing Design. I've not done a whole lot of theatre ever, but was in charge of garb for a one day renaissance festival for three years. I also made two dresses for a fashion show last year.

I need to look into to the theatre scene here, which is alive though small, and see if I can't manage to get more experience.

I'll let you know what UNC says when I manage to email them about the questions I have. It's a hard email for me to write.

[whisperwheel.livejournal.com]

We'll help! (i.e. last sentence) This week is a tech disaster, but next week my time should start being more free. HUUUUUUUUGS!

[textileowl.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Yeah, we thought about providing input on Monday but got wrapped up with discussing options with the parents.

Woo! Free time!