Hey there! 😊
It was July when last time I posted here. Somehow, it is now mid-November. What an experience this semester has been. I have successfully defended my Ph.D. project proposal and submitted revisions for a research paper I completed during my Master’s program. I have also begun working on my actual Ph.D. work(!) and have been doing a teaching assistantship this term. You would think that being at home and doing these activities online would be fine, but it has been a massive struggle. I’m know I am not the only one who feels this way right now. However, I know I am so privileged to be where I am.
It’s strange to think about how different life was just one year ago. I miss being able to interact with my students and colleagues in person. Most importantly, I miss not fearing for myself and my family every time I go to any public space. A few months ago, the health ministers for the province of British Columbia received high praise for their pandemic handling. Now we have become the province with some of the highest daily cases in the country. It’s devastating, and my heart goes out to all the families who have lost a loved one to COVID19. I fear for the worst as the holiday season approaches. Please please PLEASE wear a mask and stay home if you can!
Regarding my craft, I have been slowly able to re-integrate bracelet making into my life. Since closing my shop in January, I have had a lot time away from the hobby. Recently, I have made a few waxed polyester cord bracelets with cute pawprint charms I ordered on Etsy. I made these to honour my fifteen-year-old miniature Australian Shepherd, who sadly passed away on October 24th. If you have watched my YouTube channel for some time, you may have seen my beautiful old girl in some of my old intros! I cannot put into words how much I miss her.
I also recently ordered a beautiful bracelet featuring my dog’s pawprint from a local Etsy business (https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/MYMILLIEjewelry). They digitized a photo of my dog’s paw and were able to engrave it onto the bracelet! It’s such a gorgeous keepsake that I have worn every day since receiving it.
My goal is to get one more tutorial posted this year. I have a massive list of ideas, but the trouble is setting aside a good block of time to get it done with everything else going on as the semester comes to an end. I appreciate everyone’s unwavering support as I continue to learn how to balance my work and hobbies. I hope you are all staying healthy and safe during this challenging time.
– Aly