PPD Update

With everything going on since January, I haven't really been thinking about the PPD module at all if I'm honest. But looking back, I feel confident I have been considering my direction on the course and actively exploring my personal development and where I want to be in the near future.
I've been back through my blog posts over the last 7 months or so, and a fair wedge of them I've felt I can tag as part of the PPD module because contact or decisions I have made, and actions I have taken I feel have been an influence of my personal and/or professional development. This I'm pretty happy about!
I've been eager to get involved with animations, animators, projects anything going on in the world of animation - or at least I have tried, often failed or not made it very far, and not produced any animations as yet. This has been bothering me for a while, and as mentioned in posts around the Live Brief, I'm starting to question my role as an 'animator', whether it was a bit of a one off that I enjoyed doing, or something I still haven't had the chance to become completely involved in and fully get the advantages and joy out of. wow that sounded cliche.. but it's true!
The thing that does keep me going is the excitement and complete awe I get when I see an incredible animation.
I've been busy engaging with animators/community art/live situations..
    -I've responded to several of the VLE notices and looked for other relevant opportunities to ask for some experience or get involved, but unfortunately not been successful/heard back.
   -The community art project Artivism, that I joined a little late after Chris went along to the first few sessions. This project made me reconsider my ways of working; the group/interaction/socialising situation I experienced while on the project just felt like a great way to produce work, and at the same time you manage to get a load of other people interested in something that you're passionate about.. It just seemed to be something that is ideal for me and the things I love getting out of life.. being happy and making others happy! (again, a little cliche, but also true)

I've also been thinking about what to do over the Summer, I need to get a job and earn about £200 a month minimum so that I can cover my rent/bills without destroying my overdraft again.. although I'm already pretty much there. Ideally I want to work maybe 4 days a week, I'm thinking restaurant... if i get anything relevant to my animations/community art/general creative things that interest me, then bonus! But with my free days, I really want to start building up a hoard of craft things that I can sell. Either at more craft fairs that come up, like the Handmade or Competitive Cupcakes, or hopefully some independent shops back home that I looked at as research for my Final Project last year. This will hopefully give me grounds to build up a little bit of business on the side, and the bonus of added cash in my pocket.
I was also talking to my Aunty when I was home over Easter, she always manages to give me a boost of inspiration and encouragement, and shuffles me the right way when I'm stuck! She started brainstorming with me all the little craft things that I could go about making, from cards to cushion covers, to accessories, to aprons, to decorations and other handmade gifts. If I can get enough things together, we both know enough people back home that I could throw a little handmade-crafts Summer afternoon party type thing. Like a home sale event? The whole thought of it gets me really excited, which suggests that I should get my head screwed on, set a plan out and go ahead and do it! So that's exactly what I plan to do!
If it all starts going swimmingly well, then I'd like to set up a website and in time for the Summer event, I can give out my details and hopefully start getting some orders in on what to make.
I'll also be squeezing in a trip to Glastonbury, a week in Cyprus, hopefully a weekend in Dublin to make up for the weekend I lost due to the damn volcano ash... oh and I think there's something about dissertation reading as well?
Right. I'm sure I can get on it!