It’s a Whole New World
Ok so I may have just quoted a line from a song in Aladdin….but that is really how it feels to me right now.
I have never been one to ponder long on things, or to allow myself to stay in a state of limbo for long. In the last 8 months my life has undergone many changes and transitions, some of which were painful and others that were both refreshing and long overdue. I have a new pace, a new outlook, and a new passion.
I almost stumbled into jewellery design. It started in March when I visited my home town of Perth. While there I noticed a necklace from my wedding had broken. As it was a sentimental piece I did not want to throw it out, nor could I imagine buying a new one. I wanted to fix it. So my husband and mother took me to a local bead and Supplies store; I purchased not only whati needed to fix it, but also a range of tools, beads, leathers and metal fixtures.
I read 2 magazines back to back to see what I could pick up from there, grabbed some pliers and metal and hacked my way through the learning process. Within 24 hours I already had a finished necklace and bracelet. That’s when I knew I was on to something. Things were coming to me naturally.
I feel it calls apon all the skills I have picked up in dance and theatre- having to make things work and quickly, and a sense of drama.
Since then I have been experimenting, failing and succeeding at making a range of jewellery styles and I now feel that my pieces are expressing ‘me’ better than before. I have honed in on my brand and what I want it to represent- a perfect mix of rock and glamour. I have had the opportunity to touch base with people also in fashion that work in magazines and on runways as well as people designing clothing lines and i’ve have been chatting to photographers about photo shoots.
When I was entirely focused on dance, my body had to tell the whole story in a way that was entirely intangible and I adored that challenge and the endless energy required to make it work. Now I am seeing the beauty in the tangible. There really is something special about working with your hands, and seeing the idea in your head become real in front of your eyes.
It’s such a thrill when people comment on something you are wearing and you’re able to say ‘I made that’. I have had my first official customer this week purchase one of my personal favourite pieces. It’s a lovely type of validation to receive so soon into my journey and I’m incredibly grateful and happy.
So I guess you could say this is Flic Manning version 7.0! I never stop evolving as I don’t believe in being stagnant or that as humans we are only capable of one thing, or that we must specialise in only one field. I am thrilled I have found something new to love passionately, that gives me new experiences and a fresh pair of eyes on the world. I am sure there is more to come, and I look forward to sharing it all with you.
If you’d like to see some of my pieces go to Pink Outline
I feel as though every time I get a chance to write a post I am updating you all on some massive experiment that I call “my life”. Every day is an adventure in itself. I am always busy, always organised and yet the universe always finds a way to shake up my schedule, flip my plans upside down- send me on a different journey to what I had expected. Funnily enough, this all leads to the same end result – my version of success.
Saying that I have been ‘busy’ would be a serious understatement. I have been working on so many projects that my schedule would likely be called ‘insanity’ by most. To me, this “insanity’ has been so rewarding, challenging and fun that I am just thankful to be doing so many things.
Rehearsals are due to start for
The past two weeks has contained more challenges than I had expected to encounter at this time in my life. It has been a wonderful reminder to me about the importance of grasping opportunities that are presented and to lead with my ambition, rather than always with old feelings of loyalty. This might seem a bizarre concept to some people – but one that is proving necessary time and time again in my life.
I truly aim to open up fusion dance to the international market and to create local dance jobs for the mass of very talented and often unpaid dancers we have here in Australia.
We hope to show case what we can do at
The subject of my post today in one that I would not normally write about; but I was drawn to do so because of an event that I went to last night that really opened my eyes. Some members of my family and friends would already know that I am a Bisexual woman, those that don’t………now you do. As far as I am concerned, my bisexuality does not affect anyone else.
What an interesting few months it has been so far in 2012!