Skillin up is always slow. A few months ago though I was in Gustav trying to obtain the skillup item there and doing pages.
I was also trying to get some levels on my paladin i think i started at 73 and got pretty close to 90 if not over that in the process. I also was trying to skillup my shield on paladin. I had my whm mule with me whose skill was lacking big time.

I did not leave the zone for a couple days so i retained my prowesses. I had built up to like level 7 skillup prowess in time and I was bout to leave with still no skillup item in chest when the though occurred to me to try to skillup while i had the prowesses. Screw the ring/earrings, these prowesses have to be worth something right? I capped my enhancing in one day. I then worked on healing and capped that as well.

The sad thing is my mule doesn't have a melee job yet so i can do the same for my main character. But im working on its dnc and just need to get it a decent sub, and i will try this to cap skills for my main. I would suggest anyone able to do this (maybe with your friends) try and see how it goes.