Inspired or discouraged?
This is what my kids look like at least 50% of the time. I posted this picture on instagram one day recently when I realised that it may look like my girls wear handmade frocks and braided hair everyday. That said the skirt was handmade for her by her brother so maybe that is something? ;)
So we have talked about it in passing, over numerous posts, in the last year or two. About the ability for the things we see on the internet, instagram and pinterest to be encouraging and inspiring versus sometimes being deflating and discouraging. And I guess I just wanted to ask directly for your experiences and how this affects your making. Do you get affected by it, or does what you see just inspire you to try new things? Does it affect what you then post pictures of?
I created the retreat (and this space) to start to chat about people's fears and head stuff (including my own!) around craft. To that end I really want this space to be encouraging rather than discouraging. I started I Made This as part of that process and often talk about my many mistakes on the path to learning my craft. I'm truly hopeful that I have hit the mark, making you feel more capable and able to try and tackle things that you think are a bit above your current skill set. Or even just to feel you can make something you think is beautiful with the skills that you already have.
But maybe I haven't…?
One area I do struggle with this, is instagram. As hard as I try to post my everyday making, it is still the pretty 40sq cm of the making I end up posting, rather than the rest of the super messy sewing room. I think I end up using instagram more as a place for the pretty I can see, in the midst of the chaos. Like an online visual inspiration diary to look back on when I'm feeling overwhelmed by the constant mess.* I think I use it now as a way to feel like I have achieved something (other than tidying up tiny bits of paper and toy animals) in my day. As in "look I made a sock!". I'm not just a washer of dishes. I am a sock maker…..hmmm.
The only tidy 40sq cm in my sewing room this morning. It made me happy in an isn't-it-ironic kinda way because the photo looked so calm. And in that tiny 40cm and that tiny moment there was a bit of calm.
Love to hear your thoughts on this one. What do you see or read that encourages you and inspires you? What deflates you? Does your making change based on what you see?
Felicia x
*Why are small humans so messy!
PS. I mentioned on Friday that I was going to post a knitting tip post today, but it hasn't happened - apologies! While I was searching for a good youtube link to link to, I couldn't find what I was looking for. So I did an impromptu video tonight (when I should have been making dinner for the kids - jaffles anyone?) to go with the post but have now got a little stuck trying to upload it to my new youtube account. So it will have to wait until Friday - apologies.