Hello and welcome to my very first blog post. When I started my website last year I saw the Blog post section and swiftly deleted it, my first thought being 'A Blog? is that still a thing?' But a year on and here I am - so what changed?
Maybe it's covid burnout (like many online businesses, mine thrived during covid), boredom or just the desire to do something other than paint cats but the last year has seen change calling.
I climbed out of the self built box of 'Textile Artist and Cat Portrait Painter' and decided to experiment - this is not new to me - In my 51 years I have tried all sorts, from candle making, pottery classes and printing workshops. But for some reason I felt that I couldn't stray too far from the road my business has been built on.
I downloaded photoshop and joined skillshare ( to learn photoshop!) I have started painting on paper as well as fabric. I've watched tutorials, practised techniques and most importantly I have enjoyed myself immensely and stopped worrying about what I 'should' be making. So from now on when you look on my website you’ll still find textile art and cat portraits, but you’ll also find new materials such as paper goods and clay ornaments - and who knows what else might show up!
Another thing I've done was take a social media break, using the time to create (rather than creating content) and reset - finding myself being demotivated and demoralised by the ever changing algorithms and frustrated by the shift from community and photos to sponsored posts, ads and reels.
It was during this time I stumbled across a skillshare class on writing a blog - funnily enough by an artist who has given up on instagram ... call it coincidence but I like to think of it as serendipity. So big thanks to Anne Butera and her excellent class (and her fabulous blog Mygiantstrawberry.com)
So, from now on it's not all about the hoops, it's about the joy of variety and finding your place and your people.
I hope you've enjoyed reading and look forward to reading your comments and if anything I have said resonates with you.
Best Wishes, Sharon
So, ever the learning curve it appears that I can’t reply to comments individually! But thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
What a brilliant read, you are such an authentic person and such a great talent, eh on WOULDN’T want to buy off you, would be my only question?! Keep on doing what you so do so well! ♥️
Well done Sharon. How strange exactly the same has happened to me. I am feeling stale with felts but felt that’s what my customers wanted. Now experimenting with more stitch.
Thank you Mel – you are so kind xx
So so proud of you my wonderful friend, I loved reading you blog, as I love seeing all your creations… you are so very talented. ❤️❤️