New Thinking

In figuring out this crafty life stuff, I’ve researched and read and analyzed to the point of inaction. Analysis paralysis is not unusual for me in the least and I suspect I may have missed my natural calling – some form of research compilation – to pass on to someone else to actually do something with, of course.

One thing I realized is that those who are successful at living a crafty life have multiple streams of creative income: selling work in various online and off venues, teaching, marketing their “how-to” products, testing and recommending (or not) new products and resources, representing craft manufacturing companies and travelling to train or support their wholesale customers and many more, I’m sure.

We’ll get more into that issue later. First of all, before even attempting a lifestyle change, forget everything you’ve been told about art or crafts being just a hobby and you can’t make money from playing. Over and over, established artists talked of being creatively blocked by well-meaning family and friends early in their lives. That’s the standard thinking, right? Well, don’t believe it. Perseverance and passion for your work can make things happen. Now, I’m not saying you’ll be able to buy an island and live the life of a multi-millionaire, but that’s not the point, it is simply to have the time and funds to create, while living decently, whatever that means to you.

The other thing to get over is the “but is it art” thinking. Please, have you seen some of the work labelled as art in the well-funded arena of public art? If it comes from your heart, from your spirit, expresses something, then it is art and will be appreciated by someone. Don’t let people (family and friends primarily) demean your work choice, especially those who don’t have a similar creative spirit.

While learning new thinking, I discovered several new to me art forms. As a victim of art/craft ADD, that too is not unusual. I mean no offense to those who live with the daily challenge of ADD, but simply, I have trouble settling on one form and frequently jump from one to another and back again. I guess that indicates I haven’t found my heart niche, though the one craft I always return to is bead embroidery.