This month’s merry question: Did you think you’d be doing what you are doing now (craft/selling) 5 years ago? What surprises you the most?
5 years ago, I was still living my old life in rainy England, getting up at 5:45 am and getting home at 9 pm. And while working with kids was great, teaching on the other hand was getting less and less fun by the minute. Ill health and too much stress prompted us to decide to totally change our lives and relocate to our present home (Turkey).
It was about 5/6 years ago, in England, that I stumbled by chance on a silversmithing evening class, and my love affair with crafting began. Never before had I shown interest or be encouraged to make jewellery, in fact I hardly ever wore any, I couldn’t find anything that I’d really like to wear… I started my silversmithing course, never thinking for a second that I would be where I am today, selling online. In effect, my very first sale (at work in England) was quite a shock, subsequent pricing was agonizing. The biggest surprise then, was that people liked what I made, and were prepared to buy from me.
I opened my very first shop on Dawanda 2 years ago, not to sell as such, but to see if my creations sparked any reactions. I had my first sale 3 weeks later, and it snowballed from there.
Crafting was like a revelation, something I should have been doing, the missing piece. And I keep surprising myself, creating pieces I’d never thought I’d be able to create. Another huge surprise is the network of fantastic people I have ‘met’ through crafting. Selling is like the icing on the cake, it means I can keep learning new skills, practice, meet new people, teach and guide, make the sketches real and live the dream. I have finally found what I want to do for the rest of my life, not just making jewellery, but BE CREATIVE. Surprisingly simple, oh so powerful.
Thanks for reading!
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9 comments:
Yes, the networking part and those "encounters" 'are' part of the pleasant surprises, aren't they?
I too enjoy learning more than teaching...
je n'ai pas tout compris je ne parle pas englais aussi je vais traduire avec google!
D'après ce que j'ai compris je te remercie d'avoir commencé un jour de créer ces magnifiques bijoux et d'avoir fait de super tuto en français je te soujate de continuer encore longtemps,bise nadiaher
What you have written is so true. I have met so many amazing people through being creative it is wonderful. I especially agree with you on this: "Selling is like the icing on the cake, it means I can keep learning new skills, practice, meet new people, teach and guide, make the sketches real and live the dream." This could not be more true.
Thank God for that Silver Smithing Class you took by chance, I don't know what I would do without that wonderful pendant I bought from you... it goes everywhere with me!
Sxx
Très belle vue, pour le reste je ne pourrais pas te dire car je ne comprends rien hihi
bizz
Nadou
To me you are the person that makes the most stunning jewellery and makes me WANT to wear stuff. You are inspiration, you are fun, you are a friend, a teacher and possibly in the future much more.
i am glad that lives evolves in the way it does... because here we are after all... all happy and content!
What did you teach?
It's so fascinating to hear about how we got to where we are now - but also how those parts of us are still involved in what we do. And you put it so well that it's the Being Creative that is the great thing. Letting your mind be free to spark off ideas -and with friends like you and the other merry go rounders to support us, it's even better!
I feel so blessed to be part of such a supportive network, heartfelt thanks to you all!!
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