I was brought up in an age when girls were not supposed to be outgoing.
Quietness and demureness were prized, particularly by my nanna, but also by my mum. My sister and I were encouraged to be modest and self-effacing; there were no worse sins, it seemed, than to be arrogant, boastful or shouty about your achievements – especially if you were a girl.
So I’m feeling a bit squirmy and uncomfortable writing this, since it not only involves rejecting this childhood edict, but to compound my sins, then blowing my trumpet about having done so.
The fact is, I’ve been putting myself about a bit lately.
Firstly, I spotted a post on Facebook from Vicky of The Linen Garden.
I have been meaning to write a blog post about Vicky’s blog and shop for ages.
Both are full of floral, vintage haberdashery-and-fabric loveliness.
The Linen Garden sells supplies and Vicky also makes floral vintage fabric things, but in comparison with mine hers are delicate, pretty and fragile-looking.
Like ballet shoes, compared with 1970’s platforms.
Anyway, she is going to do a regular bloggy feature on people’s pottering places – workrooms and creative spaces – and was calling for potential participants.
So I sent her a couple of photos – and I think I’m going to be in it! Which is very exciting indeed!
Secondly I spotted, again on Facebook (how useful it can be, despite my dislike for it’s money-grabby big business ways!) an opportunity to participate in a local art trail event happening in the summer in Nottingham’s Creative Quarter.
After doing the usual thing – namely bookmarking the opportunity with a “well, they wouldn’t pick me anyway” sigh – I then gave myself a bit of a talking to.
And then I got stuck in and wrote an application after all.
I think it’s going to Amsterdam that’s done it. I got all pleased with myself at being able to manage to book flights and sort out international travel all on my own, without anyone helping me or even holding my hand.
It made me think “go for it girl, how hard can it be?!”
I don’t know whether I’ll be accepted for the art trail thing, but even if I’m not, I’m glad I’ve had a go nonetheless.
After all, you’ve got to be in it to win it, haven’t you? And everyone should be allowed to get a little bit shouty and trumpet-blowy now and again, I think.
Although I’m not sure nanna would have agreed. ♥
Good idea – and good luck!
Yes! You should defintely be putting yourself out there and letting others enjoy seeing the lovely things you make 🙂 And, thank you so much for introducing me to The Linen Garden – I am so in love with every single thing that The Linen Garden sells!
I know! I love her work. So beautiful!
There’s boasty-shouty, and then there’s sensible promotion and marketing of one’s creative output. I don’t think you qualify for the former, and I strongly urge you to do more of the latter!
Odd, isn’t it, how one’s older female relatives conspired to squash any confidence in talking about one’s work as if it was worth anything. Which it is. It took me YEARS to summon up the nerve to ask for what I deserved for my work, and to be unapologetic about what it cost. Next time you’re tempted to have a bit of a cringe about money or talking about your work, just say to yourself “Amsterdam”!
Your workspace looks amazing! What a lot of lovely light! Have you colour coded your books? I’ve never seen that before. xx
Yes, I was getting them out of boxes and sticking them on the shelves after we had them put up and was impressed by the array of coloured spines – so I grouped them all together by colour, from dark to light.
My partner still complains he can never find what he wants, but it works for me as I think visually and can always remember what colour the spine is as I spend a lot of time in that room!
I know exactly how you feel, I always have that inner voice (mums)telling me that I must be modest, self effacing and never show off! I can wholeheartedly say it has really held me back through my life and fear of failure has prevented me from going for lots of opportunities. I have definately got better at going for things as I have got older and try to encourage my girls to have confidence in themselves, nowadays I try to think ” Be brave, give it a go, whats the worst that can happen ?”
I will look forward to seeing your lovely work space on The Linen Garden blog and really hope that you get in to the art trail.
Good luck, Lou x
Thank you Lou! Yes, mums mean well, but mistakes can be made without even realising it, something I appreciate only too well these days as a mum myself.
Good for you is all I will say! I look forward to seeing your fabulous work as part of Sherwood Art Week this year x
Thanks Deb! I’ll be in the Sue Ryder shop window, and at the Secret Garden Craft Fair too.
What a lovely photo of your Nanna. It’s a tricky balance to get right to promote your work and not be too shouty, but on the other hand you have to put yourself out there a bit or you just get lost in the many. Your work is fantastic and would be brilliant in an art trail. Best of luck with it all xx
Good for you! You definitely have to put yourself about a bit to get anywhere 😉 Seriously, if you don’t try, don’t ask, you don’t get. You could spend ages waiting for opportunities to come to you, or you can go and seek them…. Something I need to do more of!
Too true! I’m just not very good at it!
I know exactly what you mean. My trumpet is the last one to sound, but it shouldn’t be so. Go for it!
I think I know your Nanna because she must have been like my Nanna and I know what the ladies told their little girls in those days because I was one of them. I am older than you, a child of the fifties, and it has taken me lots of courage to overcome the rules of those days that were taught to me. So I can relate to your feelings and know what it’s like and can tell you: just stick to what you feel is right, then you can’t go wrong! and I wish you lots of luck for whatever may come!