Keeping Our Traditions Alive
why spending time with friends and loved ones physically creating something together is important
I have lots of creative interests! Some I have pursued professionally, others I have studied for pleasure. My personal interests range from sewing, knitting, painting, screen printing, interior design and more.
When I was younger it seemed that to have many creative options and interests was somehow frowned upon. I was always told it would be better to niche down. Pick one subject and stick with it.
On a superficial level, that sounds like good advice. Focus, focus, focus. The problem is that as a multi-passionate individual my mind doesn’t cope well with sticking to one topic, it needs the freedom to wander, to explore various directions and mediums.
Once I understood that I didn’t need to be bound by other people’s opinions of what a creative business should look like, it opened up a whole new world of possibilities. For example, I didn’t need to choose to be a curtain maker or a screen printer, I could print my own fabric and be both!
Sharing the knowledge
In today's rapid, disposable world, the invaluable skills and wisdom that are inherent in traditional crafts, risk being lost forever unless we actively pass them on to our children.
I share my knowledge through my newsletters and blogs, as well as in online classes and workshops with real live people.
I’ve held craft classes for my local Stroke Association which I enjoyed enormously. It was always interesting to note that those members who were the most reluctant to join in initially, actually gained the most from the experience. I believe receiving encouragement and support from other people can be as good for the soul as the activity itself.
I've organised card-making workshops and sewing classes within my local community, and I also had the joy of teaching City & Guilds sewing courses at the nearby college, an experience that I absolutely cherished.
Treasure the past
This “live” knowledge has a quality that learning from books or the internet lacks. It’s the human element…spending time with friends and loved ones physically creating something together.
Creating something tangible like this, gives it a story, a memory. Reflecting on the experience, you will remember so much more about the occasion than if you only ever watch random internet videos.
In the old days, you know pre-internet when the world was in black and white (as my boys used to think), people shared their knowledge in a way that is fast being lost.
Skills such as sewing, knitting and crochet were handed down or passed on from one person to another.
As a little girl I spent hours watching my mother sewing at the machine and I loved it. It was something that we shared, just the two of us. Sewing has been one of the great pleasures in my life and something that I return to often. It’s like an old friend.
She also taught me how to knit, which came in very handy when I had my own children.
I’m left handed, so when my sister-in-law taught me how to crochet, it was a challenge, but one that we overcame together.
*For those who are wondering, I knit right handed!
As a little girl I spent hours watching my mother sewing at the machine and I loved it.
Embrace today
In the world of today, people tend move around frequently; for university, for work or simply to experience new cultures. Wonderful on lots of levels, but it does mean that families are not really multi-generational anymore. We simply live too far apart.
This is why we need to make the effort to share our skills and knowledge while we can with those we love.
Perhaps you could learn a new skill by attending a class or workshop occasionally.
Let’s make the most of learning from other people, while we can, before it’s too late.
I’d love to know what your creative passions are and how you choose to learn new skills.
Please feel free to leave a comment below and join the conversation.
Until next time…
Gaynor xx
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I think it's so important that people get involved in some form of creativity, whether they believe they are creative or not (after all we often have the belief that we aren't creative because someone at some stage of our life has told us that something we created wasn't quite up to their standards)!
There is so much to be gained by just having a go and getting involved, it's freeing. And if you don't like one form of creativity, you can always try another. Isn't that the joy of it ☺
Also, have to say I love the illustrations with this post!