LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

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I found myself thinking of these quotes during the recent Crafts and Cream Teas event hosted at the home of Paul and Renate O’Donnell of  Wood’n’Things. Meeting them several years ago as we were about to move house was a complete accident, brought about by me falling in love with one of Paul’s lovely mirrors. Little did I know when we collected the mirror from their house, enjoying a cup of tea in their beautiful garden, that it would be the first of many such visits.

But from that point we stayed in touch, with visits to their Christmas Extravaganza and quick catch ups at other craft shows. Over time we were introduced to the wonders of Stonor Park and Henley-on-Thames. We began to meet other members of the crafting community, from Paul and Pauline, who do incredible woodwork and embroidery respectively, to Terri and Andy of Woodworms. It was this connection that allowed me to start making tags last year … something that was not even on my radar when I purchased my first mirror.

As I started to dabble in making things, Paul and Renate gave me space to exhibit at their open houses and test my products out in the real world to see if they would sink or swim. I found it fascinating how each of us were compelled to make and create something different: paintings on feathers, felted brooches, glasswork, ceramics … and me with my greeting cards and tags, magnets and badges. Coming from an academic background 
where creativity and crafting tend to be viewed as alien at worst and just a hobby at best, this welcoming atmosphere and encouragement has helped nourish my interest in creating and design.

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At the moment I’m not sure where this will take me. Perhaps it’s just a dot in a bigger picture, waiting to be connected to something else. But to give my cards and crafts a chance to grow, I will be taking the month of August off the blog to concentrate on making things: finalising designs, building up the shop, and getting more into Redbubble. Please keep an eye on Facebook and Instagram for the occasional update, and I’ll see you back here on the other side of summer.

Off the Beaten Track Wiltshire

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MissElaineous Travel Blog: Escape, Explore, Discover, Enjoy