[Crafterbrain Thought] Fly Your Creative Flag High

shine your light as a beacon for your community

“I believe that the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity is daring to dare.”
― Maya Angelou

When I was growing up, I didn’t think that I was creative. I certainly didn’t think I was artistic, as I couldn’t manage anything more than stick figures. I also grew up in a culture where art wasn’t considered a serious pursuit, or something that you could make a living from. Things are slowly changing (too slowly), but priority was given to professional aspirations. We were encouraged to be doctors, lawyers and engineers (I chose the latter), NOT actors, artists or singers.

To add to this at school only those students who had innate talents for drawing and painting were supported by the art teachers. Those like me, that needed to learn how to draw were largely ignored. if you couldn’t reproduce that plant or still life in front of you to their satisfaction then you just failed the class (I am still salty about my art teacher!)

It’s occurred to me recently that these beliefs led to me hiding my creativity, once I discovered it. It’s only in the last few years that I have become less shy about sharing my craftiness with people outside of my creative bubble.

I would wonder if my friends and family from home thought I was just too frivolous and had effectively thrown away all my higher education. Were they laughing at me when I posted my scrapbook pages, crochet projects, and love of stickers and washi? Did they think I was being silly to think I could make a living from being creative?

Thankfully, not only have the Internet and social media allowed us all to be more open to these kinds of ideas, but on a personal level, my journey of creativity has taught me that this is what I am supposed to be doing. Making things fills me up in a way that other things, not even reading (gasp) does. Humans were born to create, I sometimes feel like it’s our true purpose.

Consider what we all turned to during the pandemic: books, baking, movies and TV shows, crafts, and art. It’s what helped us to be connected with each other even when we were apart.

So don’t feel shy about flying your creative flag high. It’s an essential part of you, and the world deserves to see it. And all the other makers out there will see that you’re a part of our very vibrant community.

Yours in creativity,

Francine