We all know the immediate months ahead are going to throw some challenges at us. Not only as we try to find and support Canadian companies and products, but also in how we navigate through daily life.
I am happy that my website is set up through the Canadian company Shopify. I do have an Esty site that I haven't really been using, but I had been thinking about making use of it more. I was contemplating showcasing all my handwoven products on Esty, and saving my website to promote my tapestry work. I I have seen some information about Canadian platforms similar to Etsy for product sales, but will have to do some more reading before I decide to switch. Hopefully, I can find one that suits my needs.
As I move forward with these external changes, I am changing gears. and am making time to be a creative again on a regular basis. As much as I love making functional beautiful woven products, my real interest lies in exploring, experimenting and growing my skills and accomplishments within the parameters of tapestry weaving. This has always been my desire. I just thought it would be good idea to supplement my income by selling handmade textiles. I felt like functional products would be more desirable to the public. Now I see it was just me getting side tracked and not focusing on what is really important to me.
At this stage, I feel like I have to teach myself to be a creative again. I have forgotten how to trust my intuition. I feel like I have been sitting with my ideas for a long time. Maybe I am just afraid to take that step forward to put them down on paper. I need to keep putting one foot in front of the other; to do until it doesn't feel like a task anymore; reclaiming my intuition and hence my creativity.
I feel it is important not to skip this step. I want to reconnect with my sketchbook practice- to make it a daily activity of importance. I forgot how much my sketchbook renderings inform my tapestry pieces. Whether it be studies in nature, playing with colour, or actually sketching out the outline of a woven piece, my sketchbook is the answer to all questions without even knowing it.
Last summer, I stepped back from my social media presence, and I can't say I have missed it. I wanted to be grounded again. I found I was spending so much precious time taking photos and representing reality instead of being present in it. I was posting the idea of having a sketchbook practice without actually participating in good one, as there was no time to dedicate to it. I was too busy being present online.
I am still trying to figure out how to keep people informed of my products, and ongoings -possible workshops - without engaging the big machine. If anyone has some good tips, I'd love for you to share.
We are heading towards some challenging times. We need to regroup. Which means a strong focus on buying Canadian and supporting local. As much as I will be scaling back from making handwoven products and focusing more on sketchbook/ paper works, I will still be making tapestries. My woven goods will be sold locally at Good Fibrations, 98 Germain Street, and most likely still be available online through Etsy or equivalent Canadian platform. My tapestries will be available on andreabutlerdesigns.ca- contact me for inquiries.
I hope that we can continue to support each other as Canadians, and as locals. We can improve our world by filling it with treasures that bring us joy, made by people we know and love.
