When I write a blog post or a newsletter, I generally write it as if I was sitting in a room with you, the reader, and we are friends. I like a familiar tone, a sense of camaraderie that says, “We are in this together! Let’s talk about and share our big plans and ideas!” It’s who I am – I’ve been told that since I was a tiny girl, I never knew a stranger, everyone was a friend to me and I wasn’t afraid to chatter away at anyone at any time. That is solidly me, and who I want to be!
So in this spirit of sharing, I want to tell you all about the things going on with me and Three Ravens Studio and all the resulting things that will be coming. It is ALL SO FUN and EXCITING, y’all. If you’ve followed me then you know that I’m also utterly forthcoming about my gains and losses, highs and lows, and all the feeling that come along with those experiences. I feel that allowing that sort of vulnerability in my business is really important to who I am, and it sets me apart from many other folks in my chosen paths. Again: this is who I want to be.
For someone who loves bright color, you’d think my Instagram would have reflected that. It’s illuminating.
I’ve been a lot of things in my time; I’ve worn a lot of labels and done a lot of different jobs. That’s given me some unprecedented access to a surprisingly varied assortment of skills, knowledge, and experience. It’s why I can learn new skills pretty quickly these days, I think, especially when I really like the skills in question. It’s also why I’m quick to share my skills and techniques – I have been the beneficiary of gifts like that, and benefited. I have been encouraged when it wasn’t something that would bring anything to the person who encouraged me beyond a sense of satisfaction. I want to give back whenever I can. That’s who I want to be.
You might notice that I have been putting in efforts in a couple of different fronts. One is Three Ravens Studio, of course – this is the teaching and art & supply making branch of what I do, and has been established for a while. This is what sustains me and what helps me to keep fiber arts flowing to new people. It allows me to encourage established fiber artists to be a little adventurous in their explorations. And it pays my bills, at least in theory. [heh!]
And there’s Bound By A Thread – where I sporadically delve into using Fiber Arts along with meditation and directed energy to help with managing the stress, depression, and anxiety that many artisans deal with regularly.
And now I have Urban Mystics. It’s where I’ll be moving the more esoteric explorations and related topics that I’ve worked with for most of my life – meditation, tarot, herbs, crystals, and the more stripped down urban pagany sort of lifestyle that I live and embrace, all entwined with eco-concerns, living sustainably, and using art and energy to improve our lives. Not only is this who I want to be, but it’s a huge part of who I am, and it is integral to how I move through the world.
Look for links from Urban Mystics in my blog posts here, instead of those topics being covered in full on this blog. That way if you’re not interested, you can keep reading about spinning and fiber… and if you want to learn more, you get everything! Yay!
What about who I don’t want to be?
You know that I do a lot of soul-searching here, and it’s for a reason. Well, two – one, that transparency and encouraging vulnerability thing. The second reason is that I am always, always reassessing how I and my business move in the world, because I feel that it is important to do the greatest good for all, and I need to make sure that my path leads that way. It’s also important to share that with you.
I’m not the only one who struggles with this. If you want another bit of insight into the sorts of thoughts that go through the mind of a business owner who also wants to be ethical and work for the greater good, this post from Little Red Tarot is really enlightening. I love Beth’s conclusion that her business is a garden, and why she envisions it that way. I also like that she states outright, “This post is not a finished product, that was not my goal. It’s a tiny piece of a process. A day in the garden and some of the thoughts I had.”
That is what I do here, too. I do the process with you, before your eyes with nothing to hide, just like how I share my fiber work in progress. That’s who I want to be.
Deep thought and exploration is all a part of my process, and it makes me who I am. If you’ve stuck with me this far, I know that you value it too. And that’s who I hope that you’ll be, as my friends, peers, and patrons.
These Processes in the Real World
When I go out into the world to vend my handmade items, I am very picky about the shows I do. For one, I want the organizers to be as picky as I am! Only handmade, and preferably something that gives back to the world in some way. All the vendors at For The Greater Goods Market are high quality, talented artisans, and I have a difficult time not coming home with one of everything from them when I get to vend here. Also, the show always has a non-profit that does great things in the city as the beneficiary, a different one for each event. I LOVE that.
Note the lovely things I did come home with! They are all exciting but I really can’t wait to get those seeds in the ground. If the indigo takes off, look for some indigo dyeing to come!
Links:
https://heythanksherbalco.com/
By the way, if you want some great tips on how to get back to movin’ and shakin’ – especially when you haven’t been feeling it – this post from Allyn Lewis of The Gem is just what you need. And I have a quote in there about what I do to set myself up for success!
http://hitthegem.com/getting-back-into-the-swing-of-things/
My question now to you is this: who do YOU want to be? What are you working toward? I would love to hear more in the comments, as well as any questions you might have for me! Thank you, as always, for reading.
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