This is a Personal Story
A book that I recently read; ‘Your Dream Life Starts Here’ by Kristina Karlsson, has triggered many thoughts and reflection on my creative journey over my lifetime. I’m now realizing that this creative energy that is in me has been there my entire life and that I have been working towards my dream life all along. This creative journey has taken a long windy path and I’m not quite sure where it is taking me even still. But I do know that it seems to have circled back around to my beginning.
The Beginning
I did a lot of dreaming as a child. I would sit on a hill in one of our pastures looking out toward the west wondering what was out there in the rest of the world. Living on a farm didn’t allow many travel adventures. With too many animals to feed and/or work to be done not to mention very little disposable income for that sort of thing. This put the curiosity of travel in me from an early age. Other than feeding animals and farm work, the family spent a lot of their time as creative makers of many things.
My Mother and paternal Grandmother were both creative. Mostly out of necessity than anything else they, sewed, knitted, crocheted, embroidered, etc. It seemed like I was introduced to those creative tools very early, probably just to keep me busy, I’m guessing. Although when I discovered that I could design and make a wardrobe for my Barbie and Ken Dolls, I was all in. I was five years old when I started this exciting process of sewing and designing their clothes. My maternal grandmother was very stylish and dressed in what seemed to me like the latest styles. I noticed this at a very young age and admired it, wanting to dress like that, too.
I discovered drawing when my grandfather gave me a ‘How to Draw Disney Characters’ book which I still have. It was amazing to me how; with just a few shapes I could create these characters that I also watched on TV. It was magical but I didn’t really pursue that too far. It was looked upon as frivolous and not useful, and so I stuck to sewing.
Taking My Skills to the Next Level
Branching out from doll clothes to sewing my own clothes when I was around 10. Teachers through the local 4-H club and then high school in ‘Home Economics’ were my influence. I don’t even think they have these types of classes in schools now, but it was my favorite class and one that I was good at, winning awards along the way. I remember looking so forward to when the new seasonal ‘Sears & Roebuck’s’ catalog came in the mail. I would look through it for hours and hours determining what styles and colors were trending for the season so I would know what sewing patterns and fabric to purchase to make for my school wardrobe.
Having become proficient at these skills was very rewarding and gave me confidence and joy. But this skill set really could not take me anywhere in terms of a career. At least it was not clear to me, or to the people advising me once I completed high school with these skills. I knew I did not want to be a farmer, like my parents, and college was not offered to me then. So, I took a quick course in dental assisting because that promised employment after completion. It worked out perfectly for me. I was able to get employment and move into my own apartment in a fun college town as quickly as I could. Success, I thought. Well not so fast, after 4 years of that, the boredom set in, longing for that creativity that had brought me so much satisfaction.
Discovery of a New Industry to Use My Skills
Getting married and having a family was next on the course of life. I began sewing for my boys until they were 5 or 6 years old. Then a neighbor lady noticed how well I sewed and asked if I would be interested in sewing collectable doll costumes. She had a lot of sewing patterns and supplies that she no longer wanted and gave them to me. I dove in not knowing how big of an ‘industry’ this was. I traveled all over northern California to ‘Doll’ shows and conventions selling costumes I sewed.. After a couple of years, it became hard to keep up with orders. It was a good way to make an income while being a stay-at-home Mom however, the weekend travel became too much.
Sewing Turns Into Art
My next adventure was working at the local fabric store. This was a creative person’s heaven, surrounded by beautiful fabrics and working with creative people. It was then that I was introduced to wearable art clothing or art to wear. I began designing and sewing these artful garments that were accepted into magazines and art galleries, for runway shows and winning competitions around the world. I sold a few along the way, too. This was so exciting, I loved seeing my designs in print or on the runway.
Below, in the Craft & Needlework cover my design is the one on the left.
Photos below that; on right is the back of a jacket and left a dress with fabric manipulations and beading.
Because I’m the curious type I enrolled in the Sacramento City College ‘Clothing Construction’ program. It wasn’t a credited course, but I wanted to learn as much as I could about sewing, tailoring, pattern making, clothing design, etc. This was a 2-year course ending with winning 3rd place award at the California Community College design competition. First ever for my school! Again, this was exciting, and I think I’m onto something. But what do I do with these skills? I couldn’t visualize a way to scale my work creating wearable art clothing. In fact, I was told I needed to move to LA or New York. Well, that wasn’t going to happen with a growing family, and I didn’t want to leave our home in our lovely, small town in the California foothills. So, I continued designing wearable art for galleries and working in the fabric store learning about that side of the industry.
My design second from left.
New Adventures
Years went by and life got more complicated. I needed to go back to dental assisting to boost to our family income. Because our dental office provided dental work for Mexico’s very poor once a year, I was introduced to international travel. I enjoyed this very much but it didn’t satisfy the daily 9 to 5 grind. As they say, history repeats itself, and soon, without having any creativity in my life once again, I was become bored.
Out of desperation I enrolled in an evening graphic design class at the local community college. Eureka! This was fun and interesting and new! One class turned into two then three then a degree! Interested in what other ‘graphic designers’ were doing for work, I talked to several and learned that all of them had a bachelor’s degree. My then boss kept reminding me that I could do anything I put my mind to. This was a scary proposition since I just turned fifty-one.
When I was a young woman, right out of high school working the 9-5, living in a collage town, I had longed to go to college, but I had no idea how to do that then, so I didn’t pursue it. Now, to have the opportunity to have that collage experience was exciting and to top it off to learn skills that will allow me to have a creative career. But could I do it, was it crazy? Yes, and yes, but I excitedly enrolled. My plan was to continue to work part time and drive the hour and a half one way to classes at Chico State College on the days I wasn’t working.
A few months before my 52nd birthday I set my sites on this adventure, thinking that I would be finished in three years. All was going well; the other students and professors were super supportive as I started out with prerequisite classes and felt right a home as the oldest person there. The Chico State Graphic Design department only excepts around 20 students a semester into the program. To qualify you must pass a portfolio review that consisted of excellence in, drawing, color theory, typography, photography, and a 3D solution to an assigned problem. Yes, it’s a lot! Many of the classes I had taken at the local Sierra College were in preparation for this review. I put my head down and pushed through getting my portfolio to look perfect along with about 30 other students hoping to pass the review. The names of the excepted students were posted in the hallway of the department the next day….my name was not there.
The Graphic Design department allows students two tries to pass the review which is given twice a year. Now I had to decide whether to stop now or continue. I loved these classes, I loved being on campus, I loved the support from my fellow students, and I loved the idea of have a creative career, and I was pretty good at it, just needed more instruction; so I’ll try again. Luckily, the professors give tips on where to improve giving me the opportunity to focus on those areas over the next several months. Meanwhile, I continued with the many other classes I needed to fulfill my units. As you already have guessed I passed the 2nd review and as a 55-year-old I woman I received my degree, and my dream career began. I started my freelance business which has allowed me to work from anywhere, accomplishing my dream of being creative and traveling.
Using those skills and learning a few more, I’ve found a new industry to pursue alongside my graphic design business, ‘surface pattern design’. This brings me back around to full circle; I can now design my own fabric to sell to clothing brands to enhance their clothing lines. I have new curiosities, learning new skills, and new opportunities to explore. I feel more excited and interested in my work, more fulfilled and purposeful. I have some designs for sale at my Spoonflower shop which I continue to add to and open to collaborations for custom design.
Why am I Sharing this Personal Story?
Sharing our story with others is important, young and old so they may learn from it, be inspired from it, improve upon it, and grow with it. I want to encourage others to make room in their lives for what brings you joy, and/or what lights you up, understand your values and your life’s purpose? It doesn’t matter when or at what age you are or how long it takes to get there, it’s the getting there that is important. Have a dream to work toward, figure out how to get there, visualize the results and work for it.
Maybe you know someone who needs some encouragement to find their purpose and/ creative journey. You can pass on my story or maybe you have a story of your own to share.