In the past, I had opportunities to show my artwork and my hand-made fabric journals at various local venues like my studio, my friend’s studio, at art festivals, at the Gallery and Giftshop of the Hillsborough Arts Council, and the Bull City Art and Frame Company. These venues allowed me to connect personally as well as through my art with people who were interested in my work.
And then Covid-19 hit.
Galleries closed, art walks were cancelled, and many artists became hermits in their studios. Artists or not, we all were and still are affected by the limitations this pandemic has created.
I’m an introvert and I enjoy the solitude of my studio. Yet I crave the connection with art enthusiasts, having conversations about other people’s creativity, inspiration, and yes, also their struggles. Their stories move me, inspire me and influence my work.
The current situation requires us to explore new opportunities. For me, this means finding new ways to stay connected with YOU: engaging more on social media, writing blog posts more regularly, sending my newsletter not only once a month but maybe biweekly, and turning an old dream into reality.
So I finally did it! I set up an Etsy store! I thoroughly enjoyed photographing my hand-made fabric journals in new ways (and I hope this shows in the pictures). While starting an online store from scratch was tedious, it was doable.
Why am I so excited about this Etsy shop? Because it is an uncomplicated way to share my work with YOU. What I create is intended to bring joy to YOU! Now YOU have a convenient way to browse the journals, even while social distancing in your jammies.
The pandemic imposed many limitations on us, but it also pushes us to leave the old behind and find new opportunities. For me, it means finding new opportunities to connect with you. What opportunities did YOU find recently? I would love to know!
As always, you can contact me directly via email or a DM on Instagram @SoularPowerFabricArt.
Onward and upward,
Christine
PS: If you are new to journaling, I’m happy to email you “Get to Know Yourself Through Writing – 12 Prompts to Start Journaling” for free. The PDF file also touches on some other ideas that might inspire you to take up writing.
