As an artist, most of my time has been spent creating—stitching landscapes, exploring new techniques, and developing my skills through experimentation and practice.🖼️🪡 I've squeezed as much art as possible into the time I have outside of my life as a mother, wife, small business owner and employee.

Teaching wasn’t always part of the plan. 

Recently however, I’ve felt a strong pull to share what I’ve learned with others. Once I began demonstrating my techniques, there was a definite shift in the way I felt, a real certainty of the importance of it. Having taught three separate in-person classes in the past month, I've reflected a lot on this change in myself and the happiness that teaching has brought me. 🥰

First, teaching has made me a better artist. I have reflected deeply on my own process and it challenges me to articulate things I do instinctively. Every decision, stitch, mistake and experiment I’ve experienced has value, not just for me, but for other fabric artists making similar art. Teaching has forced me to be conscious of the decisions I make in creating my art, and hone the skills I need to demonstrate for others.🖌️ I see improvements in my work, and I can credit this to the time I've spent preparing for and instructing others. 

Secondly, teaching creates a lovely community of like-minded people who I connect effortlessly with through our common interest in fabric.🧵 I love to see others grow confidence in their work and share in the process of building something beautiful. Feedback becomes the fuel in the creation process and I am continually reminded that there are many ways to see the world around us and many ways that it can be expressed in art.💫

Lastly, teaching has helped to energize and inspire my creative spirit. The warmth and excitement of my students reminds me that what I do matters! We’re wired to create, to make beautiful things to express ourselves, and sharing in that is nourishing. I left my most recent workshop with a full heart and mind buzzing with excitement to get home to my studio to create. 

I’m learning as much from my students as they might learn from me. The benefits of gathering and generously sharing what we know will help us all grow as artists - together.