Reflecting on a Year of Design | Embracing Challenges and Renewed Inspiration
Happy Yule and season's greetings to you all. As the shortest day and longest night approach, Yule is a traditional time for reflecting on the passing year's experiences. 2023 has been quite an unusual year, with its share of ups and downs that I'm sure many of us have faced. The common refrain of “how fast this year has gone” resonates as we find ourselves in December once more. Amidst this, your unwavering support, engagement, and kindness continue to amaze me. I'm immensely grateful to everyone—readers, customers, followers, and supporters—who contributes to making this creative journey meaningful, even through the trials and tribulations.
This year has been marked by collaboration, working alongside fellow designers and creators, and hosting exciting events across the craft and design calendar. London Craft Week stood out as a major highlight of 2023. The opportunity to curate a group show with Catherine Marie Longtin as part of the LCW schedule for ‘Quilts: A Material Culture’ was an achievement I'm incredibly proud of.
Additionally, showcasing a new collection at London Design Week and hosting my exhibition stand at the London Design Fair, Truman’s Brewery, were personal highlights.
Some other personal highlights that I am so grateful for are being able to go on a trip of a lifetime to Japan, as well as visit the beautiful Lake Como and Millan for Design Week. travel for me was never part of my childhood and growing up we didn’t go on trips to foreign countries. It was never something that we felt sad or worried about, but in adult life, I have come to enjoy and appreciate the experiences of visiting new and exciting places.
I took a little step back from teaching this year to focus on making new work, but we did manage to squeeze in an amazing quilting retreat at the always wonderful Kindred House in Margate. As well as acknowledging these achievements I must also thank all the amazing people who attended, from family and friends to wonderful followers and readers of the book, so many people passed through the doors to our exhibition and trade show spaces and provided much-needed kind words, help and wonderful feedback.
In our creative endeavours, shadows often accompany the highlights. As artists and designers, our passion is entwined with personal aspirations. For me, it's deeply personal—my pursuit of success aligns with my desire for financial independence, a home, and establishing a family as a queer individual. The sacrifices made and relentless dedication throughout the year all contribute to this vision.
Along this journey, I've encountered situations this year, that have left me questioning the purpose and value of what I'm doing. Instances where opinions or actions of others cast doubt on my path. I appreciate constructive feedback, but some interactions have left a lasting, disconcerting impression. These thoughts often linger in creative minds, testing our self-worth and the integrity of our work. Most days, I strive not to let them overshadow my purpose. It's crucial for others to recognise that our creative pursuits are deeply personal and individual, often undertaken amidst limitations and challenges. While generosity and support within creative communities are vital, it's equally important to acknowledge that everyone is striving in their own way, utilising their skills, time, and resources, which might be all they have or have worked hard to attain. It's okay to maintain a personal focus while being kind, supportive, and generous. Striking that balance is essential.
Reflecting on times when we've felt diminished allows us to empathise with those causing such feelings. Negative experiences heighten awareness of our privileges and motivate us to uplift fellow artists and admirers of our work.
As someone who grew up with a lack of community, my intention is always to uplift, collaborate and foster a warm and welcoming community for others so it can be a difficult truth to face when realising that others may not share this desire to uplift and inspire. Recognising this and learning to accept the individuality of those in the field has been an interesting realisation.
The experiences of this year have lingered, raising doubts about the meaning and happiness derived from my endeavours. Overthinking situations has led to a reserved inclination to participate, fearing a dent in my 'brand' or self-worth. The lack of engagement on social media suddenly becomes a catalyst for questioning the effort poured into creating and sharing. These thoughts can overwhelm without space for reflection or resolution.
I want to say that I have learnt some profound lessons from these situations, but I am not sure yet if I feel differently about them. I haven’t managed to turn them around into positive actions just yet, which I also think is okay. What they have shown me is that not everyone has the same focus as you and to be careful not to fall into traps where people need you to further their journey and the relationship is not equitable. To work with people who share your values and vision and not allow others to take you away from your path. That saying NO is okay and you know what is best for yourself, your work and your journey. It is not always easy because other people may not actively acknowledge the situation or appreciate how their conflicting views will affect you. They may not be doing it on purpose, but in those situations, ask questions, and seek. to find out more about the situation and even if it doesn’t go to plan, sometimes that is okay because both parties are up for learning and pivoting together to set it right again and can be big enough to acknowledge that.
Balancing life and career goals is an ongoing journey. Economic fluctuations and the ever-evolving cost of living make it challenging. The pressure of content creation, social media, and rapid expectations often hinder us from embracing stillness, but taking that time is essential.
In 2024, I aspire to continue this journey. Opening a workshop and space to welcome everyone remains a dream, although it's not financially feasible yet. I yearn for more work that fosters meaningful connections and immersive experiences, melding craft, materials, processes, and places to create a world more people can experience.
In this industry, creative people walk a tightrope between vision, self-expression, and the need for connection, support, and assistance. We drive our outputs, nurturing and protecting what we create while aspiring to reach and connect with others. The support, help, and kindness of those who see potential in what we do is pivotal and we need more of this in the industry, especially in the world of contemporary craft, which is gatekept by privilege and money when it should be accessible to all.
If you've reached the end of this journal post, I hope it has sparked some thoughts, encouraging reflection on your own experiences and prompting a review of the highs and lows of the past year. I'm excited about 2024, anticipating new encounters, building on existing relationships, and carving out space for personal growth along the way.