Two of them made me really stop and think.
One said, I'm paraphrasing, "....exhibit or show
your work, have it published or teach" other than
that - it's a "hobby".
Now to me personally, when I'm creating something
that pops into my head; I'm not doing it thinking -
Can I enter this in a show? or I wonder if I could
have this piece published or maybe I can have a class
and teach it to others." This would stress me out - it
would have to be perfect, in my mind anyway.
"Will a judge find this good enough, Is it perfect?"
I am not putting quilters down who do this - definitely
not! I so enjoy looking at and admiring their work!
As a quilter; I can appreciate the time and effort that
they put into a piece.
But it's just not for me....yet.
I make what I feel even though it may not be perfection.
I do have to point out that I do use all of the skills that
I have and learned and try my best to make quality pieces.
But To me it's about the creation process and it
shouldn't be stressful; it should feel like a release -
releasing - like freeing a bird from it's cage - go out
into the world, sing your song and be happy.
I don't consider it "just a hobby" because I don't "show,
exhibit, publish or teach."
I love making and designing functional quilts, to
display in my home, to give away, to donate to
charity or for a cause and also I make quilts to sell.
All of this brings me joy, peace and happiness
- just like Christmas.
And what the heck is the definition of a "hobby" anyway?
According to wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobby
"A hobby is a regular activity that is done for pleasure, typically, during one's leisure time. Hobbies can include: collecting themed items and objects, engaging in creative and artistic pursuits, and playing sports, along with many more examples. By continually participating in a particular hobby, one can acquire substantial skill and knowledge in that area.
Generally speaking, a person who engages in an activity solely for fun is called an amateur (or hobbyist), as opposed to a professional who engages in an activity for reward. An amateur may be as skilled as a professional, the principle difference being that a professional receives compensation while an amateur does not."
(I guess that explains it some what )
If you're a beginner quilter - learn all of the techniques
that you can to develop your skills, just have fun - do
what you feel - and enjoy the creative process. You're
in your own space - there's no one standing over you
telling you "you're doing it wrong" - just "go with it"
and be yourself. Make it "your own". Then you can decide
whether you would like to "show, exhibit, publish or
teach" it or ......you can be just a "hobbyist" (o:
The other blog that I mentioned will have to wait for another post.
In the mean time -
Happy Quilting!
