I’m loving the theme for 2021’s International Women’s Day, #ChooseToChallenge – how apt is that for the year that’s been?
Choose to challenge can be taken in so many ways, to challenge ourselves, to challenge our expectations, to challenge what we accept and don’t accept, to challenge what we want in our communities and lives.
For all of us, whether we’re self employed or employed, COVID has brought so many challenges and we have all had to make our own decisions about how we’re going to respond to them.
As a creative women making her living from what she makes COVID proved to be very challenging! And while it certainly did knock me about for a while, I decided that it was best to take it as a challenge and pivot.
Pivot Time
With my markets at The Rocks cancelled indefinitely and many of my wholesale orders drying up suddenly I went searching for ideas for taking my art work online. I wanted to work with the flow rather than against it. So I figured digital delivery was more reliable than physically shipping products. And, to be frank, I wasn’t up to dealing with parcels taking months to deliver, upset customers and over worked postal employees. I needed to look after myself and make life simple.
This eventually lead me to digital products – digital cross stitch patterns to be precise.
I’ve always loved sewing, I find it soothing and I was rather stressed with all the upheavals. So sewing, stitching was a logical step.
The simple idea was to convert my art work and designs into cross stitch patterns and deliver them digitally and help others stitch their way to calmness.
Great concept. Lovely and simple.
The reality of me learning how to stitch, pivot my business on a shoe string, learn how to design a pattern (big step) and then find and learn an application to do this is harder said than done!
But there is solid progress happening. I can put ticks next to each of these achievements now.
Cross Stitch Patterns by Belinda
So arriving online soon will be the first collection of Creatively Belle Cross Stitch patterns!
Blue Wren Cross Stitch Design
One of the first patterns being launched is my Blue Wren.
I’ve learnt that there’s quite a bit to morph a watercolour painting into a cross stitch pattern. Apparently many people already knew this!
This pattern is based on a charming Blue Wren I thoroughly enjoying watching at Marrawah in north west Tasmania. He’s featured on my greeting cards, gifts and prints and is now part of the first release for my cross stitch designs.
Charming watercolour Superb Blue Wren print is ready for framing
Wishing You a Happy International Women’s Day
I want to wish you all a very happy International Women’s Day and hope you choose to find more blessings in all the changes and challenges in our lives.
And remember, kindness, to yourself especially, makes the world go around better.
Send your thanks with this beautiful iris and butterfly greeting card
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