In different pockets of my family, I am either a first- or second-generation college degree holder. And I come from hard working people who all worked with their hands.
For instance, my Paternal Grandfather was a Deep-sea Fisherman and who built homes with his hands when he was onshore. I was no stranger to using my hands to do or fix things. Early on, I was taught to have a strong work ethic and to always give back.
In my earliest school days, I was as a science student. Then when I went to college, I did a bachelor’s degree in business, and then years later, an MBA.
I have a bachelor’s degree in international business from a university in the USA. And an MBA from a university in Scotland.
The world was, indeed, my oyster.
I stayed in the business world for all the years before the brain injury.
Then after the brain injury, I lost all my business skills, all my computer skills and all my foreign languages, with only my mother-tongue, English, remaining (and then just barely).
Those skills left the building.
All those years and money to do the degrees were simply gone in an instant!
Investment abruptly terminated.
And how is your day going?
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After the brain injury, my interests completely changed. With the business skills gone, and thanks to the people who taught me different skills, I felt like 2 completely different people.
The person I was, is not entirely the same person I am today.
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One day I remembered that I was an alumna and reconnected with one of my alma maters. And when 2020 hit and I was physically alone, I slowly read the emailed list of alumni offerings, and I joined a webinar.
The next thing I knew, I was all over the world of textiles.
I started attending webinars presented by Collectors from all over the world. Then I officially joined my alma mater’s Textile Museum and the connected group of members. From there, other national and international textile museums, universities and interest groups began including me in their offerings and webinars.
And I learnt. Everything from Textiles 101 and way beyond.
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I learnt to dye natural fabrics using raw materials such as flowers, seeds and other naturally occurring elements. I had a ball dyeing the fabrics and experimenting. I also learnt to make, maintain, and dye with my own Indigo Vat.
I saw my old chemistry skills return and become handy.
I was in my glee.
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I had a field day in the virtual world. I allowed it to link me with the people directly involved in my interests. Then I let those people show me, teach me, guide me.
I could not have picked a better time to have a brain injury.
The pandemic of 2020 forced everything to go virtual, and to the best way I could then interact.
Those times allowed me to learn from Artisans and Collectors, all over the world. I made sure I took proper advantage of that fantastic opportunity.
I ‘Seized The Day’ (Carpe Diem) as Professor Laura Birou taught me many years ago.
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I learnt and tried so many different art forms. I found myself virtually at Artisans’ Interviews and Studio tours. I read books, and then tried everything. I joined as many free virtual workshops as I could and learnt Acrylic Painting, Collage and Assemblage, Pour Painting, Paper Marbling, Sumi-e, Chinese Painting, and Calligraphy.
I learnt to make my own inks using natural materials. Then I wrote with them, printed with them, or simply did whatever spoke to me.
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I taught myself photography by trial and error, and I fell hard for Macro Photography.
And so, I grow my own plants and then take macro pictures of them. I am in my glee.
Whenever I received pictures of other people’s flowers, they inspired me to do any of the following with the image - either painting, a mosaic, or a mixed media something. Inspiration came to me from the images and at least one of my creative outlets, was moved.
That feeling was exciting, because I never knew which outlet was inspired, or what would be the result.
The Jeweler taught me to allow the raw material to tell my hands what it wanted to become. Then to let my hands do it.
I remembered.
The Lighthouse taught me to keep trying everything.
I did.
And then my hands left me in awe. Go hands!
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All my cooking skills came back and were amplified. I started using a wider selection of ingredients and began to grow my own seasonings and some vegetables, in my little garden.
Food has always been medicine to me.
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My skills now are writing, mosaics, art, textiles, photography, and plants. Other than that, I am good.
All the pictures throughout this Newsletter, except The Lantern Holding Angel’s official cookie pictures and the professional sources I noted, have been taken by ME with my cell phone. And I have also done all the mosaics and other art forms in this Newsletter too.
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I officially left business thinking behind, to become a Creative. Not that either industry was better or worse than the other. They each offered me what I needed at that particular time in my life.
I am surrendered and grateful, 10 years later.
I like to think that my time in the business world has given way to my being an Artisan now.