Now I am a great believer in the creative spirit of human beings. I believe wholeheartedly in the fact that the human race is intensively creative \u2013 how else could we be here, sitting on our computers, reading Facebook, looking at cat videos, enjoying all the wonders that modern technology has to offer? It\u2019s really true \u2013 we are ALL creative in some way<\/span>.<\/strong><\/p>\n But for most of my adult life, I thought I wasn\u2019t creative. I thought that to be creative somehow meant you had to be able to draw and paint<\/span><\/strong>. And if you couldn\u2019t then you just weren\u2019t. It took me a long time to see that actually I was; how I decorated my house, how I chose perfect presents for people, how I could always throw something together in the kitchen out of a tin of beans, two tomatoes and a block of cheese (joke \u2013 cos that sounds disgusting!). But you get my drift! And when my husband said \u2013 ‘You\u2019re always creative, just look at X, Y and Z, I used to think \u2013 \u2018Yeah! Maybe I am.\u2019<\/p>\n Now I am immersed in a creative business. I have been for a few years now \u2013 in case you hadn\u2019t spotted it \u2013 I live and breathe Silver Clay. It\u2019s a passion of mine<\/span><\/strong> and I really love working and teaching it. BUT I still have those demons, creeping into my head sometimes. In fact quite a lot of the time actually. The voice that says \u2018What do you think you\u2019re doing? Why do you think that will work? What a waste of time!\u2019 You probably have one of those voices too – why are they always shrill? Well it is in my head anyway!<\/p>\n And then, every so often I return to the box, look in at its contents and think \u2013 \u2018Ooh yes! I remember that \u2013 I could do this, or this, or this\u2019 and then I take it out and finish it<\/span><\/strong>. But sometimes it goes back in there for another wee while until I learn what I need to or find the inspiration to put it out of its misery and complete it. Sometimes it\u2019s just ground up into powder and reconstituted!<\/p>\n I think it\u2019s a common response to constantly question yourself and look at what you\u2019re doing and wonder if it is enough. Most of us have a modicum of self-doubt. I just want you to know that you are not alone!<\/span><\/strong> Whilst it\u2019s hard for me to admit that there are times when I find even the simplest processes difficult or frustrating, because I am the It\u2019s like everything that is important in life. It\u2019s a matter of persistence and perseverance<\/span><\/strong>. A little bit more every time. And be gentle with yourself because sometimes it doesn\u2019t come easily the first, second or even the third time. But if you persist and you are kind to yourself, it will come.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Til next time [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row padding_mobile=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_color=”#aec1ba” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”10|10|10|10″ custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]![\"Unfinished](\"https:\/\/silverclayschool.co.uk\/newsite\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/20150919_122612.jpg\")
<\/a>I posted some pictures on Facebook of my UFO box \u2013 Unfinished Objects \u2013 to illustrate that you can leave Silver Clay objects, quite safely, sometimes for <ahem> months and years<\/span><\/strong>\u2026… But the reason that there ARE UFOs and that I have a special box for them is really the reason for this blog. You see when I am creating, especially something that matters \u2013 I can choke quite easily.<\/span><\/strong> I put the piece down and look at it and think \u2018I can\u2019t do this\u2019, \u2018I don\u2019t have the skills\u2019 \u2018This is rubbish\u2019 \u2013 that\u2019s when the piece finds itself consigned, out of my sight to the UFO box.<\/p>\n<\/a> teacher. I also think it\u2019s important for people to know that I understand what it\u2019s like.<\/span><\/strong> I\u2019ve most definitely been there. I\u2019ve been that learner, just starting out. And I still make it my business to learn new things \u2013 to put myself in the classroom and remember what it is like to be the other side of the experience.<\/p>\n
\nEmma x<\/p>\n