Last week I shared a bunch of covers that seemed to be on a mission to find me.
They made me think a lot about what makes someone an artist.
For a long time - years after starting Shiny Happy World - when someone asked what I did I’d give some long, convoluted answer about designing patterns and teaching people how to sew, quilt, embroider, crochet. It was long-winded and came out. . . slightly defensive? Like I had to demonstrate/prove that it was a real job?
A couple of years ago, I finally started to say, “I’m an artist.”
That was ridiculously hard.
We have some very strange and limiting ideas about artists. Does this AI-generated description of an artist feel familiar?
Meet Gabriel, an artist. With unkempt hair and a perpetually distracted air, Gabriel is often seen lost in thought, contemplating the complexities of existence. Dressed in eccentric attire that combines mismatched patterns and vibrant colors, he exudes an aura of bohemian charm.
Gabriel's studio is a chaotic yet magical space, filled with canvases splattered with paint, half-finished sculptures, and messy piles everywhere. He spends hours immersed in his work, fueled by copious amounts of coffee and occasional bursts of creative inspiration.
Social conventions and mundane responsibilities seem to elude Gabriel, who prefers to march to the beat of his own drum. He is often described as aloof, and somewhat eccentric, but those who take the time to engage with him discover a passionate soul with a profound perspective on life and art.
Despite his unconventional lifestyle, Gabriel's artistic talent is undeniable, and his work resonates with those who appreciate its raw authenticity and emotional depth. He embodies the archetype of the tortured artist, channeling his inner turmoil and existential angst into thought-provoking creations that challenge societal norms and inspire introspection.
This is pretty much exactly how I pictured an artist when I was in high school. 😂
I didn’t see myself in there, so even though I loved to make things, I never even considered art school. I wasn’t a painter. I didn’t spend much (any) time “contemplating the complexities of existence.” The Muse never whispered in my ear. I had a pretty good handle on “mundane responsibilities” and I had no real desire to make “thought-provoking creations that challenge societal norms.”
I just wanted to make things that make people smile.
I still do!
But for a long time I thought that wasn’t “real” art. I still had some notion of artists existing in rarified space, with natural (maybe even magical) talent.
Now I know a lot of artists, and they are nothing like that stereotype above.
They all worked really hard to learn their skills and develop their talent. They weren’t born with it, and they’re still constantly learning and developing their skills.
They don’t wait for inspiration to strike. They go looking for inspiration - often by just getting to work.
They MAKE STUFF. So much stuff!
That last one is the key. You don’t become a great basketball player by thinking about making free throws. You get out there and you practice. You don’t become a writer by thinking about writing. You have to get your butt in the chair and put words on paper. It’s the doing that makes it real.
I believe if you make things - anything - you’re an artist. (And yes - making dinner counts. At least in my book.)
And here’s what all those covers last week were reminding me. . .
Those things you’re making don’t have to be your own design. If you make something from a pattern (or a recipe, or a song, or anything else) you’re still an artist. Nobody is a totally blank slate. Everyone who makes anything is pulling inspiration from everything around them. It’s what you do with that inspiration that makes your work unique. That’s the whole point of Austin Kleon’s Steal Like an Artist.
Nobody is going to say Béla Fleck isn’t an artist because his Rhapsody in Blue(grass) is a song written by George Gershwin.
I get emails from people apologizing that they made one of my quilts exactly like my pattern sample. I also get emails from people apologizing for deviating so much from my pattern sample. 😂
There’s no wrong way to do it! Once a pattern is out there - you do you. It’s all amazing!
I’ve been thinking more and more lately about how my role as an artist is to make things - and also to make it easy for you to make things.
I try to make my quilt patterns as flexible as possible. That’s one of the reasons I build everything on 10-inch blocks! Using a uniform size makes it easy to mix and match blocks to come up with your own combinations, and making each block ten inches makes it really easy to do the math if you want to make yours bigger or smaller. 😂
I think of all of my patterns as a collection of blocks, and the cover shows just one of the kajillion possible ways to put them together.
It’s not just quilts! When it comes to “finished” art I don’t like to just release a set of printables. I also like to include a version as a PNG with a transparent background so you can use the image in your own creations.
I’ve got even more ideas for even more ways to make it even easier for you to be the artist that you are - and I can’t wait to get my new studio set up and get to work. I’ll have more to share on that front after the move.
In the meantime, head over to the Shiny Happy People group on Facebook to see what people are making with my patterns—and to ask questions and share photos of your own projects. It really is my favorite place on the internet!
This week I’m going to share three different projects from the group.
Take a look at Andrea’s gorgeous quilt made with the Cuddly Cats pattern! I love the bright, saturated colors she used - so different from my cover sample! This is going to be raffled off in a fundraiser for Rescue Kitties of Hawai’i. 🥰
Carolyn made her first ever stuffed animal! She used the Beatrice Bunny pattern and soft fleece, but made her ears much longer. Gorgeous!
Ann made a GORGEOUS quilt using the Paper Dolls pattern. This quilt is such a labor of love and Ann included all the little details - including the teeny-tiny dog and cat face appliques on some of the shirts. Wow! Be sure to click through to see the additional detail photos she shared.
Seeing the fabulous things you all make with my patterns is the highlight of everything I do!
If you know someone who’d like to read this, please share! 🥰
How I’m Spending My Time
At Work. . .
There’s a new pattern in the shop!
Meet Cassidy Cow!
The horns, spots, and eyelashes are all optional - make her your own!
Get the pattern here.
Next week I’ll be releasing the Olson Otter pattern.
Oldies but Goodies and Sale
The archives and weekly sale now get their own letter on Fridays. (This Monday newsletter was getting too long for many email providers.) You can see everything from week 11 here - including a silly bird driving a groovy car, a gorgeous embroidered Easter egg, and midnight moths. For the curious, this free pattern was the most-clicked link.
Have a fabulous week! And remember - YOU are an artist!
Best,
Wendi
PS Here’s one more cover (of sorts) that didn’t make the list last week - utterly stunning cookies inspired by a pair of elaborately embroidered antique gloves. Inspiration is everywhere!
Omgoodness Otters 💖💖💖 I feel I've been waiting my while life for an otter pattern😁❤️