I have jumped into a pool where I am teaching my own self to swim. I am determined to move toward my goal of printing, in spite of many obstacles.
Obstacle #1 - A broken part on my press. I am currently searching for the right part to make my press functional. I have made some mistakes along the way which have cost me time and money. My philosophy, however, is that there is no such thing as a mistake... if I learn from it and press forward (pun intended...ha).
Obstacle #2 - Grumpy pressmen. Wow... what a grumpy lot of people possess the information I desire to obtain. I have to let it roll off my back in spite of having my feelings being hurt to the point of tears. Printers are precise, blunt characters with no time for ignorant newbies. They are used to being under the stress of deadlines, so there is no time or patience for small talk. Plus... I am getting too old to play the cute, dumb girl. Oops...I need a new trick in my tool bag.
Obstacle #3 - Isolation. I have no idea why creative people ignore me. I have tried to connect with creative communities and am shunned... ignored. I wonder if this is what it is like to grow older? I wonder if people are so insecure they are afraid to share information with one another? I have no clue.
Obstacle #4 - Discouragement. The voice in my head tells me I am crazy. The voice in my head tells me I am wasting money and time. The voice in my head looks at where I want to be and... laughs at me. "Shut up, stupid voice!"
Obstacle #5 - Money. I am funding this Hillcrest Cottage Press from my own little economy, and my own little economy has had a December set-back for various reasons. One of which was not getting accepted to a craft fair of which I had hoped to be a part (But, even as I type this I am frozen into my house and my street is one solid block of ice! God literally saved me so... much... heartache by allowing the rejection plus it was the rejection which has moved me toward this printing venture!). Other money set-backs have also occurred but are not interesting enough to write about. I have to be patient and buy my supplies as I am able.
Obstacle #6 - Calligraphy. My calligraphy and art skills will partner directly with my printing. It is I who will create the designs for whatever I will print. I have been very disheartened by having to learn some new styles, and in learning what nibs, ink, and paper to use. Thankfully, I have a very cool book coming my way from Amazon. A calligrapher whose work I admire has written a how-to book! Plurabelle Calligraphy...thank you, kind Molly Suber Thorpe, for sharing your skills with others!
Obstacle #7 - And on and on. There will be many other obstacles thrown my way which I have yet to encounter! I feel like with a stubborn (Oh...I am SO good at being stubborn!!!) attitude and a never-quit spirit (I was raised by my dad to never quit. He literally did not allow me to use the words "I can't".) I will not only make it to my goal, but I will actually achieve success.
I hope that one day soon I will look back on this blog and chuckle because I was able to reach my goal.
Obstacle #1 - A broken part on my press. I am currently searching for the right part to make my press functional. I have made some mistakes along the way which have cost me time and money. My philosophy, however, is that there is no such thing as a mistake... if I learn from it and press forward (pun intended...ha).
Obstacle #2 - Grumpy pressmen. Wow... what a grumpy lot of people possess the information I desire to obtain. I have to let it roll off my back in spite of having my feelings being hurt to the point of tears. Printers are precise, blunt characters with no time for ignorant newbies. They are used to being under the stress of deadlines, so there is no time or patience for small talk. Plus... I am getting too old to play the cute, dumb girl. Oops...I need a new trick in my tool bag.
Obstacle #3 - Isolation. I have no idea why creative people ignore me. I have tried to connect with creative communities and am shunned... ignored. I wonder if this is what it is like to grow older? I wonder if people are so insecure they are afraid to share information with one another? I have no clue.
Obstacle #4 - Discouragement. The voice in my head tells me I am crazy. The voice in my head tells me I am wasting money and time. The voice in my head looks at where I want to be and... laughs at me. "Shut up, stupid voice!"
Obstacle #5 - Money. I am funding this Hillcrest Cottage Press from my own little economy, and my own little economy has had a December set-back for various reasons. One of which was not getting accepted to a craft fair of which I had hoped to be a part (But, even as I type this I am frozen into my house and my street is one solid block of ice! God literally saved me so... much... heartache by allowing the rejection plus it was the rejection which has moved me toward this printing venture!). Other money set-backs have also occurred but are not interesting enough to write about. I have to be patient and buy my supplies as I am able.
Obstacle #6 - Calligraphy. My calligraphy and art skills will partner directly with my printing. It is I who will create the designs for whatever I will print. I have been very disheartened by having to learn some new styles, and in learning what nibs, ink, and paper to use. Thankfully, I have a very cool book coming my way from Amazon. A calligrapher whose work I admire has written a how-to book! Plurabelle Calligraphy...thank you, kind Molly Suber Thorpe, for sharing your skills with others!
Obstacle #7 - And on and on. There will be many other obstacles thrown my way which I have yet to encounter! I feel like with a stubborn (Oh...I am SO good at being stubborn!!!) attitude and a never-quit spirit (I was raised by my dad to never quit. He literally did not allow me to use the words "I can't".) I will not only make it to my goal, but I will actually achieve success.
I hope that one day soon I will look back on this blog and chuckle because I was able to reach my goal.
