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WELCOME to my little arty world! Trying to make art is a huge part of my life ... love nothing more than messing around with inks and sprays and generally making a mess!

Sunday 29 May 2016

Tales of a demonstrating virgin

That refers to someone who has never demo'd a workshop before and not a nubile young maiden waiting for love to find her as she holds aloft a plaquard emblazoned with whichever cause she is fighting.

Oh, the visions I now have in my head!

Anyway, the title refers to me ... 
little old Debbie
 tatteredrocks
 Great-Aunt Grubby-Bee 
... who was invited to teach her version of Finnabair's wonderful mixed media pieces at three of Claritystamp's regular workshops hosted by the amazing Sally-Ann Moore (aided and abetted by the equally amazing Kim Shaw) and Maria Simms.

After much hesitation, dithering and contemplation and a huge amount of encouragement by Margaret Craner (Silvercrafter) I decided to bite the bullet and go for it ... worse that could happen would be I totally stuff up and make a fool of myself.

I am given to totally stuffing up and making a fool of myself so what did I have to lose?
Apart from public humiliation.
And pelting with rotten tomatoes.
And scurrying back into the comforts of my craft room never to be seen again.

So after tweaking a sample design to make it cost effective for the workshop and something that would not take too long to dry I got them OK'd by Sally-Ann & Maria and got all the kits put together.

Totally underestimated what a task that would be but will admit to enjoying it ... gave the OCD in me chance to come into play!

Although Sally-Ann was the first to ask me to demo, the dates worked out that I headed to Maria in Shrewsbury first.

I go as often as I can to Maria's workshops and travel with the aforementioned Margaret so off we went in April ... me quaking in my boots and not knowing what to expect.

All I had to do was sit there and do what I do with my eyes closed at home ... how hard can that be?
Er, how hard can it be to THINK about what you do with your eyes closed at home and explain it at the same time to a lot of ladies for whom this was a totally new experience?

Made a few mistakes, I have to admit but also have to admit I have not made those mistakes a second time !!!

Encountered a little negativity at that first demo which threw me totally off kilter - kinda, sorta held it together on the day but lost it completely once home and had serious doubts about myself but then along came a tidal wave of support and before I knew it the second demo, this time for Sally-Ann in Nottingham was upon us.  Again travelling with Margaret and to my regular group so demo'ing to faces I knew well - that actually made me more nervous than to ladies I knew less well as I didn't want to let any of them down.
Was blown away by two of the Peterborough group travelling to do my workshop in Nottingham!

My final demo was yesterday, again for Sally-Ann and this time in Peterborough and as Margaret does not attend that group it fell to hubby-dearest to take me on a roadtrip.  Oh and to a completely new group to me - never having met any of them before. 

Need not have worried.

The welcome, kindness, hugs, love and support totally blew me away. 
One lady even came all the way from Manchester - travelling over three hours to attend ... still can't get my head around that and have even messaged her asking if she was an apparition and I had been dreaming!

Am rambling.
But this is my blog so I can ramble all I like.
And I need to record all this so I never forget my first time demo'ing.
Can never forget the belief my friends had in me.
Can never forget the new friendships forged and just the overwhelming feeling of hoping to inspire even one person to have another go ... even managed to convert a couple of "I don't do messy" & "I don't do mixed media" ladies to my corner of the craft room and so many have, indeed, gone away to have another go!  

I count that as success and that is a word I never, ever apply to anything I do.
But today I am.
Those that know me well know how hard it is for me to say that.

These are my samples and the piece I did on the day for the three groups.

SHREWSBURY

Sample


The one I demo'd on the day
Was never happy with it so mounted it on a larger canvas once home
Still not happy with it so might try and prise off the bottom right corner composition and move it in a bit
Or I might leave it as it is and consign it to my ever expanding Box of Failures


NOTTINGHAM

Sample


The one I demo'd on the day
Will redo the sentiment at some point
Would prefer it to be narrower and longer
Too much space underneath it


PETERBOROUGH

Sample (same as Nottingham)


The one I demo'd on the day
This one ain't too bad!


Did I make mistakes?
Sure did!
Did I cope?
Yup!
Did I shake so much my stencils wobbled?
Oh yes!
Did I enjoy my experiences?
Did I heck!  'Twas amazeballs!!!!

So that's it then
Debbie the Demonstrating Virgin standing down
but
Watch This Space
because you never know!!!!!


12 comments:

  1. Love your work and you are so talented. You are a wonderful teacher and cant wait to attend more workshops that you take! Thank you and Hugs Fi xx ps Can I buy that canvas for my dining room rather than the box of failures PLEASE?

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  2. Well done Debbie, for overcoming your nerves to do these workshops. As a trainer at work, I know how hard it is to teach something you do without thinking about it yourself, in a way that other people 'get'. You did good, my lovely friend, you should be proud of this achievement.xxxx

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  3. Well done Debbie, for overcoming your nerves to do these workshops. As a trainer at work, I know how hard it is to teach something you do without thinking about it yourself, in a way that other people 'get'. You did good, my lovely friend, you should be proud of this achievement.xxxx

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  4. well done, incredible samples and a massive achievement.

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  5. Here's the thing...nobody noticed any mistakes! In addition, everybody tried it and loads of them have made more pieces - talk about inspirational!!! and, for those of us who already dabble in mixed media, well, I certainly learnt plenty to use in my next project xxx

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  6. Here's the thing...nobody noticed any mistakes! In addition, everybody tried it and loads of them have made more pieces - talk about inspirational!!! and, for those of us who already dabble in mixed media, well, I certainly learnt plenty to use in my next project xxx

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  7. Well done Debbie. I love to teach and demo and yes I sometimes make a cock up or a slip but as i always say the only person who doesnt make a mistake is the person who doesnt do anything.

    Most people like it when i slip as it shows i am just like them.

    Lets hope we get to see you again at a Clarity class....preferably Preston ;)

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  8. Well done Debbie. I love to teach and demo and yes I sometimes make a cock up or a slip but as i always say the only person who doesnt make a mistake is the person who doesnt do anything.

    Most people like it when i slip as it shows i am just like them.

    Lets hope we get to see you again at a Clarity class....preferably Preston ;)

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  9. Debbie I so enjoyed your workshop even though I don't really do messy stuff. I've even started to collect things ready to have another go.

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  10. I hope you come Back and do another one in Peterborough very soon cause I didn't get but form the buzz from everyone else it was incredible so don't ever dought your self your very talented I missed my hugs and seeing you teach and showing us how well done xxx

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  11. It is my upmost pleasure to know you and to have been part of two of these - so very glad you conquered the fears and doubts - and to know there may be an encore - we get you Debbie Rock - and can I say 'himself' was a little gem helping with the teas and clearing away too xx

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  12. Just to say, you did brilliant!!
    Sharing your knowledge and product info, along with a great bag of goodies to use on the canvas which I love. Please make sure you come back and do it all again,xx

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