Are you plagued with imposter's syndrome? It's ok, pretty normal. I've been getting through it lately after my therapist told me to make a list of a bunch of specific things I've done, and then made asked me if I still thought I didn't have enough experience. "The evidence doesn't lie- you can see it all there!" So I do still have to remind myself of the facts, it's a long process. If you ever get this feeling, write yourself a list (preferably on colorful paper, or in a lovely marker) and keep it handy.
I get a little bit like this before teaching a new workshop. Next week, I have the honor of working with Alliance for Youth Achievement, the non-profit that hosts the Art & Design Thinking Camp I've worked at for the past three years. I get to teach a 2-hour workshop in an artform of my choice, and next Wednesday is fabric scrap sculpture-- specccccccifically making snakesssss. This is the Year of the Snake!
Gotta make samples to show the kids, and I started off with a little bag of scraps I keep at home. I'm always thinking about, "Is this easy? Is there a better way of demonstrating, better words?" So I'm wrapping this lil snake and knowing that I have the dexterity to do it, but a beginner might not, or someone may have fine motor skill issues. A little frustration is natural when learning a new skill, but I wanted it to be the fun kind of frustration. I'm watching my hands wrap thread around a loose rope of fabric scraps, tightening and wrapping until it starts to take form as a long snake. And it hits me, after over a year of working this way---
SPIN THE SNAKE! DON'T SPIN THE THREAD!
You'll see in the video. I was ecstatic. I knew I wasn't a master at this, but I didn't know what I didn't know. I'm glad to have had time set aside today to play and let my mind wander. I'll have multiple ways to explain this craft, and I'm hoping the students find joy in creating with me.
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