A new journey

This year, for the first time, I am taking part in #septtextilelove arranged by @seam_collective on Instagram.  You can find me on IG at @msbernice7 

The topic for day 10 was Risk.  I put that I was considering launching myself into giving talks and workshops and had so much positive encouragement from my post, that I was convinced that it is the right thing to do.   I was already booked to do a workshop locally and here are some of the results.

We worked through my Venice Tiles workshop, firstly printing fabric.

 

 

A couple of the ladies had to leave early so I only have these almost finished pieces.  The fabric is ready to be mounted onto a 20cm square canvas once the ladies have finished adding stitch.

The day was about process and technique rather than completing a finished piece.  To be honest, when they think about it they may not like the piece they've made but they have all the skills to make it again and make it their own.  Which is what I think it's all about.

You may not have noticed but at the top of this blog there are now links to the talks, workshops and Exploring Creativity courses I am offering.

I am asking for my fees to be paid as a donation to Jubilee Solihull Community Trust where a team of wonderful people run a children's clothing bank: Jubilee Children's Storehouse.  You can find information about the weekly clothing needs and how many children are clothed each week on their Facebook page.

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

Saturday Story

"The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks."  (Mark Zuckerberg)

What risks have you taken during the last 12 months?

For most of us I think just going out of the house has been a risk.  Coronavirus has been deadly and has changed the way we have lived for the last year.  However last September we did go away for a few days and I am looking forward to being able to start travelling, at least in England, from the middle of May.

Back in May 2017 I wrote a whole blog post about R.I.S.K.   Rather than repeat it here I hope you will click on the link and read it there.

The most significant R in my life is Roger.  We have been married for 38 years this year and met two years before.  Way before personal computers, smart phones, online dating and apps, Roger and I were introduced via Computer Dateline.  This was a company that took your details, put the information into a computer and churned out a list of suitable people for you to meet.  I met up with a couple of guys.  One was a prison officer that my parents didn't take to at all.  Another didn't even get as far as meeting them, I couldn't cope with the way he drove his car - I like to slow down to junctions not rush up to them and slam the brakes on!

Then I met Roger and as the saying goes - the rest is history.

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

R. I. S. K.

For some of you RISK is a board game!  I don't play that!  The dictionary defines risk as putting yourself in peril or in danger.  I don't do that!

I find myself fairly frequently talking to myself negatively.  Do you do that?  It isn't good for you.  It isn't good for me!  I think of myself as 'risk averse'.  I often used to think I was middle-aged and boring.  Now I often think of myself as older and boring.  But I'm not OLD - just in case you wonder why I put 'older'.  Basically boring equates with not taking risks.   I certainly wouldn't do this - although I was walking on the glacier at the time I took the photo.

Mark Zuckerberg said "The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks."

Recently I have been talking and thinking about changing my perception - mostly about my creativity but it applies to my life as well.  In 2014 I wrote a blog post about changing my perception: From under the sideboard.

I often don't learn things the first time!  And I have to go back to it again.  Years ago a speaker was talking about dealing with things and that it's like walking up a spiral staircase so that you keep meeting the same thing but from a higher viewpoint.  And life goes on - somewhat daily - and we need - I need - to keep revisiting things but from a different viewpoint.

So lately I've been thinking about what it means to take a risk.  I looked up the synonyms of risk and here are some of them:  opportunity, possibility, prospect, uncertainty, openness, speculation, venture.  Do I embrace any of these?  Have I embraced any of these?

Just as it's good to count your blessings, it's good to look back and see what you've done.  So where have I had courage and embraced opportunities and uncertainty.

In 1967 I took myself to London to my college interview.  I had never been to London and had no idea how the Underground worked!  Back then parents didn't take you to see the college.  And I got in to the college and spent 3 years there negotiating the public transport system!

In 1971 I bought a maisonette at a time when women didn't really buy property.  My Dad had to be the guarantor for my mortgage - that's how it was back then.  Women couldn't take out loans and mortgages without a male guarantor!

In 1972 I gave up a teaching post without another job to go to.  I got the next job - teaching! - two days before term started.

I got married.  And I got divorced!  I yet again gave up teaching without knowing what I would do next.  Actually I went back to teaching!

I bought a house.  This time without needing my Dad's signature.

I met Roger.  I sold my house.  I moved in with Roger.   Someone suggested I keep all the money from my house in the bank so I had a backup for if Roger & I didn't work out.  I thought about that and then went out and spent it all.  I decided that I had to make it work this time.  I didn't think it would be good to be thinking about it not working out.

May 14th 1983

And 30+ years later it's still working out!

We had a baby.  At the time having a baby aged 37 was a risk.  So the medical profession were telling me anyway.

You might be thinking this is all old history.  Have you done anything risky at all since 1986?

I gave up teaching.

I took up being creative again.

I started this blog and occasionally write personal stuff like today's post and this one on my choice of One Little Word for 2014.

I set up art challenge blogs and creative bible studies not knowing whether anyone would join in.

Each year for 5 years I have travelled on my own to the United States.  Once I invited myself to stay with someone I only knew via Facebook!

I helped set up a creative space at church without really knowing whether anyone would use it.

Most recently I travelled to Washington DC on my own and spent time sight-seeing.

And a couple of weeks ago I spent 2 days being mentored by Christine Chester at her studio which I will tell you about in the next post - along with another venture I'm part of.

In looking for quotes about risk I came across this one from e e cummings: "Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit."

Let's take a closer look at our lives - maybe the curiosity, wonder and spontaneous delight can be found in the every day.  Perhaps we should stop looking at it as the 'daily grind' and see it as the daily opportunity.

What risks have you taken recently?

Thanks for stopping by.
Bernice