How to Start Making Art

I've heard this question so many times, whether it's about painting, writing, fabric art, and more.

How do I start?

It would be nice if there was a magical answer, a surefire formula that always lead to success.

But the answer is far less neat than that.

Because...you just have to start.

And you have to be willing to do your art badly. 

At least at first. And maybe for a while. 

You have to paint/write/stitch wild and messy with lots of mistakes because that is how you learn.

Yes, you can always take classes and read books and watch tutorials. This will help. It can help a lot. 

But you still have to do the work of the class/book/tutorial imperfectly, with the openness of a beginner.

You have to practice.

And, with time, your knowledge grows. You refine your skills. You learn what you like, what works, and what isn't your thang.

But first, before anything, you have to just. start.

If you're willing to just start, and to make mistakes, that is the beginning of all your dreams coming true.

Just start. Paint badly. Write awkwardly. Stitch messy.

And if you keep going, keep practicing, keep showing up, sooner or later, you will find you are living the creative life you always dreamed of.

Are you ready to start creating right now, but don’t know how to get started? Keep reading, because I have something that can help with that…

Start creating — without the overwhelm

I have just released a one-of-a-kind DIY kit to help get you started creating fabric art easily, quickly, and without the overwhelm. 

This kit will allow you to experience the joy and sense of accomplishment of hand-stitching your very own piece of fabric collage art. 

Even better, your finished piece makes a gorgeous piece of home decor to keep or gift!

This kit comes with all the support you need to create the beautiful celestial mountain fabric landscape pictured. 

The only supplies you'll need to already have on hand are fabric or embroidery scissors, some paper, and some glue. 

Your kit even comes complete with a comprehensive video tutorial where I walk you through each step of the process. And if you still have questions, I'm available to answer them via Etsy's messenger.

Are you ready to make fabric art with me?

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New Handmade Art Drop! {Shop Update}

New art. In my Etsy.

Some spooky, some not.

All of it great for gifting.

And you know that time of the year — the aggressive gifting time — is fast coming upon us.

You also know that shipping continues to be wonky, in spite of everyone’s best efforts.

So! Snag a keepsake handmade fabric art piece for yourself, or for a loved one’s holiday gift, and get it in plenty of time to wrap and put under the tree.

(Did anyone else just shudder at the mention of putting ANYTHING under the tree weeks before Halloween? Or was it just me? *shudders again*)

All this to say that there’s an exclusive new drop of hand-stitched fabric hoops in my Etsy, and they won’t stay there for long.

Free shipping in the domestic USA on many items!

Shop the art

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Stitching Up My Missing Pieces

I grew up going to fabric shops.

My mother was (and continues to be) a maker of the fiber arts: quilting, sewing, doll dress-making, crocheting, knitting…she loves anything involving yarn or thread

We spent a lot of time in fabric and craft stores, as crafters tend to do. I’d tag along, loving all the many different fabrics and patterns, textures, and colors.

But I was never a quilter. Or a crocheter. Or a costumer Or a knitter.

I tried to be. I wanted to be.

But it was all too detailed, too meticulous for me.

I was too messy, too fast — too much.

At least, that’s what I thought until this summer, when I discovered a new-to-me art form: fabric collage.

It’s a combination of embroidery, needlepoint, and quilting…but much more forgiving. For me at least.

And it can be fast.
And messy.

And it makes me think…maybe I wasn’t too much at all. Maybe I just hadn’t found a fiber arts form that clicked with my mind.

Fabric collage has.
I’m completely enchanted with it, creating little magical hoops and somewhat larger mountainscapes out of all that fabric I used to adore when I was younger but didn’t know what to do with.

This feels like coming home.

Fun. Exciting. Beautiful. Cozy.
I’m not sure where this is going, exactly, but one thing is certain: I’m so grateful.

Want to check out the hoops in my shop?

Click here!

Want to see my process? I’ve got videos posted over on my Instagram!

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