“When I grow up, I wanna be an old woman….” Many of us have heard that catchy tune advertising breast cancer awareness. It brings back to my mind memories of my high school days when the lyrics to my song would have been, “When I grow up, I wanna be a nurse.” I went off to college with that goal in mind and never doubted that it was the career path I wanted to pursue. As a freshman, I was required to take a test that would show my strengths and weaknesses as they related to various careers. It was supposed to guide me in the right direction toward a major that would suit my personality type and academic strengths. Much to my disappointment, the number one area of strength for me was not a nurse, but an artist. What?? I pictured myself with a beret on my head and a paintbrush in hand as I traveled the world. No doubt about it, in my mind the test was wrong! I couldn’t even draw a stick figure, let alone produce some awe-inspiring piece of art.
Looking back, the test was absolutely accurate, but in ways I could not see at the time. I ended up marrying my high school sweetheart, and as a mom, I was called upon time and again to use my nursing skills as I raised our four children. And, there is still no doubt in my mind that a nursing career would have been a good fit for me. I satisfied part of that desire by becoming a childbirth educator, enjoying both hospital and home birthing environments. However, it is the art-related skills I have used over the years, which have surprised me and continue to do so to this day. For many years, I was a cake decorator, designing and creating delectable and unique wedding and special occasion cakes. When my daughter was born, I delved into the world of clothing design and spent countless hours designing and smocking beautiful dresses for her. Now, I am a longarm quilter and aspiring pattern designer, as I immerse myself in a world of color, design, and quilt history. When I am quilting for a customer, or myself, the quilt is my canvas, and the machine is my paintbrush.
Am I an artist? Possibly, but not in the way I had originally envisioned. I visited an art gallery with my son this past weekend. I have no idea how a painting is created, but my son can break it all down and visualize all the layers and techniques used by the artist. Sometimes women tell me that they are not very good at quilting, i.e. they can’t visualize color schemes, or they have difficulty following a pattern, etc. Triangles create nightmares in their minds! My advice would be to develop your natural abilities and follow your passions, but don’t sell yourself short by dwelling on your weaknesses. Support your local quilt shop by taking some classes and rely on others to help you develop an eye for color and design. Practice makes perfect. You can learn these skills, and who knows, there may be an artist lurking behind the nurse, the teacher, the engineer, or the stay-at-home mom or grandma for that matter! Have fun! -Cat