Motivations

I've been feeling really motivated with my weaving recently. I think part of it comes from getting so much engagement on my social medias. At the time of writing this one of my videos on Instagram has 103491 views, 6603 likes, 68 comments and 440 shares.

Which in the grand scheme really doesn't mean anything, but its one of those things in this modern age where views and likes and followers translates to success and gives you a sense of validation. Although I've never really subscribed to "social media success" as a concept - I'll take the win, because over 6000 people liked something I did, 400 people saved the video for future viewing or use. And when you put that into perspective if 6000 people came up to me while I was weaving and gave me a thumbs up and 68 people decided to have a conversation with me about it or compliment me. That would be so overwhelming and amazing at the same time.

It makes me think about how my motivations have changed over the course of time.

When I first started weaving, it was purely to make something beautiful for someone else.

I then decided to take it further and start weaving for the re-enactment community, with the goal of having enough stock one day to pose as a merchant, as well as selling wool, linen, leather and furs. Basically becoming a one stop shop for all things reenactors would need to create their kit.

I eventually left the re-enactment world for reasons which I won't go into now.

But I never lost my love of weaving and wanted to carry on, the only issue was I didn't know which way to take it now. The only use for tablet weaving I knew was as part of re-enactment.

But it didn't matter as my loom broke and I went a long time without doing anything for close to a year.

When I eventually got myself a new loom I had joined a new re-enactment group so the motivation again became to supply to this community. My time in this group was short lived, for no other reason than I'd fallen out of love with re-enactment by now.

So I was in a very strange place. I had this skill I associated with a certain community I was no longer a part of and no idea how to utilise it for anything else.

Enter my ever amazing support group. My wife and friends suggested I try making some bracelets or accessories for Disney bounding. I loved this idea, but it meant stepping away from an idea and mindset that had been ingrained in me for a number of years... AUTHENTICITY. Which was extremely hard for me, moving away from something that was so habitual as an autistic individual was close to impossible. But I knew that if I had any hope of moving forward with my weaving this needed t

o happen. So with a lot of effort and pain (not real pain), I finally did some non-authentic weaves. And my world opened up!!!!

I now had an avenue for my passion and ideas - too many ideas. Ever since I made this step I've had so many ideas I don't know which one to do next or which one I'm more excited about. But one thing I am sure about, and something I wish I would've realised along time ago (but hindsight is 20:20) the motivation has always been the same.

As long as I'm creating something awesome and beautiful that people want to wear and the things I create are out in the world - the reason doesn't matter.

So stay tuned for more bracelets, belts, shoelaces, hair bands, chokers and more.

And of course I will still be making authentic weaves for the re-enactment community if they are wanted.