Why isn't it as easy as it looks?
This comes up from time to time especially in the jewelry making eCourses that I run.You make everything look so easy, but it's not as easy as it looks.So you watch me make the project, but when you make the project it's not as easy for you.This comes up a lot with Pinterest as well. You see an amazing craft project (or recipe or home decor or whatever you're looking at) and when you try it yourself, it's a failure. (Or you think it's a failure.)So if you're feeling discouraged that what you're making doesn't look like what other people are sharing, I hope this post will encourage you to keep going!So if it seems like people sharing tutorials on the internet (including me) are doing things so easily and you can't quite get the project perfectthere are many reasons for this:
- This is what I have found to be the #1 thing: You are holding yourself to a much higher standard than you are holding the teacher. I have seen my students cut down their own work and it's beautiful, creative work! Sometimes they'll tell me, "It doesn't look exactly like yours." It's not supposed to! It's your work. So cut yourself some slack!
- I have made these projects before – sometimes many times before I actually show you how to make them. I’ve worked out the kinks already. This is likely the very first time you're making it. You expect it to be perfect the very first time. It very likely won't turn out amazing the first time you do anything. (There are, of course, exceptions.)
- One thing I try to instill in my students is encouragement to customize and try their own thing using my instructions as a guideline. That means that when you go off the beaten path, things may not work out perfectly the first time you try it. In fact, it probably won’t. Don’t get discouraged or give up. It’s all part of the process.
- When people (including me) make mistakes when they’re filming a video or shooting photos of a tutorial, they edit them out. Usually (as I said in #2) I have already worked out all the kinks. Sometimes things go wrong anyway. It’s part of making things. I don’t want to waste your time with my mistakes, so I mostly edit them out unless I think it’s a chance to teach. So just because you don’t see me make mistakes in a video, it doesn’t mean I don’t make mistakes.
- I have been making jewelry, working with wire and jewelry materials and tools for quite a long time. A lot of what I do is just ingrained into my hands. It’s muscle memory. The only way to get better at making jewelry is to keep making jewelry and practicing.
The most important thing I want you to remember is this: there is no failure. If you're trying, you're learning and that's part of the process.And
Give yourself some slack. Give yourself time and space to practice and make mistakes and learn from them. Interestingly, a lot of my "mistakes" have turned into beautiful pieces of jewelry or my biggest triumphs. If I would make everything perfect every time, I wouldn't learn as much or grow.This article I wrote about the 4 Phases of Developing Your Creativity may also help you along your path. In that post you'll also find a very inspiring video with Ira Glass talking about what nobody tells beginners about art. It's so encouraging especially if you're feeling frustrated with your creative development.If you're looking to learn some solid basic skills that you can put into use and start practicing right away, I encourage you to sign up for my completely free Intro to Wire Wrapping eCourse!You'll learn the basics and even start making wire jewelry projects.
Fill in the form to sign up below and get practicing your jewelry making!