It is January 2023 and this week this happened. I was the featured artist in the ‘Meet the Maker’ piece in the online Irish Country Living Magazine. This is part of the Farmers Journal Newspaper.
Now, I am not from farming stock. I had no idea how popular this publication is around the country, but it is, and although this is an online piece and not in the actual printed supplement I am still chuffed to bits.
The reason I am particularly chuffed to be in this publication actually has quite a long story.
(Perhaps you’d better make a cup of tea)
When I very first started thinking I would like an arty business, way back in 2010, I was sent to my Local Enterprise Office. (L.E.O)
Now, at the time I was trying to put into words the vision I had. I wanted to make art and gifts with my art on and sell them.
I got to see a nice man at the LEO. He was more familiar with people wanting to be website designers, or to open a coffee shop. He wasn’t really sure what to do with me.
To be fair, I might have implied I wanted to have a range of homewares with my designs on, that would sell all over the country.
I was a little bit ahead of myself! (That dream isn’t dead by the way!)
The next time I went to see him, I was in the waiting room and there was an Irish country Living magazine.
I was flicking through it and came across an interview with Carlow artist, Clare Jordan.
She was making beautiful gifts, they were pink and glittery, had vintage ladies and sassy sayings.
(Clare Jordan Artist Extraordinaire!)
I marched into the meeting, showed him the article and said, “This. This is what I want to do”
So with the help of that article he knew that selling my work to shops was the way forward.
This is where serendipity steps in.
At that time, the LEO had funding for training.
I found out the Kelly Rae Roberts was running an online course for creative businesses.
Now, if you don’t know, Kelly Rae Roberts is an American artist. She has a huge following and I love her art.
It was quite expensive but I was granted funding so I signed up.
There were participants from all over the world, but only two from Ireland – me and Clare Jordan.
What are the chances?! We became friends and Clare invited me to her home studio.
She was very generous with her advice and hugely encouraging, I can safely say, one of the nicest women I have met.
So, that is why this article means a lot to me.
Perhaps someone read it and was encouraged to start their creative journey.
I hope so, that would make my day.
As I said, ALMOST full circle – not quite in the magazine itself, but still in Irish country Living!
Felicia xx
