Create art in order for yourself to become yourself

and let your very existence be your song, your poem, your story.

Let your very identity be your book. - Charlotte Eriksson

I think a lot about creativity and self-expression.  I consider its value and its importance.

Some of you may know that I've been making jewellery for a pretty long time.  Marmalade has been my baby for almost 15 years.   I started fresh out of university.  Having taken a course in stained glass, I set about sandwiching stickers between glass and selling my little sticker sandwiches at folk festivals across Ontario.  And despite the fact that my creations were pretty basic - putting these little bits of me out into the world was truly liberating. 

A few of my pieces from over the years.

Eventually stickers became fabric and solder became became silver. And then fabric became bronze. As I grew up, my jewellery changed...or was it the other way around? 

Does creativity have that power?   To form us and help us grow into our own potential? Looking back I can say creative expression plays a huge part in my personal journey.   It's empowering to bring a small part of myself to life, and to share it with the outside world.  It's not about the affirmation or validation.  Its really just about communicating, sharing without words...kind of like a smile.   I get to connect and to feel connected.  

And so the journey goes...

Each connection brings a teeny piece of me from the inside to the outside, letting it shine, and enabling me to find comfort in my own skin - or to just "be me".  And that's the goal, right?!     

In my booth with my boys.

When I'm in my booth, standing behind my sea of charms (which is where I'm most comfortable!), I often hear the words "Oh, you're so creative! I don't have a creative bone in my body!"  I usually answer with something along the lines of "well, I certainly don't believe that!" And then I watch...as this same individual proceeds to put together the most perfect little cluster of charms to tell a story that had been hiding somewhere inside of her.  Watching this creativity in action is the gift that you give to me.  This is the conversation and the connection that helps us all to grow.  

An inspiring customer creation.  

We are each writing our book, just by doing what we do.  And as they blend - the art and the life - I like to think that they have the power to make each other better.

Thanks for reading!

xo Kate