Fast forward 30 years. I became dreadfully ill with a chronic illness and was forced off of the job and onto disability. It was my worst nightmare come true! I languished in my home for a couple of years, depressed out of my mind and although productive with fiber arts, still not connecting the dots.
My transformation came thanks to my friends insisting that I attend a Weaving Conference with them at which I decided to take a "weird" class in beading. I knew within 10 minutes of starting our project that I had found my life's passion, and something that I was not just proficient in but excelled at, and I started making jewelry. A lot of jewelry. And I wore it around.
It generated a lot of interest and excitement. I was shocked when the first person asked if they could buy a piece of it. More shocked when another did the same. And I almost fell over when I got my first official private client who continues to keep me busy to this day. And still I doubted myself.
It wasn't until very recently that I realized that I actually WAS making a contribution. People started approaching me and asking me to teach. I entered a couple of competitions and on the very first tries, came in on both occasions as a finalist. And I started to be recognized ans written about on the internet.
Now, as I continue to educate myself on different ways to apply beads and other materials to make things of beauty, I have also discovered a new direction that will be taking my work in 2011. Watch out world, for my confidence is finally growing, and here I come!
http://www.laurarsilverman.com/2010/index-100.1.html
