American Beech Tree, at Charley Creek Gardens, Wabash, IN
My name is Chelsea, and I am an elementary visual arts teacher, mom, and wandering artist. I grew up in an incredibly artistic family. When we were young my mom stayed home with us and caned chairs, wove baskets, and refinished furniture to help supplement the family income. This was all aside from (or incorporated into) her other artistic endeavors. Somewhere around age 6 (early 1980's) I made my first stamped leather belt. Mom was into making leather purses and wallets, hand stitched with intricately stamped and dyed designs. Wanting to get in on the fun, as any child would, Mom ordered my sister and I belts and let us choose the patterns and designs we stamped onto them. She helped us center our names on the back of the belt and stamp it in with a classic country-western block font. With a finishing stain for color, we were done. I have no idea where that belt is now, but the memory of making it has stuck with me all these years. I can feel the steel stamping tools in my hands, the excitement of being allowed to work with them coursing through me. I can hear my mom's patient voice as she checked my work and showed me how to line up my tool to re-stamp a design that was too shallow. I can still remember the feeling of triumph at seeing my shell shaped pattern come alive as I worked. I can feel the pride of looking upon my completed work and even then, with a self-critical eye because one of my E's was a little crooked. I'm sure I had colored and drawn pictures before this, but this belt, this was the start of my search for creating, and fulfilling my creative drive. It's been a winding road, and I've often left the path for long periods of time, but I'm finding my way back. This blog will chronicle my journey and (hopefully) help me stay accountable in my attempt to find my focus as a producing artist.
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