Good evening ladies and gentlemen!

  

was asked recently if I would do a talk and give a demonstration for a ladies group one evening. I thought about it, and said yes (I was getting paid! Always a good persuader that one!).  Talking in public is not something I am used to so it seemed a bit of a challenge. Although I am quite outgoing and will talk to anyone, the thought of all those people looking at me whilst I tried to make sense of what I was saying was slightly daunting!  Now, I do rather a varied amount of crafts, so I wondered what they might like me to talk about and what I could demonstrate at the same time.  I mean, some crafts are difficult to do in a village hall!They had asked me a couple of years ago and I had shown them Glass painting which was fairly newish at the time and that had gone down quite well.  

So, what for this time?  I chose china painting, which is something I have been doing for a while now and it is also a natural progression from the glass painting.  

In my normal way, I prepared carefully… which means that half and hour before I had to start talking I was rushing around throwing things into a box, looking for samples and trying to jot notes down on a scrap of paper! Suddenly I decided that I could be coming down with Flu or something at least as debilitating! Deep breath, pull yourself together! So, I arrived and set up my table.

The turn out was not as high as they had expected as evidently I was clashing with Inspector Morse dying! I couldn’t compete with that, could I?! Anyway, a few people turned up anyway. So I started talking and showing what I had done as examples, explaining how to get started and what to use, how to use it etc. Before I knew what had happened, more than an hour had passed! Realising that some of the old ladies in the audience might like to live what time they had left doing something else rather than listen to me, I stopped!

I must have done so rather abruptly as a few looked rather startled – or maybe they had just woken up!  Actually, the question and answer session was rather good actually and they must have taken in what I had said as some of the questions showed. One person was impressed by the fact that you didn’t have to go and buy expensive blanks etc., but could use old plates or vases that you no longer liked! After the talk, some of them came to look at my work and also to have a go themselves. Some of them complimented me by placing orders too! 

 

he point of me writing this article is actually to encourage you to have a go too. Whether you could attend a demonstration or feel that you could do one, the choice is yours, but if you are enthusiastic about your craft it will show in how you speak and it will enthuse others to have a go too. Go on, what have you got to lose?

 

Jude

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Jude and I would love to hear your comments about this article, or indeed any of her other articles.  You can post comments to our forum board or send an e-mail to either myself (mags) or directly to Jude.  Please share your thoughts and views!