Skip to content

GLORIA and The Lighthouse Customers

You probably know by now that I’m getting ready for my next online crochet course and I have to confess that I feel like I’m walking across a highwire.

It feels scary. I feel like I shouldn’t be here and I’m terrified I may not make it to the other side.

This isn’t like me……to write something so personal I mean.

I usually take great care to avoid the personal online. No family photos, no information about where I went last night, what I ate for dinner, how I’m feeling, or what’s on my mind. (but thank you for asking Facebook)

So this is unusual.

Don’t be alarmed – I’m not going to start gushing my feelings out in blog posts but if you’ve made the effort to click here I feel like you might be vaguely interested to know how this is relevant to my work, and potentially the creative work that we have in common.

Generally when we consume other peoples creative work we’re experiencing the end product. The outcome. The finished result. We don’t see the struggle, the hours spent getting it wrong. We don’t see the reject pile. Why would we want to see those things?

Those things don’t change the way we experience the end product.

The process in most scenarios is irrelevant.

But as crafters we’re different …..for many of us process is everything. We’re driven by curiosity and the enjoyment of bringing something new into the world and we’re interested in other people’s approach to the creative process which is why this blog post doesn’t feel like oversharing or overdosing on introspection.

I’ve always suffered with imposter syndrome and feelings of discomfort wherever I am and what ever I’m doing and the way I see it is this; when you  feel not quite good enough, not quite measuring up, and  teetering on the brink of failure you have 3 basic options:

1) Give up

2) Man up

3) Freeze

Being a generally good natured but particularly stubborn Cancerian (is it still OK to identify oneself by your star sign?) failure is not a concept I’m prepared to accept without a gloves off confrontation.

I can do a particularly good impression of a rabbit in headlights but mostly I’d prefer not to end up as road kill on route to my next destination, so that leaves the second option: Man Up and embrace the discomfort.

I wasn’t born a crochet designer. I didn’t arrive in the world knowing how to do this stuff. I chose to do it and to do it as well as I possibly can. It is possible to craft your own identity and it’s very easy to do.

If you want to be a designer. Design stuff.

If you want to be a writer. Write something. And often.

Don’t wait for someone to give you permission and don’t wait until you feel in the mood because the chances are  you’ll never be in the right mood. Fake it ‘til you make it may be an annoying and banal cliché, but the plain truth is – it works!

Gloria, my current crochet garment WIP, has been on my mind for a very long time but I’ve been avoiding looking at her because she’s not easy to work with.

( I have no idea when I started anthropomorphising my work)

But that’s the point – it’s not easy. Right now I’m struggling to see the end. I don’t know the answer. It might not work. It might bomb.

And all of those things are exactly the reasons WHY I feel compelled to do this.

I’m not driven by external market forces, I’m not interested in what’s ‘on-trend’ this season. There’s plenty of stuff out there to satisfy everyone’s needs. I’m not in competition with anyone because I know this isn’t for everyone. This means I can focus on challenging myself.

When I stop worrying about what people will think about my work and how people will receive it I’m free to do my best work and step out onto the high wire. Yes I may fall, and you may fall with me,  but when we engage with uncertainty it’s new and exciting and it releases dopamine into our blood stream –  which is why it’s so much fun!

In the tech industry it’s the Innovators and Early Adopters who are the risk takers and thought leaders – followed by the Early and Late Majority, with the Laggards trailing behind. The Majority and the Laggards have the advantage of knowing the answers up front but the Innovators and  Early Adopters, also known as the ‘lighthouse customers’, don’t want to wait for the answer – they want to help write it.

The lighthouse customers are the pioneers, willing to test the waters and report back. Their feedback is priceless and they play a significant role in the potential future of a product.

I’ve learnt to trust myself and I’m lucky to know enough people who are also prepared to trust in me and who have already committed to this project. I’m currently working with a fabulous group of ‘Gloria Pioneers’ In Real Life and their results are already looking beautiful. They’re eagle eyed, kind and supportive – but hold me to account and encourage me to do my best work.

I’m also thrilled that I now have a viable online audience for this course. Thank you so much to all the early adopters who have committed to stepping out onto that high wire with me- we’ll make it to the other side together and when we get there we’ll know the answer –  and then we can tell the Majority. Together.

So if this sounds like you – or somebody you know:

• You enjoy the thrill of a creative leap of faith
• You’re prepared to take risks and enjoy new creative challenges
• You don’t need to see the destination to enjoy the journey
• You know the only way to succeed is to take that first step
• You’re ready to take that step……

Nip over here and book your place before the end of December to take advantage of the Special Price before it goes up in January!

Or – if you know someone who you think would love this opportunity – you can also GIFT A FRIEND this course.

Oh – and the Laggards? Well, like I said……it’s not for everyone. 😊

This Post Has 14 Comments

  1. Your sentiments ring true in every aspect of our lives – personal, professional, creative. Thank you for your wisdom, and for sharing your amazing talents with us all! Crojo Retro is on deck for 2022. Sincerely, SK

  2. Dear Sue,
    While I so wanted to join in with the Gloria Pioneers to discover what lies ahead, family matters and work requires me to excitedly watch from the sidelines. I love that you March to the beat of your own drum, you don’t follow convention. There are many of us , including myself who seek out the risk taking makers. I’m so grateful to have discovered you and your wonderful work during COVID. Working on HTTGS was an enormous joy and stress relief. Please do keep listening to that inner voice.

    1. Thank you Liselotte, life can be busy I know that feeling! Maybe one day you will have some space to join us on a future course. But do remember, you will have access to the course content for at least 2 years from the date your course finishes – should you decide to take the plunge and join us in February, you can complete the course at your own pace. I’m grateful you have discovered me too! And I’m so pleased you found HTTGS so helpful too!

  3. What an inspiring/challenging/terrifying post. Inspiring because that is what you do. Challenging because I have enrolled in this course. Terrifying because I am not typically one to color outside the box….but I long to be. You have already helped me in previous courses to put colors together that I would have shuddered at. Seeing the color combinations in these pictures makes my mouth water and tingles my fingers. So looking forward to this course and bringing out the creator in me!

    1. Thank you Carol! I am so pleased you are excited for the course to begin, it will be great fun! I can’t wait to see all the colour combinations everybody chooses – see you there!

  4. Hi Sue,
    Thanks for writing this blog entry. It’s probably a little weird for you, with so many of us across the world following your every move. Even though I am totally aware that online connections are a different kind of relationship, it seems like we “know” each other. I think it is because of all the shared interests and even thoughts about what we do and why we pursue arts and crafts. I have had many more debates with myself since you posted your thoughts about making things with intent, rather than just producing stuff (I have so many throws and blankets!). Right now, I am just giving myself permission to enjoy the process, even if I create something that is a permanent WIP. I am very much looking forward to the new course in February. I think it will be the next step in my learning how to design whatever….I didn’t think it was a goal, but I have realized that everything I make has my own touch. I crochet a lot like how I cook: start with a recipe, then just ad lib. Its important to learn where you can make it up as you go and where it’s important to follow a formula. I approach everything these days as an experiment. Sometimes they work out, and sometimes they don’t, but I always learn something from the process.
    I hope you have a very joyful holiday, full of laughter and love. Julie

    1. Hello Julie, thank you for taking the time to write such a lovely comment. I agree, it’s very magical how we all feel we know each other after meeting in unusual circumstances. You will love creating Gloria! And it will certainly develop your skills and boost your confidence even more! Jess – Sue’s VA x

  5. Thank you so much for this entry, really loved to read this, i honestly feel it from the bottom of my heart, right now i´m working on my crojoretro blanket (already have all the flowers, yeiiii…!) love your work, my best regards from México

  6. Dear Sue,

    I am one, who booked Gloria as soon as it was out.

    Everything is scraryat first. But the excitement wins over. This is what we are addicted to. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings.

    I can’t wait for Gloria to start.

    While I wait, I design a shawl. Full of warmth. I knit all the feelings for my grandmother in that shawl. I miss her and a piece of warmth left the world, when she passed 1 week ago.

    I wish you and your dear ones a merry christmas and a happy new year.

    1. Thank you for your comment Jacqueline, I hope that making your shawl brings you some comfort. I am glad you are excited and ready for Gloria.
      Have a lovely Christmas!

  7. I am going to wait till January for the payment plan. I am deaf and a bit worried if there are close captions. I can hear with hearing aids. Found your work by reading A digital crochet magazine. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Recently experienced a terrible loss and crochet has been my lifeline. So excited to learn!!!

    1. Hello Teresa and thank you for your comment! I’m so pleased to read that crochet has helped you at such a difficult time. The Mercerie’s online courses are designed with a mixture of video tutorials and clear written patterns and diagrams, which are designed to be used together. The videos do not have close captions – however when watched alongside the PDFs you may find you do not need them. We have had other members complete courses who have hearing loss and have found that they can access the course just fine. My advice would be to begin the course – see how you get on, and if you find you are having difficulty accessing the content then please let us know and we will do our very best to help or offer you a refund. I hope this helps, Jess – Sue’s VA

Leave a Reply to The Mercerie Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Share this

Newsletter Signup

Join my newsletter and you’ll be the first to hear about my new courses and retreats.

Register
Contact
Website by
Emedias - Wordpress Design & Hosting
Back To Top