The Power of 'Why': A Journey from Creative Doubt to Artistic Fulfillment
There are countless things I could write about today. For instance, I could share the excitement of seeing my first needle felting kit collaborations go on sale with amazing UK wool producers—how did that even happen? Or I could talk about my current projects, including how I picked up knitting for the first time in 40 years last Christmas! But instead, I want to start with a story. One that you might find familiar. One that you may even be living right now. And one that, perhaps, you desperately need to be rescued from.
Let’s Talk About the “S” Word: Shame
When I was a kid, I was the one hanging around waiting for empty boxes and used-up washing-up bottles. My mum, who’s been an Avon lady for over 60 years, always brought home these boxes, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on them. I loved creating things, getting lost in an imaginary world for hours. This was long before shops like Hobbycraft existed. Back then, it was all about Sellotape, felt tips, and wallpaper paste—if I was lucky, maybe even some foil or chocolate wrappers. I loved the purple Quality Street wrappers you could see through them and they made great fairy windows! I thought it was fantastic because I didn’t know anything else.
Looking back, I laugh, because my current creative space could double as a crafting storefront.
One of my earliest memories of feeling truly accomplished was at school. We were making Tudor houses, and I was so proud of mine. I even got a gold star for it, and that gold star meant the world to me. I loved reading, writing, music, sewing, and embroidery—basically anything creative. But was this the beginning of a creative life? No, not quite.
The Day My Creative Door Slammed Shut
Let’s fast forward to high school. My love for writing, music, and all things creative continued. But something shifted when it came to art. The joy of creating began to dwindle, largely because of how it was taught—focus on precision, drawing well, and reproducing the "right" thing. I did my best, but it wasn’t enough.
One day, after spending hours on a piece of art that I didn’t think was too bad, the teacher held it up and declared, in front of the entire class, that it was “pretty rubbish.” He even compared it to the work of the very talented student next to me. In that single moment, my creative door slammed shut, and it stayed that way for 38 years.
His words were etched in my mind. My report card that year read, "She tries her best, but it's not good enough." And how long did I carry that “not-good-enough” girl around with me? Far too long.
Women Like Me: Finding Kindred Spirits
Maybe you’ve been there. Maybe you can relate to my story, maybe not. But over the last 20 years, I’ve opened up more about my life—about the shame I’ve felt, the moments I felt broken, and my ongoing quest to “re-discover myself.” The amazing thing that happened when I started to share my story was that I found women who responded, “Oh, me too!” There’s something powerful and magical in that kind of connection. You realise you're not alone. You find kindred spirits.
Over time, I began to collect these stories from other women, not because I wanted to surround myself with similar people, but because I knew something special could happen when we brought our bravery together. That’s exactly what happened when I founded *Inspire Women Oldham*—a women’s organisation that has grown and evolved from an initial idea for over 17 years.
The Reawakening: A Creative Journey
A pivotal moment came during a session with two incredibly brave women, Jazz and Maria. Sitting on a stool, surrounded by cotton buds and paint, I created a cherry tree to honour my dad—a man who loved gardening and the birds that visited his garden. The tree I painted actually looked like a tree, and for the first time in decades, I allowed myself to “play” creatively again.
Little did I know that this session would be the key to reopening that long-closed creative door. I certainly didn’t expect it to be the beginning of a journey that would save me during the isolation of the COVID lockdown.
Choosing Opportunity Over Fear
When the lockdown hit, like so many others, I found myself missing human contact deeply. The stress, anxiety, and uncertainty of moving our organisation fully online was overwhelming. One day, I ordered some watercolours, brushes, and paper. I don’t know why or how I made that decision, but I’m glad I did.
In my garden in the spring of 2020, I painted lavender and wrote a poem. That simple act opened the door even wider, and something magical happened. I wanted to learn more. Almost 5 years later, I’ve had the privilege of learning from some incredible teachers, and every month new opportunities present themselves. It’s as if I stood on a mountain and declared, “I’m here, and I’m ready.”
There’s a saying: “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” I believe in that wholeheartedly. But it’s not just about teachers—every person I’ve met, every exhibition I’ve visited, every walk I’ve taken has played a part in this journey.
Breaking Free from Perfectionism
Even as I immersed myself in learning new techniques—needle felting, wet felting, eco-printing—the perfectionist in me still whispered, “You’re not good enough yet.” But I’ve learned that growth doesn’t come from waiting for perfection. It comes from showing up , being brave and choosing opportunity over fear, again and again. In fact being brave and creative are central to the private Facebook Group I created for women. We have over 200 members now and its been so wonderful to connect with so many like minded women and build lovely firendships. Its such a wonderful space where we can share and be brave and get so much encouragement in the absence of judgement and competition; I love it!
A few years ago I placed my first needle felted and art collection in a shop called *Stepping Stones* in Penrith Cumbria. That was a huge milestone, one that would never have happened if I hadn’t chosen to take the leap. It's such a beautiful space with equally beautiful owners who are incredibly kind and committed to everyone they work with and support. That journey was such a key moment in me launching my Facebook and You Tube Pages SallyBonnieFibrenArt, and later my free Newsletter Membership. Through selling my creations there I also connected with a wonderful lady Kerry who bought my Mr Blue Sky; a little hare in a bright blue coat! Kerry went on to ask me to make some special creations for close family members .... that was the beginning of my Earth Angel creations. I adore making them and I am hoping to develop a workshop next year. I have met so many lovely people on this journey.
Time to Listen to Your Heart?
As 2025 is looming, I continue to develop Sally Bonnie Fibrenart. I continue to learn , embracing new opportunities as they come. And I’ve learned that leaving the past behind and listening to your heart can open doors you never knew existed.
So, ask yourself: Is it time to stop holding yourself back? Is it time to choose opportunity over fear?
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