It was very inspiring having the opportunity to meet McKenna. I'll be honest and say she was not what I imagined at all. Sometimes the surprise is the greatest thing. Her work is just beatuiful but what amazed me the most was her belief in herself and not letting anything get in the way of doing what you love and believe in.
Some of the things that she talked about really resonated with me. here's a couple of thoughts I had after meeting her, partly because of the things she said, and partly just my own experiences.
Firstly that patchwork sometimes comes to people when they least expect it. One minute you're walking along the street looking in shop windows... and the next minute you've popped into a shop that looks intriguing, which happens to be a patchwork shop, and before you now it you can't step back... well you can physically leave the shop (and sometimes you have too)... but you've immersed yourself in a world that you have to have more of. As magical as fairly dust (well I am watching Tinkerbell with my 9 y.o. as I type so you have to forgive the reference to fairy dust!).
McKenna talked about her first patchwork moment as she travelled to Montana and happened upon a patchwork shop on one of her stops. So she couldn't stay, although desparately wished she could. And this was her first turning point.
My experience was different. I passed a patchwork shop almost twice a day on my way to and from work etc - it couldn't have been closer to home. But it wasn't near any other shops and I was always in a hurry (as we are) so I always thought about stopping but it took months to actually stop. I didn't know what to expect, perhaps a little old lady with very serious views on alligning perfect points... well lucky me, my patchwork shop was Marie's. For those of you who've met Marie you will know that warmth and passion ooze out of her pores. And she is probably younger than me (and I, of course, am very young!). What a turning point.
The second thing I took from McKenna's talk/story was that she didn't let her inexperience stop her from having a go and beliveing that she could do it. Perhaps sometimes if you realise how much you dont know you can let it prevent you from even starting. She has no formal artistic training - but there is no doubt that her work is art.
Looking back, taking on the shop, I couldn't have been more inexperienced. But I just believed that I couldn't let the shop close. I believed that I could do it. So I did. So Marie's dream became mine too - and here I am.
So - thanks McKenna - for making me think about this and realise how fortunate I am - and thanks Marie xxx
