I want to have fun & do good.
I'm Shelly Picard. I create as an expression of who I am and how I see the world. I get excited when I see people reinventing an object's use, form, or function. Using something in a new way is inspiring & innovative.
And we need more of it.
When I was little my grandmother took me to tag sales and antique shops. She taught me how to see the beauty in objects and the value of learning about the past. My grandmother absolutely influenced my aesthetic and style. I love creating and decorating with vintage items, but I also like to infuse them with a bit of personality, some cheekiness. After all, isn't life supposed to be fun?
Honor the past. Protect the future.
Upcycling and reusing allows us to honor the past, respect the Earth, and solve problems. I create products based on this ideal.
This means I source materials locally, finding items that are vintage or reclaimed, and that can be repurposed to live another life. If I have leftover materials, I find another use for them, donate them, or recycle them. I produce goods that are both stylish and functional and prevent materials from ending up in the landfill.
I create products that you can feel good about bringing into your home.
I believe all women - by biology - are creators.
I believe creativity is a skill.
And like all skills, creativity can be learned.
Confession time:
I have struggled to call myself creative.
Yup.
True story.
Even though I grew up making things, I never felt like I was naturally creative. I didn't believe that I could use that word to describe myself. Other people were creative, not me.
And I'm not alone in this. We tell ourselves false stories.
"I can't draw."
"I don't see things the way other people do." [This is actually a good thing. More to come on this!]
"I'm not artistic."
It's all bullshit.
Being creative and being an artist are different creatures. You can be athletic without being a professional athlete, right? So why do we make this mistake when it comes to being creative? Why do we deny our adult selves the same joy a box of 64 color crayons brought us when we were little?
Think about something you do well. Big or small.
Bake chocolate chip cookies.
Braid hair.
Organize a party. Or a drawer.
The way you do this one task depends on who you are and the way you see the world. And no one sees the world in exactly the same way as you do. You are unique! And that unique, only-you quality is your creativity. [Told ya it was a good thing!]
Embrace it! Own it! Encourage it!
Creativity is a skill. So just like your first batch of chocolate chip cookies, your creative expression might not be so great right now. It might feel really hard. But so did baking at one point.
Now think about how much people love your chocolate chip cookies today. Think about how they don't taste like anyone else's. Your creative skill will grow and become your own if you practice.
There is no one way, or right way,
to be creative.