PrettyInPeank
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,691 
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Post by PrettyInPeank on May 17, 2019 3:14:20 GMT
When you create something and someone reacts with mouth-opened surprise at your creation and asks "how did you do that!? You didn't take classes? But how!??" What do you say?
I'd like a classy way of replying. I feel like there's a fine line between taking pride & ownership of work and coming off as boasting & arrogant. Right now I don't really answer and hem and haw and say I don't know because a lot just comes naturally.🤷♀️
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sueg
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,200
Location: Munich
Apr 12, 2016 12:51:01 GMT
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Post by sueg on May 17, 2019 3:20:03 GMT
I knit and my standard answer is 'I've been knitting for a very long time', which is true, as I learned when I was 8 or 9 and am now in my late 50s.
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Post by chaosisapony on May 17, 2019 3:21:23 GMT
"Lots of trial and error."
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Post by crazy4scraps on May 17, 2019 3:25:15 GMT
I just say that I come by it naturally from an artistic family. My grandpa and great uncles were fine artists, my uncle was a fine artist. My mom and sister were hair stylists and had/have a good eye for proportion, color and style. My mom could sew and knit. My dad was very mechanically inclined and could build or fix anything. I have a little of all of those traits which makes it easier for me to figure things out. We all have different things we’re naturally good at and that we take to easily and I know that there are people who are naturally better at some of the things I suck at, so it all evens out.
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Post by Basket1lady on May 17, 2019 3:40:12 GMT
I usually say thank you. Because I am good at what I do.
If pressed, I’ll say something about attention to detail. Or that I come from a long line of people who are good with their hands.
I don’t think it’s boastful. I’m bad at math. We all have our talents.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on May 17, 2019 3:45:44 GMT
I will usually answer that I've been sewing since I was 9 (I'm 62 now), and that I have a degree in Clothing & Textiles. There have been times when their response is to ask if I do alterations.  My standard response to that is "No, but if you know of a good alterations person I would love to have their name as I don't even do my own alterations!"  |
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Post by nlwilkins on May 17, 2019 4:53:34 GMT
I just tell them that I love what I do and try to get them to take it home as my house is full of my creations - books, mixed media, quilts, afghans, fairy houses, etc.
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Post by beaglemom on May 17, 2019 4:55:08 GMT
I will usually answer that I've been sewing since I was 9 (I'm 62 now), and that I have a degree in Clothing & Textiles. There have been times when their response is to ask if I do alterations. My standard response to that is "No, but if you know of a good alterations person I would love to have their name as I don't even do my own alterations!" I love this answer and I am going to steal it!!! I am sure I am no where near as accomplished a seamstress as you and there is no way I would alter something! I would pay good money not to! |
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Post by disneypal on May 17, 2019 9:57:09 GMT
I always say “A lot of patience and hard work”
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Post by Patter on May 17, 2019 10:22:24 GMT
I tell them thank you and that I have been doing art and crafting for 42 years. It's also my passion and what brings me joy. I don't worry about messing up or failure. It's part of the process. I do teach classes at my church once a month too so I invite them where they can come to learn and play too.
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schizo319
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,030
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Post by schizo319 on May 17, 2019 12:55:29 GMT
"years of failure and lots of practice"
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QueenoftheSloths
Drama Llama
Member Since January 2004, 2,698 forum posts PeaNut Number: 122614 PeaBoard Title: StuckOnPeas
Posts: 5,955
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on May 17, 2019 13:03:57 GMT
"I read a lot" is my standard answer to any question that doesn't really have a straightforward answer. It's weird, and I like that.
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Post by guzismom on May 17, 2019 13:07:14 GMT
I usually say I've been doing it a long time and so have had a lot of practice!
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PrettyInPeank
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,691
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Post by PrettyInPeank on May 17, 2019 13:21:08 GMT
What if you haven't been doing it a long time and it's something you mastered quickly?
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schizo319
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,030
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Post by schizo319 on May 17, 2019 14:24:10 GMT
What if you haven't been doing it a long time and it's something you mastered quickly? It depends on the project/craft I guess. |
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Post by KelleeM on May 17, 2019 14:46:52 GMT
My standard answer is “I’m a genius”. I’m not but it’s what I say.
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Post by jubejubes on May 17, 2019 16:54:46 GMT
I reply with "genetics" and acquired skills. Both of my grandmothers were excellent with their sewing & needlework skills as was my mom.
My Oma had me doing needlework when I was 5 years old & I still have that small needlepoint picture, plastic frame included.
I have also taken advanced classes in both machine sewing and hand sewing.
My quilts have won awards and are in some prominent private collections, some for which I was generously reimbursed and other quilts that were auctioned off at larger quilt auction charity events.
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Post by bc2ca on May 17, 2019 17:13:41 GMT
When you create something and someone reacts with mouth-opened surprise at your creation and asks "how did you do that!? You didn't take classes? But how!??" What do you say? I'd like a classy way of replying. I feel like there's a fine line between taking pride & ownership of work and coming off as boasting & arrogant. Right now I don't really answer and hem and haw and say I don't know because a lot just comes naturally.🤷♀️ The bolded is your answer. This is your natural talent. I think tone of voice has more to do with coming off as boasting & arrogant than the words you use.  "I've always been able to take an idea and make beautiful things with my hands. It's just something I've always been able to do." I'd probably add "I'm in awe of anyone that can pick up an instrument and play a song by ear or recreate the flavors of a dish they ate in a restaurant. My talent is crafting pieces of art." |
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Post by papersilly on May 17, 2019 17:15:47 GMT
"i enjoy crafting and have spent a lot of time doing it over the years. trial and error for sure."
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Post by 2marbles on May 17, 2019 17:23:19 GMT
I don’t think it’s boastful. I’m bad at math. We all have our talents. OMGosh....this cracked me up!!!! I just say thanks, and how did you not know I was crafty?  |
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sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,575
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
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Post by sharlag on May 17, 2019 17:46:12 GMT
Are they really curious about HOW you do things? Or just expressing admiration?
ETA: I might say about athletic people, "HOW do they run and dribble the basketball at the same time?!?" without really asking how they technically do it.
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Post by Basket1lady on May 17, 2019 17:46:29 GMT
I don’t think it’s boastful. I’m bad at math. We all have our talents. OMGosh....this cracked me up!!!! I just say thanks, and how did you not know I was crafty?  LOL. I always say, “God doesn’t give with both hands.”  |
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Post by cindytred on May 17, 2019 17:59:34 GMT
I just say "Thank you". My problem is that I learn how to do everything from YouTube. I guess that makes me a cheater. My process is to watch several DIY tutorials on how to make the thing I want to make - then I take bits and pieces of each of those and put my own spin on it. After I make my first one I feel confident in the process and can go crazy with brainstorming how to take it to the next level. I taught myself to sew when I was a kid.
Cindy
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PrettyInPeank
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,691
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Post by PrettyInPeank on May 17, 2019 18:03:51 GMT
Are they really curious about HOW you do things? Or just expressing admiration?
ETA: I might say about athletic people, "HOW do they run and dribble the basketball at the same time?!?" without really asking how they technically do it.
The most recent project they followed up with questions about individual elements and asked if I had taken classes, so in that case they were truly asking how. |
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Post by jenjie on May 17, 2019 18:11:34 GMT
I just say "Thank you". My problem is that I learn how to do everything from YouTube. I guess that makes me a cheater. My process is to watch several DIY tutorials on how to make the thing I want to make - then I take bits and pieces of each of those and put my own spin on it. After I make my first one I feel confident in the process and can go crazy with brainstorming how to take it to the next level. I taught myself to sew when I was a kid. Cindy See now I would have no problem saying something like “I make good use of google and YouTube.” |
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Post by Delta Dawn on May 17, 2019 18:34:38 GMT
I say my mom and my granny taught me and they were very good teachers.
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Post by busy on May 17, 2019 18:38:45 GMT
OMG, ladies. TAKE CREDIT FOR YOUR WORK AND BE PROUD OF IT. It doesn't matter if you learned at the knee of your grandmother or from YouTube. It doesn't matter if you've been doing it for decades or weeks. It doesn't matter if you made a million mistakes along the way or none. If you made it, you made it - don't diminish your accomplishment! It's not bragging to acknowledge you can do something well that not everyone can.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on May 17, 2019 18:39:13 GMT
My problem is that I learn how to do everything from YouTube. I guess that makes me a cheater. It no more makes you a cheater than taking classes, attending seminars or buying a kit and putting it together does. We learn and gain inspiration from many sources, all of them legitimate. Cheating is when someone else does all the work and you pass it off as your own work. |
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on May 17, 2019 18:42:21 GMT
TAKE CREDIT FOR YOUR WORK AND BE PROUD OF IT.  And for the love of all that is holy, PLEASE quit apologizing and belittling your efforts when given a compliment. Sometimes all you need to say is Thank you. Women are the absolute worst about saying "thanks, but it was nothing" or "thanks, but this is something I've had forever". I promise you aren't going to go straight to hell if you accept a compliment when given!  |
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Post by 2marbles on May 17, 2019 18:54:04 GMT
Bottom line...
Crafty girls rock!
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And for the love of all that is holy, PLEASE quit apologizing and belittling your efforts when given a compliment. Sometimes all you need to say is Thank you. Women are the absolute worst about saying "thanks, but it was nothing" or "thanks, but this is something I've had forever". I promise you aren't going to go straight to hell if you accept a compliment when given! 