“Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I wouldn’t have even contemplated opening a shop in Kiama.  Yet, one persons words changed that.  Yesterday, before even the end of my first full month of being open, sales outstripped my last exhibition. 

To have a whole shop full of sepia work seemed crazy to many.  I knew in my heart that I had to remain true to my work.  I also knew that a tiny splash of any other colour would devalue the impact of the sepia. 

It has become a signature.  My little outlet in Kiama is just so, well, Len.  It’s a day to be very proud of my work. 

Natasha is the beautiful woman who dragged me through the door and encouraged me to start.  Being an interior designer and an expert in retail marketing / shop keeping, meant I had an expert to bounce ideas off. 

I had a false impression that she would tell me what to put in there.  She is very intelligent. Manipulating me brilliantly.  She showered me with encouragement, listened very very carefully to what I was saying, and helped me create my own dream.  

A brilliant facilitator...   Tash would make a great teacher.  The perfect mentor.

I spoke to her about my love of fabric and my idea for my photographs on scarves. She immediately was entranced by the idea.  I asked her to choose the floral photographs that I used to start the collection. She knew how to display them for sale, the importance of the customer being able to run thier fingers through the fabric.  The importance of lighting and display.

So..... 

So... 

It is so important to encourage others.  To support them.  Help them become the best version of themselves.  Positive and encouraging words have such a huge impact on others.   We often don’t know this impact. 

Luckily, every so often, someone tells me where my encouragement has lead them. Usually, I get to see the change in thier work. 

Without Tash’s words of encouragement it never would have happened for me.

I would love to encourage you to tell those that have helped you with thier words of encouragement.  It’s a beautiful gift back to someone whom gifted you.   I don’t believe you owe it to them, I believe it is a lovely way of saying thank you.

Lastly, I would love to encourage you to encourage others.  Shower someone in positives. It gives them a little light in thier direction. 

If you are after a little side trip from Sydney to a beautiful seaside town of Kiama it is a lovely train trip down or gorgeous winding drive or an effortless freeway if that’s more your thing.   

The Collective

100 Terralong Street Kiama. 

Near Pipers Lookout, between Bega and Cooma.  Photograph and text copyright © Len Metcalf 2019