Meet Elyssa Gerber

We were lucky to catch up with Elyssa Gerber recently and have shared our conversation below.

Elyssa, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I think we all just know the answer to this as children, but growing up makes us forget. The work of our lives is remembering who we are and what we love.

Creating has always been part of my life, but it was easy to think of it as just a hobby once I had to decide what I wanted to do for a living. I noticed as I got older that no matter what job I did, what classes I took in college, or how stressed I was, that picking up a craft project always made me feel the most like myself.

Even now that I get to make things almost every day and share my work with so many people, that magic hasn’t worn off. It resonates in me with each piece I make, and I just know that I’m on the right path. My life is not perfect by any means, but it feels like the universe is smoothing out the road because this is what I’m meant to be doing.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m a fiber artist, and my specialty is cross-stitched miniatures. I design all my patterns and stitch each piece, so every single one spends a long time in my hands. Cross-stitch is really special to me because this craft can’t be replicated by machine. It’s an ancestral art that requires new generations of stitchers to survive, and with that comes the opportunity to make it our own. My designs are inspired by my love of all things spooky and my own witchy aesthetic. I especially love getting to use a medium that people tend to think of as old-fashioned or fussy in a subversive and unexpected way.

I’m very excited to announce that I’m teaming up with three of my small business besties to open the Celestia Collective, near downtown Tucson. Celestia Collective will have freshly roasted coffee beverages, wares from small businesses, tattoos in the loft, workshops and classes, maker markets, a rotating gallery of local artists, and tons of free events. I found my people thanks to this magical community, and we hope y’all will find yours here too. Our grand opening will be September 13th. Check us out on Instagram @celestia.collective!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Doing things scared, being patient with myself, and trusting my process.
It’s really terrifying to put myself out there as an artist, but it’s worth the mortifying ordeal of being known to be understood and appreciated. I do get discouraged sometimes when things aren’t working out, but taking a moment to reframe setbacks as a chance to try something new really helps me continue to evolve my craft and improve my skills.

I think all creatives need these qualities because they encourage us to keep trying when our skills don’t match our vision, and working through that is how we grow as artists. Keep creating, keep trying and failing and trying again, and don’t be afraid to rest.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I have a ton of things to do, it’s like being stuck on a carousel. I go around and around, but I don’t get any closer to the tasks, and the longer I think about them the more stressed I get. Making a list is the fastest way to get my brain to just stop.

Once I write it all out I can prioritize, and then actually get things done! Starting with a small task that’s easily achievable can give me a win, to fuel the things that I know will take longer. My mantra these days is “done is better than perfect”.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Lydia Pinon, Helen Jones, Elyssa Gerber

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