The Unexpected Skills I've Learned While Making Beautiful Things
When I started Maxxy Makes, I thought I'd be sculpting some polymer clay covers for journals. Make a few seasonal designs, maybe some florals, keep it simple. After all, I'd already been working with clay, how hard could it be to just focus that into journal covers?
Turns out, there's a world of difference between making clay charms and creating intricate three-dimensional scenes on a journal cover. And that was just the beginning. What I didn't expect was how much I'd actually have to learn. And I'm not just talking about the clay work itself, though trust me, there's been plenty of that. I'm talking about all the unexpected skills that sneak up on you when you're building something from scratch.
The Obvious Skills (That Weren't So Obvious)
Let's start with the polymer clay work. When I began making journal covers, I already had experience with clay from my charm-making days. But sculpting tiny charms and creating entire dimensional scenes on a journal cover? Completely different beasts.
I've learned to work at different scales. Those delicate cherry blossoms on a cover need the same careful attention as a full autumn tree with falling leaves. Each pumpkin on a Halloween ladder needs character. Each mushroom needs to feel like it's growing from the cover itself. It's about creating depth and telling a story in a small space.
I've learned about structure and support. When you're adding dimensional elements to something that's going to be opened and closed repeatedly, you have to think about durability. What techniques will hold up? How do you make something beautiful that can also withstand daily use?
Then there's colour mixing and painting. Getting that perfect gradient for a twilight sky, making wood grain look realistic, giving leaves the right autumn tones, these aren't things I knew how to do at the start. Each cover is like a tiny painting that happens to be three-dimensional.
And all of that was just the clay part. I still had to learn bookbinding! Actual bookbinding. The kind where you're folding signatures, punching holes in just the right places, and threading needles with patience I didn't know I had. There's something meditative about it, even when I mess up the spacing for the third time.
I've learned to work with different materials beyond clay. Fabric behaves differently than paper. Leather has its own personality. Cardstock needs a different approach than chipboard. Each one teaches you something new about pressure, precision, and when to just let go and see what happens.
Then there were the bookmarks. And the motivational card decks. Each new product meant learning new techniques, new measurements, new ways of thinking about design and durability.
The Business Skills I Never Saw Coming
Here's what they don't tell you: when you start a small business, you become about fifteen different jobs at once.
I've become a photographer. Not a great one, mind you, but I've learned about lighting and angles and how to make a journal cover look as beautiful in a photo as it does in my hands. Natural light is my best friend now.
I've learned inventory management. Which sounds boring, but it's actually a puzzle. How many covers should I make? What colours sell best? How do I bundle things in a way that makes sense? It's like playing Tetris with my creative output.
I've picked up basic graphic design. Those motivational cards? Someone has to design them. That someone is me, fumbling through design software and learning about fonts and layout at 11 PM on a Tuesday.
Marketing and social media were a whole other beast. I'm still learning how to talk about what I make without feeling like I'm shouting into the void. Some days are better than others.
The Personal Skills That Surprised Me Most
But honestly? The skills that have meant the most aren't the ones I can put on a resume.
I've learned patience. Real patience. The kind where you spend two hours sculpting tiny pumpkins with individual faces, realize the composition isn't quite right, and have to start over. And then do it again. And sometimes again.
I've learned to be okay with imperfection. My early journal covers were... rough. But they were mine, and they taught me something. Now I can look at something I've made and see both the flaws and the beauty, and that feels like growth.
I've learned to listen to what brings me joy. Some weeks I want to bind journals. Other weeks I want to design cards. And I'm learning that it's okay to follow that pull instead of forcing myself into one box.
Most importantly, I've learned to put myself out there. To attach my name, my actual name to something I've created. That's still scary. But it's getting easier.
The Skills I'm Still Learning
There's so much I still don't know. I'm constantly learning new binding techniques, new ways to finish edges, new approaches to design. Every time I think I've figured something out, I discover three more things I want to try.
And that's the thing about this journey, it's not about becoming an expert overnight. It's about showing up, trying something new, making mistakes, and trying again. Some days that feels frustrating. But most days? Most days it feels like exactly where I'm supposed to be.
What This All Means
When I look back at where I started, that person afraid to put herself out there, unsure of what she was even doing I can see how far I've come. Not because I'm perfect at any of this, but because I'm doing it anyway.
Every journal cover I make, every bookmark I cut, every motivational card I design they're all evidence of skills learned and challenges faced. They're proof that we can surprise ourselves with what we're capable of when we give ourselves permission to try.
So if you're thinking about starting something new, or learning a new skill, or putting yourself out there in a way that feels scary, I see you. And I'm right there with you, still learning, still growing, still figuring it out one journal at a time.
What unexpected skills have you learned while pursuing something you love? I'd love to hear about your journey in the comments below.