Week 1: A Fresh Start
Hooray! Week 1 of my 100-day block printing project is complete. Only 95 days / 19 weeks more to go 😉
It's been an exciting week filled with positive creative flow, quite a few challenges, and more than a little self-reflection. Thank you for joining me!!
This week, I've carved and shared five new block prints of the “flora and fauna” of Arizona, Maine, New Jersey, and Virginia. Each block holds its own story and significance to me, and I’ve learned quite a bit while researching “fun facts.” Did you know moose are awesome swimmers? 🤯
As I begin, I can't help but reflect on the “100 days of hand-carved stamps” project I did around 2015. That project quickly exploded in popularity on Instagram and it allowed me to launch my business, Modern Maker Stamps, soon after.
Was I expecting the same kind of reception this time around? No! So much has changed in social media and beyond in those 9ish years. I know that logically. But was I secretly hoping for the same kind of sudden interest in my project a decade later? Well, yeah, I’m only human, of course I wanted instant gratification. 😆
Despite my anticipation, gaining likes and followers on Instagram has been slower than expected during this first week. It's a bit disheartening to sometimes see single-digit “like” numbers on my posts. 🥺
However, I’m constantly reminding myself that my primary goal for this project goes beyond metrics. Instead, it's about learning what works in social media, documenting the early stages of my journey as a block printer, and honing my carving skills for the first block print collection I’m planning to release later this year.
While the initial response isn’t what I'd secretly hoped for, it’s already provided valuable insight into what works and what doesn't on social media. Next week, I’ll be making lots of adjustments to how I share as I continue to learn and grow. And the support I did receive has been incredibly positive and meaningful to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
So! As Week 1 comes to a close, I'm more determined than ever to persevere in this 100-day project. Challenges are part of the creative journey, and I'm eager to learn from and overcome them. My passion for block printing, my love for those of you following, and the Make For Good mission keeps me motivated.
Thank you for joining me on this adventure, and I can't wait to see what the next 95 days of Hand-Carved Blocks will bring!
Week 1 on Social:
So yay! I’ll be sharing weekly summaries here on my blog, but the videos and fun process photos will mostly live on social media. So if you want to see more, you can follow my daily progress on my Instagram page,@makeforgood or on TikTok @Make4Good to stay connected.
Yours in creative community,
Sarah K
TL:DR
Week 1 of the 100-Day Project is complete
I’ve had a slow initial social media response, but I’m focusing on my goals: learning, growing, and documenting
The responses I’ve gotten so far have been overwhelmingly positive and meaningful
I’m excited and motivated for the next 95 days of #100HandCarvedBlocks
