To Snub or Not to Snub...

I've been making jewelry for several years now but not until recently did I notice a snobbery among the artists.  I had begun to feel like that little girl on the playground with no friends to play with.  Maybe I just haven't 'gotton there' yet with my style and abilities...but I know this isn't the case and do I really want to be 'like' them? Or do I want to be myself...the way I am created to create?  After all isn't art all about our own take on things? Our own impressions of the world around us and how we create what we see? 
I like what I create...better yet...I love what I create.  I have so much fun while I do what I do.  I dream about it, I hammer it out, torch it, solder it, polish it, resin it, drill it, saw it, punch it....and the end result... I sell it!  Maybe I get too focused on those who have their noses in the air and I need to look at it differently.  The hundreds who buy my work are more important than the ones who can't see past themselves.

 I recently joined Redding Handmade and it has proven to be an encouraging decision for me.  I am accepted there. I learn so much and have found that I have helped others to learn, too.  There are artists in all kinds of areas as well as skill levels and yet there is a real sense of community among them.
I love to share ideas for new designs and to share resources...and have found that this group is of the same mind.  It's not about territory.  It's about helping each other excel in our businesses.  We want the best for each other and rejoice when one rejoices...I needed that.