creative highlight
MEMBER from our community
ELAYNE OGBETA
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I am an inspirational writer first and foremost. I have completed a BA degree in creative writing/art design history and an MA in creative writing for children. I have several poems published in anthologies and self-published a children’s picture book in 2001 called "Anansi & the Dutchy Pot." I have also written a children’s play in collaboration with two theatre companies.
I currently own a small business called Seasonal Words which produces and sells religious and inspirational gifts with a hope of encouraging and uplifting people on special occasions. During lock down, I started learning embroidery and now use this as another means of encouraging others through my poems or through scriptures.
My hobbies include reading, watching movies and going to the theater. I teach ESOL part-time at a local college. I attend New Hope church in Hulme, Manchester. Before the lock down period, I was quite active in my church by helping to serve breakfast on a weekly basis for the community. I also started teaching Sunday School.
I am married and have two children, whom both are professional sports men and woman.
Instagram: @seasonalwords
Website: www.seasonalword.com
I currently own a small business called Seasonal Words which produces and sells religious and inspirational gifts with a hope of encouraging and uplifting people on special occasions. During lock down, I started learning embroidery and now use this as another means of encouraging others through my poems or through scriptures.
My hobbies include reading, watching movies and going to the theater. I teach ESOL part-time at a local college. I attend New Hope church in Hulme, Manchester. Before the lock down period, I was quite active in my church by helping to serve breakfast on a weekly basis for the community. I also started teaching Sunday School.
I am married and have two children, whom both are professional sports men and woman.
Instagram: @seasonalwords
Website: www.seasonalword.com
Can you tell us about your introduction to art? How did you know you had a creative gift?
Since the age of 10, I knew I wanted to write stories and poems. At the age of 20, I self-published a selection of my inspirational poems. At that time, I felt that I had a calling to encourage others through my writing. I also loved painting and for some reason I thought I was good, so I decided to do an A’level in art, with the hope of doing a degree. Unfortunately, I found out that I was not so good at art and thus was encouraged to opt for Art History instead. Alongside art history, I had to choose a joint course, so very reluctantly the only subject that slightly took my fancy was theatre studies. I decided to take that as a minor course and not as a joint. Little known to me because I chose theatre studies as a minor course, I was not able to continue to do theatre studies and was given a selection of other courses to choose from, creative writing being one of them. So naturally, I chose that, and I have not looked back ever since.
I completed my first degree and a few of years after, that I completed a Master’s degree in creative writing for children. My small business is called Seasonal Words. Currently, I design greeting cards, prints and other gifts, and collaborate with other artists. It was only this year, during the lock-down period, that I started learning embroidery though watching YouTube videos. I realized that I could combine my love of art with my writing to continue encouraging others.
Did you ever think you’d be selling your art, or teaching art?
I can clearly remember kneeling down age 16 after I had given my life to the Lord and asking God to help me one day to have my own business. I really had a desire to work for myself, but God had other plans. Whilst I work as a part-time teacher and have other jobs in between that, I continue to work towards building my ministry/business. For me, selling my work or having an outlet is one way of sharing the gift that God has given me.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have in explaining what you do to others who don’t find themselves in a creative background or field? Life family/friends/strangers?
I do not think I have any challenges explaining what I do. Most friends and family know exactly what I do because I have been writing and designing for a long time. I surround myself with other creative individuals. One of my best friends is an artist and several of my colleagues are creative too. What I do have challenges in, is doing ‘business’ with close friends and family. One tends not to want to charge as much or not at all, which isn’t using good business acumen.
Since the age of 10, I knew I wanted to write stories and poems. At the age of 20, I self-published a selection of my inspirational poems. At that time, I felt that I had a calling to encourage others through my writing. I also loved painting and for some reason I thought I was good, so I decided to do an A’level in art, with the hope of doing a degree. Unfortunately, I found out that I was not so good at art and thus was encouraged to opt for Art History instead. Alongside art history, I had to choose a joint course, so very reluctantly the only subject that slightly took my fancy was theatre studies. I decided to take that as a minor course and not as a joint. Little known to me because I chose theatre studies as a minor course, I was not able to continue to do theatre studies and was given a selection of other courses to choose from, creative writing being one of them. So naturally, I chose that, and I have not looked back ever since.
I completed my first degree and a few of years after, that I completed a Master’s degree in creative writing for children. My small business is called Seasonal Words. Currently, I design greeting cards, prints and other gifts, and collaborate with other artists. It was only this year, during the lock-down period, that I started learning embroidery though watching YouTube videos. I realized that I could combine my love of art with my writing to continue encouraging others.
Did you ever think you’d be selling your art, or teaching art?
I can clearly remember kneeling down age 16 after I had given my life to the Lord and asking God to help me one day to have my own business. I really had a desire to work for myself, but God had other plans. Whilst I work as a part-time teacher and have other jobs in between that, I continue to work towards building my ministry/business. For me, selling my work or having an outlet is one way of sharing the gift that God has given me.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have in explaining what you do to others who don’t find themselves in a creative background or field? Life family/friends/strangers?
I do not think I have any challenges explaining what I do. Most friends and family know exactly what I do because I have been writing and designing for a long time. I surround myself with other creative individuals. One of my best friends is an artist and several of my colleagues are creative too. What I do have challenges in, is doing ‘business’ with close friends and family. One tends not to want to charge as much or not at all, which isn’t using good business acumen.
What are your favorite ways to express your creativity?
My favorite ways of expressing my creativity is through my writing. I enjoy seeing the idea in my head come to life as a product, and that product being a blessing to someone else.
How do you juggle your business/family/social time?
I work two days as a teacher. The other three days I try to work on my business. I might design, write, embroider, and/or promote my work. My children are very dependant and my husband is very supportive. So, I really have time do to the work I love, with little or no interruptions. At the weekends (lockdown permitted), I try and find time to catch up with family and friends.
Any encouraging words, words of wisdom from what you've learned to help other creatives on their journey to being abundant and thriving artists/creatives/makers?
I would like to encourage others to never give up on their dream. I know that sentence has been said so many times, but I truly believe that if God has put something within you and it still has not come to past as you would like, keep going forward. Sometimes, you might not find others around you who fully understand what you are doing or believe in you, but don’t allow that to discourage your hopes and aspirations. God is willing us to use our talents for His glory. He wants us to be fruitful. He wants us to be a blessing. Finally, this scripture says it all : “Trust in the Lord will all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all yours ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
My favorite ways of expressing my creativity is through my writing. I enjoy seeing the idea in my head come to life as a product, and that product being a blessing to someone else.
How do you juggle your business/family/social time?
I work two days as a teacher. The other three days I try to work on my business. I might design, write, embroider, and/or promote my work. My children are very dependant and my husband is very supportive. So, I really have time do to the work I love, with little or no interruptions. At the weekends (lockdown permitted), I try and find time to catch up with family and friends.
Any encouraging words, words of wisdom from what you've learned to help other creatives on their journey to being abundant and thriving artists/creatives/makers?
I would like to encourage others to never give up on their dream. I know that sentence has been said so many times, but I truly believe that if God has put something within you and it still has not come to past as you would like, keep going forward. Sometimes, you might not find others around you who fully understand what you are doing or believe in you, but don’t allow that to discourage your hopes and aspirations. God is willing us to use our talents for His glory. He wants us to be fruitful. He wants us to be a blessing. Finally, this scripture says it all : “Trust in the Lord will all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all yours ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6