One year of Unravelling

Glad asked: How did you take your Unravelling project (love it love it love it) from a seedling of an idea in your head into an amazing program in full-bloom?

I think it was a mixture of serendipity, good timing and a pinch of faith.

When i decided to make the move to Bath in 2008 I opened myself up to new possibilities, one of which was the chance to teach at an adult education centre in Bristol. My sister was working as the programme manager there, and as soon as she suggested I put together a photography workshop my head started spinning with ideas; from the word go I knew i wanted my class to be about photography and finding the self. I also knew it would be called Unravelling as that was the name i already used on my photo blog; unravelling was such a perfect description of the healing work i'd done after losing my partner, but it also described the way i took photographs, always looking deeper and further, trying to unravel the things i saw and the thoughts i had.

I spent several months plotting and planning the workshop, creating a six-week course that I hoped would be enjoyable and helpful to the women who took the class. And, much to my amazement, it did work, and turned out to be so much better than i could ever have hoped. The class was small and intimate, and as each week passed i learnt from my ladies as they shared their photographs - and stories - with me. Looking back i now realise what an important time that was.

So when a friend suggested I teach the class online, it got me thinking; at that time i knew of only one other e-course in our corner of the blogosphere. I had to figure out how to share the assignments and resulting photographs with the class, and how I'd get the word out in the first place. So I made a small-but-functional website with the software on my Mac, expanded the original course to eight weeks with lots of extra writing exercises and photo assignments, and took a massive leap of faith. I had 20 brave souls signed up to my mailing list, so on January 29th 2009 I sent out the email... and wrote a blog post.

It actually made me feel quite vulnerable to be putting the course out into the world. Even though i had the proof that it worked thanks to my evening class, i was still scared. That afternoon i met my sister for coffee, and i said to her: 'If i get just ten people signed up that would be amazing.' By the time i went to bed that night I already had my ten; in just over a week there were 100.

And so from that very humble beginning the course has grown so much bigger than i ever thought it would. By sharing as much as i can with my Unravellers, i find I have also learned so much about myself, not least of which is my new ability to sit in front of a camera and not run away screaming!

I can't wait to share Unravelling #2 with you soon...

[Today is the last day to cast your vote in the Poppies Favourite Photographer category - in the space of a week I have turned into a competitive nerd :) As of right now (7:52pm GMT) there's only 2 votes between first and second place...] Saturday update: I came second! My Polaroid sister Alicia beat me to first place, and I can't think of a more deserving winner - congrats Alicia!

Comments

[Jo]

What a privilege it was and continues to be to see you work your magic - you are amazing x

[Amanda {Mocking Bird}]

Great post, Susannah. :)
I thought I knew all this but clearly I didn't hehe
You've come so far, baby!

[doorways traveler]

you were and are exactly placed in the order of things, unravelling one heart at a time. it's a revolution, love, and i am so happy to be a part of it.

love you.

[Michelle Shopped]

heheh -- glad you closed the comments on that question post because my brain's tired by fri pm but glad's question was one i would have asked to
i did vote for you because you asked -- asking for what i want is something i'm practicing more of (the next step is expecting to get it)...do you think if we really want something we usually get it? (oops, that was a questions ;)
Happy weekend!

[charlane]

fantastic year - here is to bigger and better things this year as you grow by leaps and bounds!

[Brooke]

So fun with the video! Definitely do some more posts with them: written words express much, but compassion and humor are also nice to see on a face! Congrats on your Unravelling II; I look forward to taking the first course this February if I can ever figure out GMT -5 with the factor of Daylight Savings.. :)

[Glad]

Thanks for answering my question. I loved your course and I got so much out of my own Unravelling experience.

xox
Glad

[Karen D]

Hey there is was great to see/hear you again...Congratulations on the success of Unravelling, I can't wait to experience the second go around.
Peace,
Karen

[Lisa]

Thank you for the honest response...it is so inspiring knowing that, from one idea and ample courage, such beauty can result.

I wish I could vote again at Poppies...best of luck!

[Paty]

Congratulations Susannah! Happy Birthday Unravelling!

It's so good to be a part of this.

Beware world, Susannah is here and this is just the beginning of something HUGE!

A big hug.

[Mel]

So glad that Jo suggested you do this as an online class. I so love this class, I didn't quite know what to expect and what I receive, do, learn is so much more than I could have ever imagined.

[Fiona]

Lovely to see you and hear your voice again :) Unravelling 2 is great news and I can't wait to hear your answers to all the questions!

[Emma]

Congratulations Sus,

Love the vlog by the way, have you had your hair cut? - its looking lovely,

Emma x

[Ann]

Looking forward to the next stage and really want to join your next class - will be waiting to sign up. Lots of luck in whatever you do.
Have a good weekend

[Christianne]

Love this post! I'm glad Glad asked that question, too, even though you and I have informally communicated about some of this.

Also, it was cute to hear you say that you feel like "a million pounds" because in my American brain I expected you to say "a million bucks," and then I had to translate the British equivalent. :)

[Jenni]

Wow what a great project to work on! It's really exciting to see people excited about the possibility of self-discovery through photography.

-Jenni

[lisayamaguchi]

Hi Suzannah : ) I'm one of your Unravellers currently taking the course, and I just wanted to say how I've been inspired by your e-course!! Of course the whole photograph experiences too but also living in Japan I think it's just amazing how I could meet you on the other side of the world like this!

If it wasn't for your idea and actual brave action to create such place, I wouldn't had such experience. And as I always regard life is the result of the smallest smallest encounters and how I get edited by those encounters, I just appreciate to have you as a sparkling encounters of my life : )

Sorry for long comment....just wanted to say thank you and give applause to your lovely course : )

[nathalie]

I can't wait to hear about unravelling 2
:)

[Lucinda]

happy anniversary! thank you for bringing me closer to a world i where i never thought close connections were possible! i can't imagine my life now without my core unravelling group. i hope to expand that world with other unravellers too.

[jeanine]

congrats, love!

[B]

That first Unravelling course really helped me when I needed it! Thanks!