Image: Public Domain, Pixabay

I’ve been wanting a beaded tree sculpture for quite some time now. Unfortunately, the well-crafted ones usually cost at least $100, and usually between $150 and $200, which is more than I can afford. Since I’m a crafty person, I decided that I’d just get the very inexpensive materials and learn to make one myself. Unfortunately, tutorials for how to make these trees are few and far between.

I found one, but it’s very basic and doesn’t make a very attractive tree. It seems most people used that basic tutorial, then expanded upon it to make more detailed and attractive trees. However, no one is sharing the details on how they did it. I found a woman who makes gorgeous trees, and asked her one simple question: “About how many branches do you use in a tree?” Her response was this: “I do not share any details about, or instructions for, making tree sculptures. I hope you can understand.” Honestly, I don’t understand at all.

I have always been extremely bothered by people’s greediness with their knowledge and skill. From my experience, people who refuse to share their knowledge are usually afraid that if they share, they will have competition. If someone else learns to do what they do, then they will no longer be the only one and they will (so they think) lose something. Rather than taking joy in sharing and helping others to do something of their own, they fear a loss of money or of uniqueness. I do not subscribe to this way of thinking.

I’ve always been more than happy to teach others how I do anything that I do, even in cases where I knew for certain that they were planning to make money from it. I never feel that they’re going to take anything from me or that I’m losing out on anything. I’m giving someone a skill that they can use for their own enjoyment or profit. Having one more person doing what I do isn’t going to take anything away from me, it’s just going to make that person happier or more prosperous.

I have seen this mentality so many times. People refuse to share their knowledge on writing or publishing or successful blogging. The POD community was filled with people who refused to share how they became successful, even when selling inferior product. Artisans and crafters frequently withhold information on how they create things. All this for fear that they will lose something by sharing. They give no thought to the good they could be doing for others, and think only of their own lack mentality and fear.

With this in mind, I’m going to take the time to get Eric to help me with some photos (unfortunately I don’t have a video recorder) and I’m going to make and release my own tutorial. I’m going to post it publicly for free when it’s done. There’s no good reason that people shouldn’t share knowledge and skills so that other people can use them. I may gain the ire of some folks in the crafting community, but I’ll likely also gain the appreciation of many others who want to learn this craft. I don’t believe in being greedy with knowledge. I believe in helping people in any way possible and sharing freely. If no one else will do it, I will. I’m sure plenty of people will be grateful.

Briana Blair

Briana Blair is an author and artisan. She has published more then 30 books and thousands of articles across multiple sites. After practicing Paganism and witchcraft for 25 years, she's now on a journey as an atheist and skeptic. She's eclectic, unpredictable, and always evolving. Facebook - Twitter