Design Process
I keep thinking that there must be a way to streamline my design process, but it never comes to me. It seems to be – at least for me – an endless spiral of swatching, sketching, thinking, researching, swatching, re-sketching, re-swatching, etc., etc., etc.,
That’s the way it always seems to go. At first I thought that my lifestyle (stopping every few minutes to make a snack for the kids, let the dog in, go pick up someone at school…) might be the reason my design process seemed so fragmented. But I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s just the way my mind works. I get inspiration from so many different places, and what has been my most important lesson is to always have a pencil and sketchbook so I can write down my ideas as soon as possible.
My next important lesson is that as soon as I work up a new stitch motif or colorwork pattern, I must RUSH to the computer and chart it before I “lose” the subtleties that make the motif special.
I have designs due on 1/2 and 1/15. I generally try to be a bit early, but that hasn’t been the case for most of this year. I have projects due in Feb – which seems so far down the road but I know it isn’t – and unfortunately keep putting them off to do more swatching and sketching.
The most inspiring thing that I do on a regular basis is my teaching. Working with students really gets my creative juices flowing, it’s wonderful! Also forcing myself to take time for ME is a big help, but something I’m not so good at.
We’re packing today, we’ll load up the car tonight and head out tomorrow morning for WV (we have friends who are kindly staying here to take care of Mr. Butkus!) The doll has arrived in WV, the bike is still in it’s box (I’ve told Gerry he MUST check to make sure all the parts are included before we head out for WV!) and other gifts are squirreled away ready to be packed in the overhead storage we bought for the trip. And, most important, we’ve taken the CD Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban out of the library to listen to on the trip! We are ALL set!