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March 4, 2022
Asking me to be creative is like asking me if I want a whole carton of Braum's English Toffee Ice Cream. YEAH!!!! And what's worse is that once the creativity starts, it's really hard to turn it of. That's why I've been putting off writing this resource, because I was concerned that it would go on and on with no end in sight.
And sure enough that's what's happened. This has become some sprawling novel with sub plots and sub-sub plots that's gotten way out of control.
I'm at an impasse here because it all seems pertinent, but there's so much of it. My problem has always been that I have too many ideas for my own good and what's worse, too many ideas to put into a resource.
A resource here should not only fill you with information but also fill you with ideas and enthusiasm. Make you want to go out and do your own creating. I can not tell you what fun it is for me to sketch up an idea I have and pull out my core pattern, trace that idea onto my pattern and then sew it up and wear it.
The problem comes when I'm teaching all the different variations of a basic idea, then variations on those variations and on and on, and before you know it, I have a document that's the size of Jupiter, and that doesn't fit on the internet, much less in a resource that you all can download.
So here's what I need to know from you all. I need to get some parameters with which will be good for you.
How much do you want to know?
What will be most useful for you to know?
Do you like lots of pictures in your descriptions or would you rather keep it more condensed with words only?
Would this be a resource better in stages?...tops?...then pants? ...then jackets? ...dresses? ...skirts?
How would your like this presented?
Here's my goal:
To inspire you to see the multiple variations you can do with your core patterns.
To give you the steps it takes to organize, filter and focus on variations (because all the variations in the world are too many for one garment!!!!! - OK I'm kidding but you can get overrun with too many ideas!)
To concretize your vision into a real garment!
I need your input. I know many of you are thinking of spring - yes, it's coming - finally! And when it comes, it always brings thoughts of something new, fun, happy and even colorful. But I also know that with the lack of good ideas from the runway (I promise not to go down that rabbit hole again), and with the lack of ideas from the creative community (I have my own theory about that too), it is truly hard to find anything inspiring.
But that doesn't mean that there isn't anything out there. It simply means that it's harder to resource and get ideas. But each of us has a style. Each of us has a phase of life that we are leading. Each of us has a look that we like. So with the dearth of fashion, we can lean on that fashion, lifestyle, and look that best describes us and presents us in our best light to those around us.
I've mentioned this before as an example, however ever since I moved into my one-level dream home from my three-level monstrosity, I don't have the "auto-Stairmaster" anymore and put on about 10 lbs, which on my short body, is a lot of weight. And as most women do, I complained about it - a lot! It was frustrating as what I seemed to not work at suddenly became a real issue, and I didn't want it to be 10lbs this year, and 10lbs next year, and so
forth.
What really struck me is that Walt said all this time, "Claire, you look so nice, that you don't look like you've gained any weight. You may have gained some, but I really can't tell!" Now, I don't want you all to think that there's a lot of sex orgies going on over here at the 60th street home, but Walt has seem me a number of times without my clothes, so he's see the whole package. But most of the time we're clothed (visual
pollution is at a minimum that way!), and I'm wearing clothes that are comfortable, that I can move in, but they are also pretty and flattering. They are not clothes that you see on most folks. And you won't believe how many times, I'm checking out at Sam's or Home Depot and I get a compliment on my clothes. It's because they are flattering and it's because they are pretty.
I'm the first one to realize that there is not very much pretty in the stores, and if there is, most of the time it doesn't fit! And what's worse it doesn't look pretty. And if that isn't bad enough, it doesn't give us any information about pretty, flattering, nice clothes.
 
I can remember hearing my elders laugh and complain about how there were no clothes that they could wear at their mature age. Now, I look at these clothes and think even the models don't look good in this stuff, why would I get inspired by something like this?
It's hard when this is all that's available. But here's the truth. I want to get out and scream this from my roof - YOU DON'T HAVE TO WEAR WHAT THE STORES TELL YOU. The reason is that we sew - we can make anything we want. The thought that what we make is second-best or not as good as what we get in the store, is a bunch of garbage.
But because there's nothing in the mall or in the store window, or online or on the runway does present itself as a problem. When there is a desert of fashion out there, it's hard to invent something on your own.
And that's the vacuum we're in. It used to be easy when the fashions would come out in the spring or fall and we would see something really pretty...
 
There's lots of inspiration here - lots of food for thought.
But when you have absolutely nothing, it's hard to think of clothing as being pretty. Part of what we have to realize is that we can have that look, that we can be pretty.
 
I mean these people found pretty and fashionable clothing - how did they do that? Believe it or not a lot of these folks have their clothes made for them. It fits them better. These clothes flatter them better and they are more comfortable than those they can wear in the store.
That's what we can take away from this. We don't have to be dependent upon what the retail store buyer buys, or what the designers designs, or what the manufacturer manufactures. We can actually decide what we want on our own.
But then that leaves only 365,000,000 ideas out there to chose from, and that becomes overwhelming.
That's sorta where I am. I can make suggestions, but there are 365,000,000 ideas I can suggest and either one of two things will happen.
- You'll get inundated and think there's nothing out there and go away completely disenchanted with trying to create on your own, or
- You'll try something that isn't really for you, it won't feel good, make you look good, and won't be good for you, and then you'll be disenchanted with trying to create on your own.
So working through how to bring this to you in a way that's educational, empowering and enthuses you, is the goal here. And how would that be most useful for you?
- In parts
- With lots of pictures
- Condensed - only words
- Would you like just the ideas and that's all or would you like more about the designs to help orient the design for your look, style and shape.
It's a quandary, and I can't solve it on my own. I have so many ideas they stream out of me all day long and leave a wake as I travel through my day.
I need help from you on what is the best way to do this. And Besides - I always love hearing from you and what your doing and what your dilemmas are.
Help me with my dilemma!
Let me hear from you!
For the first of the year, after things have settled down, time to start thinking about new projects. But what to do? Here you are with all this time and BAM! Your memory and creative juices have all dried up. Why is that?
Where do you start?
It's all about Steps...
It's not that hard, and it's not that big. Let's take this in steps, and just like any big project, when you break it down in to steps suddenly you see how to go about doing this.
Easier as you go along...
The fun thing here is that as you start, it's slow, but as you get going, it gets easier and easier, and finally when you get close to starting your project, you're so pumped it's hard to stop!
As usual these are all offered separately, and at a nice discount, but an even bigger discount for the whole package. If you have some of these already, no worries, cause you don't have to get it again, that's why I do these all at a discount.
Inspiration - this is a great guide on getting you through blocks, explaining what they are, and it includes the new "The Artistic Process" which is more up-to-date information and guidelines for whipping your creative juices into action.
Arranging Your Studio - is just as vital as those steps toward creating your project. Without the right environment, it can be a real task to keep going. With the right environment, you will naturally feel good about your space and want to be in it creating.
Time Management is key for getting through this process without going down those time-steeling black holes, and again corporations have studied this up the wazoo, and there's no reason we can't use their techniques and methods to make our precious time spent as well as possible.
Sketching - This is like an artist's cheating secret. With sketching it's so easy to work through one design after another, after another.
My Favorite Inspirational And Idea Books - There is nothing like great books that are filled with ideas that become your go-to resource books. As well, it's great to understand the concept of creating and what we can do to better create - here's my list of these books I have used for decades. Some are out of print, but the
used versions are just as good.
The Whole Creative Inspiration Package is here. This contains all these resource from the SewingArtistry Library as well as some bonuses - like Space Dynamics in better designing your studio space, lists of my favorite inspirational and idea books, list of my
favorite inspiration and idea books which will really get your creativity juices running and some other gems.
As usual these are all at 20% discount but the Inspiration Package is at a further discount with extra goodies.
On the Blog
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This popped up on my feed for some reason, and the first thing I saw was this: And thought - ...
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...if there simply seem to be prettier styles...but more from Spring/Summer 2022. It could be the designers are sick and ...
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And yet another wonderful Spring/Summer 2022 couture show. For so many decades it's been so discouraging to watch season after ...
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