Felt cactus pattern from Big Little Felt Universe by Jeanette Lim.
It's New Year's Eve and time to set some professional goals for the new year.
This year I would like to:
1. Start taking custom work.
Although I made all kinds of plush in the past, I was really afraid to take on custom work because I felt like I may not be able to make a successful sewing pattern for a new animal. Some of my patterns worked by chance, really, and others had taken a long time to develop. People would often assume that I could make just anything, but the truth was I didn't think I could.
After working on this soft toy design book for nearly nine months I am now in a totally different place. I have learned a tremendous amount about pattern design and I've made all kinds of new animals (I can't wait to show you!). My skills have jumped by leaps and bounds. And now I know that, yes, I can make anything! It may take a bunch of prototypes, but I've learned to enjoy that part of the process, for the most part.
In 2012 I am hoping to offer custom plush design for people with a particular animal in mind.
And I'm hoping to make soft toys from children's drawings. I made a monster from Roxanne's drawing and it was so much fun. Send me a drawing and I'll make a custom toy for your child. Awesome.
2. Learn about creating installation and display windows.
I'd like to begin to learn about making softies on a larger scale and concept for window displays. I'm not talking about installation art in a gallery. I'm thinking more like Anthropologie's amazing store windows, but with plush. Coming up with a concept, color choices, and scale. I'm not sure I'll be able to actually do a window this year, but I am going to learn more about how they're done and think about what I would do. And you never know, maybe it will happen.
3. Create a sewing pattern for digital download in my Etsy shop.
I have terrible (read NO) graphic design skills. I own Illustrator, but don't know how to use it (I don't have Photoshop). I've heard about InDesign, Gimp, Scribus, but I haven't explored any of them (are there others I should know about?). It is really hard for me to dedicate my few hours of free time to learning to use a computer program. I end up getting frustrated and giving up, then feeling like I've wasted my time. And although my husband has many excellent skills, computerized design programs are not among them. So it's on me. And it's gonna happen. Once I stop whining about it.
Okay, those are my goals. Do you have professional goals for this year? I've found it really helps to think about where you'd like to head, no matter how small your craft business (or hobby) might be. Last year I decided to begin teaching sewing and over the course of the year I taught seven sewing classes. It was tremendously satisfying, and wouldn't have happened without setting an explicit goal to work towards.
2012 is going to be a great one! Here's to a creative, successful, and joyful new year! I love you guys!
awesome store window design idea. that would be so so so much fun! if you get that gig, i am coming up to work on it too.
It has taken me a really long time to teach myself Illustrator, (and I only use a fraction of it) but I think it really is worth it. I can’t speak about the other programs because I have not used them, they might be just as worthy.
It is great for drawing diagrams and pattern pieces. Often you can use the pattern pieces, rescaled, to quickly create process diagrams.
I also draw my pattern pieces 1:1 and use them to calculate required yardage, by drawing fat 1/4’s and fat 1/8th etc. and laying out the pieces on them. This is also useful to work out the most efficient way to cut pieces out of a particular length of fabric.
This is because when I make prototypes, I am often using scraps, but when I first write out the pattern, I calculate the required yardage, and then see if it is correct, when my pattern is in testing.
There are lots of online tutorials, which admittedly you have to mine for relevant information. Pattern writing uses quite a narrow section of the program, but requires you to learn this narrow breadth in detail.
While initially it will take you an age to do anything useful, eventually it will help you do so much, and make things quicker, because you can reuse what you draw so easily.
My version of Illustrator is getting old now, but I used a book called “Illustrator CS2 for Windows and Macintosh – Visual Quickstart Guide” by Elaine Meinmann and Peter Lourekas as a handy reference guide to dip into.
Generally I scan in hand-drawn pencil images as a starting point, (most of my initial design work is done on paper with a pencil) and then redraw over the top of them with Illustrator, before I start manipulating and changing them.
Good Luck!
Abby, I have no computer knowledge at all and struggle with the the amount of time it would take me to learn everything. My patterns are hand drawn…and then tidied up..it’s embarrassing to admit how much of a Luddite I am. I’d love to hear how you go with illustrator…. Oh and even though you had doubts….I always thought you could make anything since the first time I found your blog. So looking forward to the book!
You might consider finding a class- I think the benefits are that it is a scheduled and limited time. You can go to the class and then leave it until the next time. If you get frustrated, there is someone to help but also you know you can go home in an hour. The most helpful part for me was getting a better understanding of what the programs can do and also a taste of the vocabulary. That said, I really ought to sign up for another class! Good luck!
Claire, thank you for all the concrete advice. I think Mimi may be right on in suggesting I take a class. And Jodie, thank you for the words of encouragement!
Big goals, but I bet you can do it! I love the toys-from-drawings idea and the custom animals idea. I bet you’ll get some unusual requests!!
Good luck on the upcoming year and reaching all your goals.
If you are interested in learning and improving your computer skills, check out lynda.com. The tutorials are short, specific and easy to follow.
Abb- I would be happy to help you if you don’t take a class, or if you do and have questions. My cousin is a Hawaii-themed product designer and uses it all the time and I help her whenever she needs it, too. I can skype, phone, whatever. But I think it would be relatively easy to teach you just what you need to know. Photoshop is probably not anything you need, just Illustrator.
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some goals for 2012 – While She Naps