The other week SiSi, who writes the artistic blog Peacefully Folding, contacted me, asking if I'd like to be considered for her weekly Featured Artisan series. It didn't take me long to say yes, and after some friendly exchanges with SiSi I was very glad I agreed. SiSi is a very clever origami artist using paper, ribbon and other embellishments to create folded wonders in the forms of earrings/jewelry, cards and decorative objects. She has shops at Etsy and ArtFire. Her blog is an excellent collection of her own work, crafting, and discoveries, as well as generously showcasing the work of other artisans, and providing tips, information and tutorials for most anything craft related! I was really impressed by all that she puts together and shares each week at her blog. Do stop and meet her and take a peek in her shops. If you would like to read my interview/feature at SiSi's, read here.
For something different today, I thought it might be fun to share with you a tiny behind the scenes look at Pink Purl studio... Here is a pair of pages from my design notebook. These are designs for knitwear I drew last year. A big blank-pages notebook in which I sketch, write down and gather ideas for potential shop creations. It's all pretty simple. There's a section for knitwear designs, and another separate section is for jewelry designs. There's yet another for bags and other accessories designs. I use pencil, ink and colored artist pencils for the sketches. Some sketches are just that--quick lines with some words about shaping, size, fiber/materials, etc. A little bit of colored pencil brings the sketches a little more to life, and often generates more ideas. Some sketches become reality--a finished knitwear piece or finished jewelry. Other sketches take on life in other ways, becoming part of a new sketch or idea. And some don't get past the pages of the notebook to live in a different dimension at all. Much of the fun of what I've been doing in recent years begins with this notebook. A few lines and squiggles, a dab of color and an idea takes shapes. About 70-80 percent of what I created for both my shops has begun from a sketch in my book.
After an idea blooms, some sketches are made. Then even more fun begins. I raid my crafting stash for possibilities! For knitwear, yarns are examined, stitch patterns are considered, a full pattern is written out... A lot goes into what even appears to be a very, very simple item. Knitting needles and yarn are consulted, then I swatch a pattern, do a test for the potential of a finished piece. Sometimes the leap from sketch on the notebook page, to design schematics, to test piece, to finished item goes very smoothly and enjoyably. Other times it's not all a piece of cake, and back to the drawing board--literally! Mathematics has always been a big challenge for me pretty much since birth, so sometimes it's just a matter of doing the math over. Another time it may be that the yarn choice is not optimal for the stitch pattern in mind, a desired effect needs to go in a different direction. Most of the time though, things really "click" and a great creative vibe takes me to another place, and the resulting work is joyous! From notebook sketch, to yarn, to finished accessory/garment is a huge rush! (Photo note... I've still been using the same measuring tape that I had eons ago when I was twelve and in 7th grade home economics class...I love it!)
This week I have been working on sketching new designs for some knitwear and jewelry offerings for both my ArtFire shop and my Etsy shop for autumn and winter ahead. A couple of new items are already made and waiting to be listed! But right now I'm having fun sketching and musing over my yarn stash...
So much yarn...so little time! Yes, these are from my yarn stash... My yarn diet this year has been going pretty well...not that this photo shows that though... ;o)
What does your creative process look like? Care to share? If you do, let me know, I'd love to see!
Wishing everyone, my family and friends a very happy weekend ahead--Happy Days! I'll be away from the computer much of the weekend now, so I'll see you all next week! :o)
