DIY Monday: Dreaming up a design

One of the hardest things to do in creating a design can be visualizing how the finished design will look. Some are gifted with a clear vision while others can only see the full picture when the design is finished. Some people buy architectural or design magazines and tear out pictures that they like. Others may search the book aisle at their local home improvement or the design section at Barnes and Noble to find inspiration. Still others may go straight to the source - the cabinet maker, the tile store, the appliance section, or even a craft fair - to get that spark that fires design.

I recently found a site that's helped me with a design. It's called Houzz. My husband and I have been arguing over a project. I see clearly how it should be done, but no matter how much I've drawn it out and explained the steps, he can't see enough to be comfortable to move forward with the design. So I've spent some time perusing the pictures on Houzz, adding to my photo ideabook to somehow convey that this design idea will WORK in our space. It's a wonderful tool to get design ideas and get comfortable with your design ideas. Now on to trying to convince the husband that this dream can become a reality on our DIY budget! You'll know soon!

Working Tuesday: Creating a new product line

You may have noticed I'm a fan of photography. That's not to say I've learned much beyond set my camera on automatic and shoot. But I am learning and I'm always looking for the perfect photo.

I've been toying with the idea of creating a product line that somehow incorporates my photographs. I've thought of calendars and note cards. The problem is finding an artist to do a layout and then finding the right printer to print the product.

For many years, I've used Shutterfly to create notecards and calendars for my family and friends. The problem has always been with their need to brand the heck out of their products. I understand they have begun a program for those interested in selling their work that allows the artist to put their branding on the back instead of the Shutterfly logo. I'm still investigating this and other routes to find the best product I can offer customers.

The bottom line is that starting a new product line is not always as simple as having a vision or idea. Often the key is in execution and the perseverance to find the right path to a marketable finished product. And sometimes I have a hard time getting down that road.

Inspiration Thursday! Something out of Nothing

Sometimes I look at the jumble of beads I've collected over the past 6 years and have absolutely no inspiration. There's nothing that catches my eye. There's no pendant that inspires a larger design. There's just nothing in me that says it's time to create.

I've found, though, as I sit and stare at my pile of beads, that the creative fire is sometimes locked inside because of external pressures that are keeping me from being able to focus on creating. For me, it's sometimes my job and a deadline I have to make. But I'll be honest, it's also the laundry that's piled up, the dishes that haven't been done, a hungry husband growling for food or a corgi puppy with big brown eyes and a throw toy begging to play. All these things can distract you from that creative energy.

So what's my secret to inspiration? Well, sometimes I need a kick start. Often just handling the beads can start a creative stream. Sometimes this means pulling out every bin and pulling out many bags of beads, rolling them onto the bead board and arranging them with other complementary colors. I allow myself to make a mess knowing the end result will be more good than bad.

But sometimes it's a mental game of forcing yourself to focus. A process of visualizing yourself allowing all those other things to fall away.

It's giving yourself permission to play while also giving yourself permission to fail in getting it all done.

Because for those of us who feel empty when we don't create but feel the pressures of life caving in, giving yourself permission to fail can be the key.

After all, the dishes will be there tomorrow and laundry is never done.

Inspiration Thursday! Web Design

I love ephemera. The color, the texture, the fonts, the design. Love it. I think that's why I love doing print work. It's making the ephemera of tomorrow. Finding the eye catching picture that tells your story in a glance. Finding the fonts that convey a tone that carries your words.

But the new world is what's called "new media." It's the Internet. Web design. Banner ads. And the standards change on a dime. What's clean or sleek or cool today, will probably look dated tomorrow. It's exciting and challenging. And there are people who are brilliantly leading the way into this new world - defining it as we speak.

One place to go to get a glimpse of where this world is going is Delicious CSS. When I struggle with design for a client, when I am looking for the best elements to meet their needs, this site can be a source of inspiration. Check it out. See if you find inspiration here too!

** All photos property of Delicious CSS.

Inspiration Thursday! Work Space.

My ability to be creative in almost any space has been tested throughout my life. I can usually pull it off despite distractions or noise - then again I don't have kids yet.

Recently, my supplies have started to grow beyond the places and spaces I've been using to hide them... under the couch... bottom rack of the coffee table... hidden inside decorative boxes... you get the idea. My husband has been very patient with the growing business, but I think I'm finally getting on his nerves because I'm running out of places to hide the stuff!

The other day he mentioned I might get some kind of rolling workspace and I've kept my eyes open.

My dream area is THIS, but we don't really have space for it in this house. When we DO have space, however, watch out. It's called The Original Scrapbox and it has tons of cubbies in which to store my stuff. I love that the boxes are transparent so that I can see the stuff inside and I REALLY love that it closes up when I'm finished!
But I've been thinking about smaller options and ran across this Trunk Station from Japan. I think it's a very good use of space!



It's somewhat pricey, but I think it's an interesting option though it's not really my "style" - it's a little modern. But if I covered it in fabric... or custom build my own... hmmm......

I feel a weakness coming on!

Inspiration Thursday! Stampington & Company magazines

It's inspiration Thursday again and this week I want to make sure all my creative readers are aware of a collection of magazines I always love thumbing through. They're published by Stampington & Company, and includes a variety of titles.

I tend to be drawn more to the jewelry and clothing lines, which are published under the name Belle Armoire Jewelry or Belle Armoire Art to Wear. I've found the clothing issues at my local Hancock Fabrics, but I'd bet you could pick them up at Jo Ann Fabrics too. The jewelry magazine I've found at Barnes and Noble as well as Jo Ann Fabrics.

Each issue has at least one, but usually many projects that inspire my creativity. They also have step by step instructions on how to make the featured projects - with photos! And if you're looking for supplies, they often include their sources in the articles too. If you've ever tried to track down an obscure supply, you'll understand how invaluable that can be!


If that's not your cup of tea, you can always pick up the scrapbooking, doll making, journaling, handbag, wedding or stamping magazines. OR you can look at another of my favorite Stampington publications: Where Women Create.





Since combining houses with my hubby, I've had to consolidate my supplies and my work area has gotten considerably smaller... stupid man furniture.... Wait. What? Did I say that aloud? What? Oh yeah... I dream about having a space of my own where I can store my supplies in an organized and accessible manner. It's a place where I can lay out my beads, or lace, or whatever and LEAVE them there without worrying Corgi girl is going to jump on it or hubby is going to be upset that it's still there three days later when I am finally able to get back to a project. Sound familiar?

Well Where Women Create is the place for you to dream - at least it's where I dream. Live on a house boat? Well, there's an issue with a woman who does and how SHE deals with lack of space. Have a lovely light filled room you can paint in soothing colors with space for lovely patterned boxes of supplies? Well imagine that, there's a woman who does. My favorite, however, is the woman who collects stuff like I collect stuff: in little tins and cigar boxes and irregularly shaped cabinets. As much as I want the clean sunshine filled room, I'm sure I'll always be the back room collector. It's just who I am.

The point is, there's inspiration enough for everyone looking through these lovely publications. Just thumbing through the layouts is a soothing exercise for me - and can be for you too!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go dream about my future studio....

Working Tuesday: April showers bring May flowers...

Ok. I admit it. I know. I've been obsessed with flowers lately. Alright, so it's not a recent obsession, but the difference is now I'm posting them all over my blog, my website... you get the idea. And I think it's been leaking into my work. Ok, it IS leaking into my work.

A couple weeks ago I got some Swarovski petal pearls in an order from Fire Mountain gems thinking I would use them in some wedding accessories and I think the results were wonderful! I think I'm either going to use them in a comb or in individual hair pins. Either would be lovely!

I'd like to do the same thing with petal-like Keshi pearls, but have wondered if I can actually make a profit on something like that considering the Keshi pearls I liked were somewhere around $250 a strand!

Those flowers went so well for me, I picked up some petal shaped dichroic glass beads in pink. I added some pink buttons for the center and started playing around with those as pendants. The latest I've paired with rose quartz and some golden spacer beads. I'm still playing around with laying out the design, but I'm having fun with that result too.

Last weekend, after spending a day photographing Mama E's garden, I decided to pull together some bluebell earrings from some Czech flower beads that have been hanging around. I've been collecting flower beads for a couple years now and I'm just getting around to pulling together some designs with them - and I'm just getting started with what I've got!

So you'll probably be seeing more flowers. But it's spring, so that's probably not such a bad thing!

Falling behind?

It's been a couple weeks since I've posted and I guess it's because I've been falling behind. I'm not sure where the time goes and I'm really not sure how others manage to carve out the time it takes to run a business on the side and keep up a blog.

Since I'm behind on the business, I figured I'd share what I HAVE been doing the past few weeks. I work for an advertising agency. We do what's called issue advertising, which means I don't sell toothpaste, I sell ideas or concepts. Usually we're advocating for a piece of legislation, sometimes it's a candidate, sometimes we're helping a company with their branding or reputation. Theoretically, I should be better at branding myself, but I have found it's somehow harder when YOU are the product. Anyone with me?

I've spent most of the day working on a TV spot. This is pretty much the sexy stuff in advertising. I do a ton of print and quite a bit of online, but most of my days are spent just making sure the wheels are turning in the right direction in a campaign. So when I get to work on a TV spot, the day gets a little more exciting.

Because we're advocating for a piece of legislation, this particular spot is to tell legislators their constituents support the legislation. It should also let people know why we're advocating for this position so they can join our group if they're so inclined.

That meant going out with a video camera a couple weeks ago and shooting what people had to say on our issue. We had about 8 people who were willing to get on camera and talk about this issue - mostly just telling us what they think about it. We went through about an hour and a half of tape looking for exactly the right clips that would tell the story we need to tell in 30 seconds. This can become difficult if people are long winded because, quick fact, it usually takes 30 seconds to say 70 words.

Did I mention I've learned to liberally edit my writing in this job?

So today I spent many hours in a room with an editor sorting through the clips, trying to find just the right combination that would lay out the problem and the solution for our issue all ending with a rousing call to action. We're heading back tomorrow to finish what I think - at this moment - is very close to telling the story I need to tell. Sometimes, though, you have to look away from a piece in order to figure out how the puzzle will eventually fall into place as it should.

It made me realize that this is what I love about the creative process. You can start with a pile of random stuff and end up with something that makes sense - if only to you. And if you're lucky, you'll make a thing of beauty.

I'm probably justifying myself, but I think sometimes it's okay to fall behind. Because creativity can't be rushed. And the laundry is going to be there tomorrow.

I hope you'll be here tomorrow too.