Finding inspiration~Back to basics!

Every once in a while I sit down to a fresh piece of white paper and my mind goes blank. I feel like there  are no original ideas left! It has all been done before.

At times like these when my  rosy outlook takes a little detour I usually come back to basics – simple geometric shapes and marks. No color.. just black and white.

It is my hope that the wonderful combination of all these shapes will eventually come together and find their place somewhere in my surface pattern design.

The days have been busy here. The ski season is slowly coming to an end, but the competitions are still on. Travel to other mountains, school trips and spring break have left me with little time to sit uninterrupted to create. I have been trying to change my ways and create in clumps of time, but I still find that my best time is when I have nothing pressing or beckoning me away from my work.

There really is nothing better than a long stretch of uninterrupted time to sit and create. I think most of us can agree on that!

I am (slowly) working  on my next collection for Modern Yardage – MeadowBlush. Taking inspiration from my geometrics, I enjoyed combining different geometric shapes to make up the flowers and other elements involved in this design.

I can imagine them on outdoor pillows, children’s bedding, a sweet little summer dress…

I think some ladybugs are also in order for spring. I may  also throw in some butterflies and I don’t doubt that some seeds and pods will also end up in the collection. They seen to end up in all my work.

My MeadowBlush fabric collection will be coming to Modern Yardage month end, right in time for spring.

Have you had a look at my 101 projects to make with one yard of fabric pinboard? You can find it on Pinterest here
If you are like me and finding it hard to find long hours of uninterrupted time then this might be the answer to your sewing and crafting creations.

I am heading off today to one of my favorite places – the Big Island of Hawaii. Time to feed the soul and the senses. Pop back next week for some visual inspiration, or if you just need a hit of sunshine!

xox

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Inspired by print & pattern – geometrics

Have you heard the latest, greatest news?

Marie Perkins of the infamous Print & Pattern blog is publishing yet another book to add to her ever-growing, wonderful ,collection of print & pattern books!

This one is all about geometrics!

Time to get out your pens and paint! Lots of time left to get working and submit. Due date is September 7th, 2013.

“We will be using the term ‘geometrics’ loosely with all kinds of abstract shapes, motifs and patterns (and not just those using exact mathematical style geometry) being included. “

I am not sure if these are considered geometrics, but once I started it was hard to stop! I like to think of it as the zen of doodling.

I have started a few patterns because that’s how I like to work, but thinking I may submit some collage art as well.

“We are looking for patterns, illustrations and prints that use circles, squares, triangles, chevrons, stripes, dots and dashes, polygons, facets, and all other kinds of imaginative shapes”

I am liking “imaginative shapes”..snowflakes?

Not really sure if these are considered “geometrics”. I may have to get a second and third opinion before I submit.What do you think?

I did enjoy the process and I can see adapting these towards Christmas. No work is ever wasted!

A little more on the geometric side of things…

How about some paper collage turned pattern? Lots of opportunity to play around with ideas for this one!

I really like the idea of pulling these out again and re-working them. They have always been one of my favorites because they remind me so much of the paper collage work I love to do. I think these have some directional issues, but once worked out would fit quite nicely into the category.

I am sure you also have some old geometric prints or pattern that could be renewed!

Need some Inspiration? Try these Pinterest boards
http://pinterest.com/darnitalhoward/geometric-patterns/

http://pinterest.com/sarah_bagshaw/surface-pattern-circles/

http://pinterest.com/sarah_bagshaw/surface-pattern-lines/

http://pinterest.com/juliehdesigns/inspiration-line,mark,texture

For more information on all of the Print & Pattern books , have a look at the Print & Pattern bookstore on Amazon.  Be very, very careful – it is highly addictive. Lots of visual eye candy! Don’t forget to visit her blog too for daily doses of inspiration!

Well, the summer is quickly coming to a close here in Whistler. The days are definitely getting shorter and the blankets and fireplace have come out for patio entertaining. I am a bit sad, but also a little excited. I like to treat Sept 1st as my second chance. A chance to re-assess my direction for 2013. A chance to accomplish all the goals I set out to achieve at the beginning of the year.

I am happy to say that I think things are running along tikkity-boo!

See you next week!