I haven’t felt very inspired lately…but I’ve been working on these projects at a slow pace.

Thinking in the shower, before drifting off to sleep, driving in the car (not the best place to be day-dreaming) about what interests me, what I feel is close to my heart, and what will be my next design project. Pulling out my sketch notebook from under that incessant pile of fabrics to jot down a few words, or a small graphic in many iterations–usually in pencil, sometimes in color. Many times it is a panicked rush to get my ideas out of my head and down on paper since I can’t remember well.

When I scrape together a bit of time, I sift through my fabrics…letting the colors and textures be my guide. What thread? What roving? What floss? Buttons, zippers, snaps? What tools do I need? Where is my measuring tape–wrapped around a toddler’s leg, stuffed in a toy-box. Where are you slide ruler…I haven’t seen you in weeks? I gather everything in my arms and dump it on my work space, my dining room table.

I think about seam allowances, french seams, gathers, pleats, top-stitching, and pockets finalizing the pattern in my head, and on paper. I cut with hesitation. I sew with trepidation, sometimes eagerly, and still sometimes with frustration. I clip, iron, hem, and finish.

Sometimes it comes out better than I had imagined. Sometimes it is a flop. Sometimes I change course part way through. Other times, I set aside the project altogether for a while. Sometimes a long while. I am always learning new things about the way fabric behaves, or mis-behaves. How to use new tools. How to create better corners and curves. Each step is a journey toward perfection and what a journey it is.

The panda up top is an original work in progress. The hand-embroidered work below are to be placemats, part of a themed set. More to come.