Friday, July 3, 2009

Think Music

Over the last week, whenever I've reached the end of my ability to think about class notes, submissions (for yet-to-be-revealed projects), website tweakings or pattern instuctions, I've tinkered with a little idea I've had for a long time.

This has been in my head since pushing a pram around the northern suburbs with a nine-month-old* who wouldn't nap during the day (or night, for that matter) and dreaming up bag designs was the closest I got to a sewing machine.

(*That baby is now nearly three years older. For those of you who ask how I work around a small child: the answer is.... S - L - O - W - L - Y!!).


Patternmaking is like a puzzle that grips me until it's solved. I started the pattern after midnight last Sunday morning. It was lucky I didn't have a sewing machine at home or I'd have been up all night!

I once knew a writer who said he wrote "to get it out of my head". Patternmaking is a bit like that for me. It's compelling. Addictive. The next stage is nutting out the right materials and processes for the job, and that's just as absorbing.

It's been my think music all week. Whenever I reached a block point with whatever I was writing (or was simply too tired to think in words) - or whenever I felt overwhelmed by it all - I'd tweak the pattern again. Make a toile. Tweak again. Today I worked only on this (and trying to keep a sugar-fuelled kinder-holidaying child busy). By this evening I was happy with the shape, at last.

There are still minor technical glitches to be ironed out before it's a kit, but I'm hoping to have it finished in time for the Sydney Stitches and Craft Show.

I have a lot to write between now and then, so I anticipate a bit of 'think music' will be needed in between. Watch this space...

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looks great Nikki. Your fabric choice is fantastic.

Tania said...

Wow. Nikki, they are SERIOUSLY gorgeous. Fantastic shape. Can I buy that made up one on the right RIGHT NOW?!? (I don't even care about any technical glitchery!).

Unknown said...

Oooh - I like!

Esther said...

Very pretty, lovely shape. I know all about needing to get patterns out of your head, I've been known to sketch things when I'm not able to try and make them straight away just to try and stop them going round and round in my head. My muse doesn't seem to worry to much about me finishing this though as once I'm properly started on a project the urge goes away so I end up with lots of part finished projects !!

RosaMarĂ­a said...

wow!!! is a beautiful job!!!!! love those purses!

stacy said...

OOOOH, I LOVE these! I think the size and shape are perfect.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous Nikki - need a patern tester? Interesting how our minds hold onto something and we obsess about it, isn't it - I have sewn and/or crocheted so many things in my mind or tried to figure out how they'd go together.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous!

our shabby cottage said...

It is so cute Nikki. Keep going girl!

Cathy said...

they look good Nikki! So glad you were able to get something out to this stage! It would be harder with a toddler around all the time (even such a cutie as Rosie)

Nikki said...

Love it Nikki. I've made your coin purses and they're great (your instructions are AWESOME... for us using your patterns, we appreciate all the time you take to make them so easy to follow). I love the structured sides and extra room of this new purse. Maybe working S-L-O-W-L-Y is the trick for you!

Fer said...

Oh wow, it's too cute! And worth all that thinking music.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous!

rachelmp said...

Looking great Nikki!

Christy said...

The bags are lovely, of course. I have done the pattern thing too. I tend to sew the entire thing in my head several times before working it out with actual fabric.

Gay McDonell said...

That is one super cute little purse - you're onto another winner Miss Clever Pants! I find that I also am always on a roller coaster of thinking, ideas, ideas, ideas .... will it ever stop? I hope not!

Melanie Gray Augustin said...

Oh, I love that shape! Very pretty!

karin said...

Those are really lovely, wow! The shape, the colours, beautiful together. My compliments!

MildlyCrafty said...

That shape is great!

Willow said...

I want a barrel purse... it's very cute...