Inspired by Seaside Photographs - FREE TUTORIAL

Hello my lovelies!

At this time of year I know many of you will be like me, returning from your summer holidays with loads of seaside smiles and a host of ideas which hopefully will give you some inspiration for your next sewing or mixed media project...

As a textile artist I am continually being asked how and where do I get my inspiration

for my own designs?

Mother Nature always provides me with such gems and is my greatest source of inspiration.

It doesn't matter where you are visiting or for how long. 

Each region will have it's own special sights, sounds, smells and treats.

For me, Cornwall always delights.

I love visiting and soak up every little jewel I come across.

I carry my camera with me where ever I go and photograph snippets of my day using my lens as my creative eye.

I thought it would be a nice idea to give you all some tips and ideas as to how you too can get started using a photograph as your inspiration source and capture those treasured memories.

Inspired by Seaside Photographs -Tutorial

So where to begin....

First, what project do you have in mind?

Collage

Cushion

Notebook Cover

Special Bunting

Whatever the project, using a favourite pic can always help you to get started...

So, how?

If you are not reproducing an exact copy of a snapshot how can you use it for inspiration?

Here are some tips that hopefully will help to give you some basic ideas....

You may want to draw out your design copying the photo to help with dimensions or scale. To do this simply print off your photograph and use either tracing paper or greaseproof paper to out line the main elements.

Don't be afraid to exaggerate the details. remember it is your design. there are no rules!

Also don't worry if your dimensions don't match exactly... 

Try and create a mood board for your project. I know many of you may say why bother if it is only for a cushion but believe me it is definitely worth it!

I love collating loads of ideas from alsorts of resources...

Attach them to an old picture frame, write them down in a book or simply doodle on scraps of paper that you have to hand.

Believe me when I say they will all come be handy to refer back to.

Use your photographs to help with colour schemes...

They will give you an idea of how to blend colours for backgrounds or individual elements of your overall design.

You may be using various fabrics to build up your design or colouring them in with free motion embroidery, or perhaps you want to make your design to have a 3D effect?

Of course you need to think about adding textures and patterns...

maybe to represent shells, rocks, beach huts, rocks etc

Don't forget to add in those extra special details that will make your designs more individual...

All those little memories you have can be added into your designs...

And talking of textures....

use Mother Natures box of jewels to help you decide what elements you may want to stitch, crochet, embroider or sew on as embellishments...

I hope this quick tutorial has helped to get you inspired to give it a go...

Just remember it really doesn't matter what your design is going to be.... it may be a cushion cover that you want to use applique on or you may decided to have a go at a mixed media collage.

Start small and then run with your ideas...

We are all creative in some way or another.

As so many people have asked about designs and ideas I have decided that I am soon going to be selling my own inspiration kits via my blog.

I will also be offering online tutorials alongside them with ideas for your projects.

I would love to know your thoughts on this, so if you have five mins do please drop me a message at the end of this post or an email to  tillyrose10@gmail.com 

You can also find me via my Facebook page 

In the meantime Happy Stitching my lovelies!

Enjoy your weekend...

Tilly 

xxx 

FREE TUTORIAL - How To Find Inspiration for Your Next Project...

Hello my lovelies!

I'm often asked how I decide to put fabrics together when starting a project or what makes me choose a specific colour theme...

As a textile artist I love to see a project take it's own journey and enjoy the organic process of watching it grow before my own eyes as I work.
For me this is the most exciting part of my creative designing.

I know many of you struggle with finding a starting point and have often heard people say "oh I'm not a designer..."
I disagree.
Anyone who creates is a designer in my eyes and although you may not be showcasing your designs  along the catwalks of Paris or exhibiting your canvasses at the Tate you are still a designer in your own right.

Anyone who knits, crochets, sews, paints, embellishes...you get the picture....should be brave enough to call themselves a creative designer!

We live a very visual world these days and are drawn to striking images.
So... to help anyone out there needing a guiding hand with their designs, I thought I would put a little tutorial together to hopefully help with some pointers as to where to get that much valued inspiration from...

How To Get Inspiration for Your Next Project Tutorial...


I believe we are surrounded by loads of beautiful inspiration all around us each and every day of our lives for any design if we only know where to look...

Perhaps you want to make a patchwork quilt but are not sure what colour theme to start?

You fancy creating a scrapbook of family heirloom memories but are frightened to take that plunge to put pen to paper?

Maybe you fancy combining fabrics and paper together to design a mixed media collage to celebrate your recent holiday?

You really don't have to look very far for some simple ideas.
Mother Nature provides us all with colours, patterns and textures, all free of charge I might add, that many designers have used in their work over the years...

Fashion designers, artists, hobbyists and crafters all use the glorious beauties offered to us free of charge to help them develop their own style.

So where do you start?

Here are my Top Ten Tips to help...

* Always try to carry a camera with you to capture the tiniest of detail, colour palette or scenes you want to re-create with fabric, paper, canvas or other mediums

* Try taking a photograph each day to capture each and every new experience you encounter however mundane as a reminder of the simple everyday things in life that make us smile

* Write down a list of inspirations to include in your designs.....quotes, words from a song, names of flowers, poems

* Spend time gazing at the sky for combinations for backdrops of pictures, taking into account how Mother Nature uses her colours together

* Write down a list of flowers for each season that you see on your travels...how they look, their colour, their form and any details you may think important....how many petals? what shapes? etc

* Doodle down your ideas in a journal but never worry about making a mistake drawing ANYTHING! It is all part of the process of designing....

* Collect different textures to draw, and refer to when creating your designs. 

These can be fabrics, natural elements, beach finds, dried flowers or petals, pieces of  bark or even everyday haberdashery

* Collect images from magazines, pieces of fabric or photographs of other people's designs to help with a starting point for your colour palette

* Create a mood board to explore options...

*BE CONFIDENT - be true to yourself with your own style....what works for you may not work for someone else but this doesn't mean it is wrong!
You don't have to be good at drawing, photography, sewing skills etc
you just need the confidence to give something a go and know it really is OK to make mistakes!

 PLEASE DON'T COPY! 
We all love to share our designs with others but please respect everyone's original work and use your imagination to be your own designer and not a carbon copy of someone else.

I hope you find a little inspiration from these few tips...

Have fun creating my lovelies...

there really is nothing better for soothing the soul in the stressful world we live in these days!

If you have five mins do leave a little comment to let me know your thoughts on creativity...I would LOVE to know!

Toodle -ooh for now!

Tilly

x x x