Style and Reinvention

Having a bit of a break from things is always a good way to have a little mental tidy up and also to have a bit of a creative exploration without any pressure. Reading a magazine in the bath yesterday, I was struck by the fact that most successful designers/makers have a particular style that makes them instantly identifiable. In wondering which direction to go myself, it got me thinking, did I have a style?

In short the answer is no. I do exactly that. I sew stuff. I make stuff. My tastes and what I decide to make very much reflect my mood on the day or what has been sparking my imagination that week. Some days I can be steampunk, others, vintage, flowery, retro, girly, manga, Victorian, shabby chic, burlesque or modern. It varies as much as the play list on my ipod which ranges from Metallica to New Kids on the Block, Tchaikovsky to Swedish House Mafia and Professor Elemental. That's just me.

So is my lack of a signature style a problem? I know of people that are very much into their chosen genre, sometimes at the exclusion of anything else. And they can be possessive about it too. I suppose we've all been there though. I remember when I was in my teens and music was everything, that you couldn't listen to Indie and Metal, couldn't like Blur and Oasis. Yet its the merging of styles that often progresses things. Recently I saw someone one Facebook complaining that their retro event was being invaded by youth, jumping on the bandwagon. The suggestion was that they should go and find their own thing. Yet without the injection of newcomer, of new blood, it all becomes staid, it won't move on. Music wouldn't be the rich variety we are now blessed with if different genres hadn't meshed together over the years.

I tend to cherry pick. I take the bits I like from certain styles without getting to heavily into it. But that's just the way I am. I know a little about a lot, I'm a jack of all trades. Maybe one day, all of the different elements will mold together into a signature style for me. But that won't come if its forced, it needs to be organic. If I was looking to set up a global enterprise then I appreciate that a signature style would be useful, if not essential. But I'm not. I'm a backroom crafter, doing what I do and loving what I do. And that's more important than anything else.

Coming up..( if this isn't making a rod for my own back I don't know what is!)
Outfits for a Mad Hatters Tea Party
and
A Minnie Mouse themed Birthday party.

Getting My Mojo Back

I've been suffering from creative block recently. With plenty of other distractions around and a lack of craft fairs or farmers markets booked, I kind of slipped into a 'can I be bothered?' space. I guess it happens to everyone, writers get writers block. I know I've sat there on an evening, my pad on my lap, pen poised and nothing comes; but I haven't had the same situation with my sewing machine. I have plenty of new books, new projects I quite fancy doing, a board on Pinterest of things I'd like to make. But could I be bothered to get into my workspace and get on with something? No. The most I'd managed to muster recently was a couple of library bag books for the girls. And that was mainly out of necessity borne from a fear of losing the large quantities of books they now bring home.

But all good things come to those who wait. In the end it just took one bag to kick start things. I saw a photo tutorial on Pinterest and it dug in there, to the point where I had to make it. I'd forgotten how much I like looking for material and accessories, and I had the added challenge of drawing up the pattern from scratch too. I was up until midnight sewing the handles on, determined to finish it, but it was SO worth it.

Probably one of my favourite bag designs, it has oodles of storage without being huge, having pleated pockets on either side and a zippered compartment in the centre.

The girls did a ballet performance today and alongside the usual clutter I tote around (general handbag bits and bobs) I fitted two pairs of ballet shoes, two pairs of shorts, sun cream (hopeful!) and a camera. Got a bottle of wine in it yesterday, (an essential test given the poor quality of bags supplied by our local shop). I think the fittings -the handles and twist lock give it a great finish and I took the time to sew on my bias tape properly, something I rarely do.

And of course, a new handbag deserves a new purse too.

(For some reason all of my photos are squished today. Apologies.)
Well I was putting an order into U-handbag (who's service is great) and the pattern for this purse was in the latest issue of Mollie Makes, so I thought, why not?

So I'm back on the horse, so to speak. The creative one that is. Never did get a long with real ones, but that's another story. So sometimes, maybe having a break from things refreshes you, gives you a new perspective.