Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 | By Tammy Silvers | 2 Comments

Vision and True Reality

I read Lisa’s latest blog about vision not becoming reality and I had to laugh.  Not at Lisa, mind you.  No, she is talented and creative, and definitely not the object of my amusement.  Nope – that would be me.  I definitely struggle with the vision (i.e. what’s in my head) and the reality (what REALLY comes out of the sewing machine) being two very different entities. Even now, I don’t always get the finished project I envisioned when I started.  As a quilter, using someone else’s pattern, there’s a good reason, which is not the fault of the person that created the pattern.  Nope, it’s me.  Now, granted this is mainly due to the fact that I hate reading directions.  Yes,  a major flaw, I know.  And I have good intentions, really.  I’ll open the pattern, look at the supply list, and start reading the directions – but then things start to slide.  I get impatient, I get frustrated (I don’t understand the directions, or I don’t know how to do the technique called for, or even worse, I don’t like the technique called for, so I think I’ll substitute something else in its place), and then I deviate from the directions, which basically means I quit referring to them at all.  And then – big surprise – the finished project is NOT like the pretty, complete, correct one on the pattern cover.  Hmmmm.

As a designer, it is due to a completely different set of factors.  This is also a source of frustration for my design partner as well.  Too often, I’ll say, “Hey, I have a great idea for a project”, and she will reply with, “Great!  Let’s see it (meaning, let’s see the design you drafted, the details, how it will go together, how many fabrics, how much fabric…..you get the idea).”   Yeah….about that – about the drafted design.  Well, it’s all up here (pointing to my head, in case you can’t see that!).  And how much fabric?  Well – about this much (hands about body width – ok,no smart comments here now! – apart).  Well, you can imagine how well THOSE “plans” go over.  But I do say that is my default method of designing.  I don’t want to sit in front of the computer or at a desk, drafting the project.  I want to DO the project.  And (ok – don’t call the folks with the white jackets), I like to let the fabric talk to me.  Really.

Right now I’m tackling a new project – and yes, even though a wise person would look at past experiences to learn from them, I never said I was wise.  Impulsive, yes.  Impatient, yes.  But…proof you can teach an old dog some new tricks.  I’ve pulled a stack of fabrics for this new project – a pillow that will be a gift for my college age daughter’s best friend/room mate.  My dictates from the princess – it must be lime green and pink, and it must be “girly” (interesting, as my daughter is definitely granola girl, hippie chick, outdoorsy and BF is not – she is girly, sissy, sweet).  So, in an effort to plan, I’ve got the potential fabrics pulled – and I have an idea.  Ok, it IS in my head – but I’ve given it some thought.  I’m currently on a 3-D embellishment kick right now, so I know I want to incorporate some dimension, and I’ve even thought about some ways to do it.  I’m seeing flowers, big pink flowers.  Maybe felted wool flowers.  Or hey – did you see that handy dandy flower making tool Clover has – hmmmm.  Maybe those flowers.  And green – I’m seeing plaid.  Ok, not plaid fabric, but a plaid created with strips and squares.  Did I draw it out?  Nope.  But I’m pretty sure I know how it’s going to go – at least in my head!  I’ll keep you posted.

Tammy Silvers

Outside the Lines Designs