Distractions....

This week has been full of distractions. Some good some bad, some extremely frustrating and connected to the 'dark side' of trying to build/develop an internet business. On the positive side though I've been getting distracted by all the lovely bloglines that I need to catch up on, by the glorious autumn sunshine outside and by bright and beautiful fabrics....Today isn't going well in terms of 'getting things done'.

Remember this bag?

Sometimes it seems so simple.

You draw a pattern out and off you go.... but then you decide it'd be nice to share and you have to find way of translating you're wonderous artwork into something electronic that can be printed off and used. A doddle I thought....

The design is already worked out, I know the measurements the basic shape, seam allowances... shouldn't take any time at all. mmmmmm! Confounded by software.

It's taking me an age to get to grips with the software that's supposed to enable me to create a printable pattern and I don't think it's because the software is particularly complicated. I think it's more that I'm not that familiar with concepts of canvases and then layers. I got to a point where I wanted to print it out because it might be nice if I tested it.... just to check... before I unleashed it on an unsuspecting world. Ooooo! or should it be 'Arhhhhhgh!' (more dramtic emphasis in an Argh.) there's nothing to print.... just blank pages! Why?

I won't describe the agony involved in drawing that simple curve...

Where's the masterpiece I can see just in front of my eyes? Ah, yes, well you're trying to print out the 'Master' canvas and the little canvas you want to print is buried more deeply than that....!

You're next test of complete incompetance is it to see if you can retireive it... Hmmmmmph!

o.k. that hurdle overcome... Now I need to mark in the darts that give it, it's shape and move on.

At least now I can start thinking about which fabric to use .... I'm considering using Heather Bailey's Pop Garden and Bijoux fabrics ... because I fancy something bright and cheerful. Just because the days are growing noticeably shorter doesn't mean that everything else has to suddenly get dark and sombre too does it?

I was thinking about doing something interesting with that big bold stripe as the top band and the Daisy as the main body of the bag...

... or there's these fabrics from Anna Maria Horner's 'Good Folks'....

...It's a happy combination but maybe not right for such a little bag...

and I'm looking at these two fabrics...

I love the deep turquoise blue of that Mingling - reminds me of the sea off of the Hebrides. Yes I know that sounds unlikely but really even when the temperatures have been enough to freeze your bits off, the colour of the sea in the sunshine has been extraordinary. Just that colour of blue. (Deep, deep Sigh!)

I then got distracted by this fabric for a while... for quite a while actually...

... this is Honeycomb with a plain burgundy fabric. The 'struts' inbetween the honeycombs are brown so I tried this one next....

... I like this mix but it maybe just a bit too much for the bag.

So, thinking about the brown I then put this fabric, Park Fountains in Brown, alongside, just to see what that looked like. It picked the brown up really well and the yellow ... but thinking about what I wanted to use it for it didn't quite work.

I then tried out a fuschia fabric, one of Amy's quilting solids....

... perhaps the pink might work? It might be a bit too pink and sugary sweet looking. It would let me share/use a new trick I've learned using fabric cover buttons, any button would do really... I'm excited about trying that out...

So, after all of that fabric overload (can't happen can it?) HELP! Do you like any of those combinations? Do you think they'd work in the bag? You know the more I think about it the more I think that maybe using just one fabric on it's own may be enough with perhaps something 'contrasty' for the lining..... Back to the drawing board I think....

Comments

[Andrea]

What software is it? I have been a bit blog hopping absent lately so you have probably sorted it out, but my hubby designs on the computer which then gets printed off. he is a boat designer, he may be able to help if you are still having problems. Lovely fabric. I need a few bits, when is your last postal date beofre Christmas?

[Dragonfly]

I like the Mingling one too.

Thank you so much for my fabrics and pattern that I received yesterday - I love the way you folded the fabrics!

[Wild Rose]

I like the honeycomb and burgundy. It sounds like an extremely frustrating process, but I am sure you will get there in the end.

[dottycookie]

I like either MIngling plus Fanfare, or Honeycomb with the burgundy, But I am not the world's most adventurous user of pattern and colour ;-)

[Penny]

For me it would have to be the Honeycomb with plain burgundy even though I'm not a "pink" person.

I'm also having problems getting to grips with software ever since I installed the new Snow Leopard. Things I used to do so quickly now seem to take an age but I suppose with practice and perseverance things will soon become second nature. Don't give up! :8) XX

[jenny]

The teal and pomegranate combo- the fist one- is really doing it for me! xx

[Judith]

I agree the blue ice combo would look good and the honeycomb with a burgundy lining. I like the Heather Bailey combo as well because it lends itself to a fun fabric. In fact you are spoilt for choice! Glad to see your website is ok.

[Jessica]

I like the anna marie horner ones esp the blue ice combo but then Im not a 'pink' person

[JuliaB]

I am feeling your frustration!!!!!

What is that software? I have been wondering how I can electronisise my corset patterns? I'm thinking Illustrator but I can't work it! xx