branding.

No matter what you do, whether it's scrapbooking, quilting, making jewelry, photography, or any other endeaver, branding is still important even if you aren't a large corporation like the Coco-Cola Company. Perhaps your brand isn't as fixed or firm as theirs but it all focuses you and your presentation. With that said, it all doesn't mean that you can't ever change. Change is good. 

There are endless ways that you can brand yourself. Ask yourself what sets you apart from others? In the case of quilting, is it your color sense, your piecing, your quilting or your applique? Is your look bold and dramatic or tea-dyed and romantic? It doesn't matter if you're out to market yourself for a job or step out as an owner of a designer firm, a little focus is a great thing. You'll have a story and a sense of confidence that is relatable and connectable.

Which brands come quickly to your mind?

Passion

[Shibuya Station, Tokyo, credit: wallpaper.com]

Two artists that I admire persevered in their craft and they did it with passion. Tadao Ando is a self-taught architect from Japan. He started out as a truck driver and then a boxer. Amazingly he never received formal architectural training. Much of his buildings are comprised of cast-in-place concrete but his use of space and light are extraordinary. 

[Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, credit: tadaoando.org]

 

[Church of Light, Osaka, Japan]

The late Itchiku Kubota's devotion was amazing. Little did I know that an exhibit at the Smithsonian would affect me so much. I walked into, Symphony of Light, and was mesmerized by the kimonos of Itchiku Kubota. I cried because his perseverance touched me deeply.

[Itchicku Kubota Art Museum]

Both of these men had something in common that I could relate to in my pursuit of creativity. Passion. My passion drives me and it shapes the perspective from which I create. It doesn't matter what's right and wrong. All that matters is that it is my vision and my creation. What drives you and your art?

lldb

workmanship.

One of my parents' properties was featured in a book called "Old Ontario Houses" a few years ago. The first thing that struck me as interesting was the beauty of the workmanship. The lofty gables and the beautiful fascade of each of the buildings illustrated the beautiful workmanship of that era.

The quality of work that I do is the same but the way I work is very different from when I first started quilting. Although I love hand applique, it is now a luxury. Getting samples finished and out the door is the main goal. Machine applique and quilting rule the process. I have committed some time to doing more hand applique this year. I believe that it will bring me a different sort of inspiration and calm in an otherwise crazy, fast life! Are you looking to do more hand applique [or other forms of craft] or are you looking to do more machine work so that you can get more things finished?

lldb

what's your style.

What is your personal style? I think that mine is confused sometimes. I like modern and clean yet I love vintage. It's okay. I try to blend them all. I love vintage furniture but the reality of where I live right now doesn't lend itself to that look. I can admire though.

The beauty of quilting or any other craft is that you can try out a different look each time and not feel invested in it. I can grab a piece of fabric and distress it, paint it or do whatever I want with it. Liberating! Lately, I've let my kids have a piece so that they can draw monsters on it. Then i sew around it and leave an opening for stuffing. Instant softie and they made it themselves.

lldb

beginnings.

My mother gave me my father's shears recently and the gift stirred a sudden flow of energy in me. I had been thinking about business things in the back of my mind for a long time. It is the 10th anniversary of my first Quilt Market. I was 6 months pregnant at that first show. I don't know what I was thinking but my husband and I drove down to Atlantic City that year and the rest, as they say, is history! I'm not exactly sure how this blog will progress but I thought that it would be fun to have something to celebrate my 10 year anniversary!

My business has changed a lot since that first year. I no longer sell printed patterns. I primarily write books and design for magazines. I also do a lot of behind the scenes work that I can't publicize for whatever reason but I am still just creative at heart. Four years ago, I lost my father, grandmother, father-in-law and husband's uncle. It slowed me down a little but there are a lot of things that are bright for the future. It is time for a fresh start.

There are a lot of blogs out there in bloggy land. I want this one to reflect a bit more of my personal creativity and likes. It will be a canvas of sorts. I do design knitwear and paper ideas too! Does the world need another blog? Probably not. Is there anything that you'd like to see that you don't feel is covered enough? Let me know!

lldb