Some of our teacher who will be at the SAGA Convention in Winston-Salem tell us how they are inspired.
Judith Adams:
Anything I see that has a regular shape may “plant a seed”
for a smocking plate, or it could just create a theme in my mind, such a
“bows”. I always come away from SAGA Convention or a workshop feeling inspired to
create. I think it is being surrounded by ladies that are just so enthusiastic
about smocking and it makes me try and think “outside the box”.
Kathy Awender:
So many things! I have been
inspired by advertisements, color combinations, and of course by fabric that
begs to made into something special. I also have collections of antique
magazines, patterns, clothing, hankies and other textiles and I often look to
them for inspiration.
Jeannie Baumeister:
My designs are mainly inspired by old things. I love
old baby clothes. I examine old baby garments for inspiration and am
lucky that many people share their treasured baby clothes with me. Many of my
designs/patterns and classes came from garments shared with me. I am
especially drawn to the styles from 1900 through 1940's.
Tess Ellenwood:
Absolutely everything! One time I based a design on a bar of
soap. When we went to the beach, I took
a picture of the dime-store rug in the entranceway of the beach house rental
because I really liked the palette; everyone else was snapping pictures of the
ocean. Once, a furniture ad inspired a vest.
When I walk through my yard, I take time to look at the really tiny
wildflowers, count their petals, and decide which stitches they could be. I tend to see tiny pieces of things, not
necessarily the whole. I really have a
different drummer (maybe we all do, but just don’t realize it), and I like to
push the envelope. As a consequence, I
try a lot of stuff that just doesn’t work J
Cindy Foose:
This question makes me laugh! I wish I knew the answer to
this question. If pressed for a real answer, I would have to say that visiting
museum collections of antique clothes and perusing vintage photos and patterns
of children’s clothing. Inspiration can be anywhere; you just have to open your
mind to all possibilities.
Susan O’Conner:
All sorts of things – historical embroidery, flowers,
periods in history, poems and stories.
Vaune Pierce:
A fabric, a color, a
shape.
