Book Review (& Press!) - A Field Guide to Fabric Design

I just received my copy of 'A Field Guide to Fabric Design' by Kimberly Kight of the fabulous fabric blog True Up, in the mail yesterday, and let me just say it - I LOVE it! Kim did such an amazing job with this book and if you are someone interested in creating your own fabric collection, learning from current fabric designers or wanting to learn how to put your artwork into repeat, either by hand or in the computer - this is the book for you. She also included Designer Roundtables where she holds Q and A with a variety of fabric designers, which I am so excited to be a part of.

I'm super-sure you've heard of Kim and her True Up blog - but to let you know a little bit about Kim, she started her blog in 2008 because of her obsession with fabric, and over that time has used that passion to teach herself fabric design, and now teaches on the subject where she lives in Austin, Texas.

A Field Guide to Fabric Design walks you through how to design, print and sell your own fabric and covers both traditional and digital techniques. I love that she teaches one of my favorite Illustrator tools, the 'Recolor Artwork' tool which allows you to create colorways easily of your designs. As well as the Photoshop 'Offset Filter' which helps you create seamless repeats.

The book is broken down into three sections with multiple chapters within each section, which are:

Section One: Design and Color
Fabric Design Fundamentals
Step-by-Step Design - Covers creating repeats by hand and by computer
Know Your Color - Creating color palettes and colorways
Colorways and Collections - Creating collections of patterns for the fabric industry and balancing color throughout

Section Two: Printing
Know Your Surface: Fabric Basics
Step-by-Step Hand Printing
Digital Printing

Section Three: The World of Fabric Design
Designing for Fun and Profit

There's also a wide variety of page previews of the insides of this book on Amazon, if you'd like to see more. Overall, if you haven't added this book to your library, I would highly recommend it! Kim did such a great and thorough job at including everything you need to know about being a designer in the industry and taking a shot at it yourself. (And by the way - this book is ranked #2 on Amazon's Textile and Costumes Bestseller List - for good reason! Way to go Kim!)

Spring 2012 - D&G

 {Images from Style.com}

The next Spring 2012 runway show that I absolutely love is the print saturated D&G collection. To me, what's better than one print? Two! Three!...FIVE! The more the merrier in my book. These designs are just stunning and full of colorful scarf prints which contain a mixture of medallions, butterflies, polka dots, crests, flowers...you name it - throw it into the pot! All in vibrant, gorgeous color. Yum!

 

I would happily take one of those maxi dresses and add it to my closet. And check out the scarf wrapped shoes! Too bad snow is in the forecast for Seattle, cause this show makes me ready for Spring!

Spring 2012 - Burberry Prossum

 {All images from Style.comhttp://www.style.com/}

The Spring 2012 runways have come and gone, many months ago in which time I spent days scouring through them and saving off image after image of gorgeousness! I usually like to share the beauty with you closer to the season, so it stays fresher in our minds.

First up, Burberry Prorsum. Their show wasn't packed full of print, but the color was just awe-some! I love the deep, rich, Africa inspired colors and the rich, artisan & handcrafted feel to the collection! It's exciting to see color coming back in a BIG way! Aren't these colors DE-lish?!!

Reflection on 2011

 {Image via}

As 2011 comes to an end, and I'm working away on my calendar and deadlines for 2012, I'm finding myself reflecting on what has happened this past year. I absolutely love the optimism of what a New Year brings - the aspirations and intentions and the new slate for new beginnings.

I don't usually do this - reflect on the past year. I'm usually planning the future, not living in the current or the past (um, let me put down my 2012 calendar...). But after many conversations with friends, and going through a huge transition this year in my life, I thought it would be a good exercise for me & my heart and allow myself to reflect.

I thought I'd share with you my 2011 year in recap. Things that pushed me, inspired me and happened in my life.
* I became an aunt! My only brother had 2 twin boys, and they are just cute, balls of joy
* Worked with fellow Textile Designers on a print trend presentation and gave presentations to the company (previous day job)
* I read countless books on managing people & becoming a good leader, just in case my day job turned that way
* I actually ended up becoming a manager
* Within my day job, I developed a company-wide process for working with our new Print Studio, and rolled it out to a room full of leaders
* Met some wonderful women at work with whom I deeply connected with and had transparent & supportive conversations. All of whom had just the right thing to say at the right time.
* Helped a handful more of people figure out their personality profile
* Attended a wonderful friend's wedding and got to catch up with more wonderful friends
* After 12 years of dreaming of working for myself I decided to leave the corporate world and chase my dream
* I signed-up for and prepared for my Surtex booth in 2 months
* I had my first booth at Surtex 2011 in NYC
* Met lots of companies at Surtex and left with exciting opportunities
* My husband Jake and I shared our 10 year wedding anniversary!
* We vacationed at the Grand Canyon and went on to explore Zion National Park. Soaked up the sun, drove many miles, took lots of pics, and spent the last day watching HGTV in the hotel and having pizza delivered (hey, we don't have cable, so it was a TREAT!!)
* Got food poisoning from our 10 year anniversary dinner - lovely
* Signed a few contracts with companies - {psst - fun, new stuff coming next year!}
* Struggled with guilt feelings of absolutely loving what I do
* Allowed myself to be OK with it, to enjoy it, soak it up & run with it
* {Repeat the above 2...quite a few times}
* Went hiking a few times with Jake, after many years of putting it off because I 'didn't have anything to wear'
* Actually spent money on hiking shoes not heels
* Speaking of which - actually added T-shirts to my wardrobe - yes, seriously ; )
* Struggled with 'why am I not going to the gym 4 days a week if I have the time and theoretically want to?' Then realized I'm human.
* Since then, I've lowered my expectations & now find enjoyment in doing said task instead of obligation
* Did the 'Couch to 5K' running plan & started Pilates
* Filmed my first TV spot (details next year!), which is a huge accomplishment of fears for me, as I'm pretty shy
* My family lost my 32 year old cousin to cancer - melanoma - leaving behind 2 twin girls. (Please make sure you go to your dermatologist at least once a year. Especially if you love the sun.)
* Was overwhelmed by the love, tears & memories shared at her memorial
* Thankful for her in many ways, one of which is if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have met the love of my life
* Beat my child-holding record by helping my brother out with family Christmas photo's
* Was able to keep said children from crying! Ya-hoo!!
* Spent fun times catching up with a distant friend
* Met with multiple friends during the day while everyone else was at work (I work crazy flex hours)
* Enjoyed every minute of it
* After 10 years in the fashion industry (extremely fast paced, high expectations & productivity), I have finally started to learn the meaning of work/life balance

What a year! I'm assuming I'm writing the above to myself, as it's pretty long and non-monumental to someone not living my life. I thought I'd post it so I could reflect back on it...and also to let you know a little bit more about me as well.

I gave up a long time ago on setting New Years resolutions, but I do like to aspire and set-out to be more intentional in my life. Sometimes I'll be great for a few months at something, then it'll fall by the wayside, only for me to get back on the bandwagon later on. I'm working on accepting this : ) I find the more I force myself to stick to a regiment with high expectations (even though I LOVE structure!), the more the happiness gets sucked out of me. Enter - realization that I'm human, not perfect and that life is a constant cycle & roller-coaster of wonderment and bummer-ness.

Enter 2012. I'm excited. I'm ready. I'm optimistic. I hope you are too. Whichever way you embrace a new year, I hope 2012 brings you much joy & awesomeness.