Pattern Research in Target!

Now that I'm back in the game of designing and illustrating I've been taking note of what's hot and new in the design world. I'm in love with pretty much everything from Target and they are pretty good at following the crafty trends of the industry. Check out these super cute patterns! I totally want to try out a few versions of these in my next illustrations. Photos are a little crappy because they were from my camera phone and totally trying to be stealth in the journal section. haha!

I really love the look of these flowers and plants. So cute!

Patterns are an essential part of illustrating. You can't just have boring solid colors! You need texture. I bring in my love of crafting and sewing into the layering I do in design. It crosses over more than you would think! It's good to think in layers and texture.

And look at this design that uses texture in the bird and the little cloud!

Illustrating my future?

I've been working full time now for over 6 months. All my design muscles have been whipped into shape and I feel the confidence and attitude returning. At this level I'm coming into my prime as a designer and I can see it in the work I produce. Your skill goes up, your speed is faster and with that comes the aloof bitterness when you accept that you are essentially just polishing turds for a living.

There is so much crap you deal with as a designer. You have to be carefully choose the projects you work on. In a design job you don't have that much control over what comes to your desk. I've learned that I just have to make the most of it and power through the projects that are super boring and try to make them interesting to you. Some projects you can just go wild with and put your best design tricks to use and create something you are really proud of. Then there are the projects where the customer cuts out everything you loved out of the design and you are left with something that is boring, mundane and a torture to finish off.

You gotta power through though. Live for the projects that let you shine. Do your best every time and think about creating something you would be proud of and would be the next portfolio piece. I don't do anything half assed. I wish I could care less! I wish I could just shrug it off and create some recycled design crap that would make the customer satisfied. NO! I must strive for excellence. I guess I take too much pride in my work and I am anything but a lazy designer. Call me the over achiever in the office!

For the last 6 months I've been illustrating, designing, storyboarding and making some awesome pieces. I'm using this job as an opportunity to expand my skills in Illustration and vector work. I see a future with this illustration and character design. I've never been paid to illustrate or even allowed to do so in a project. Now I'm an illustrating machine!

A lot of people say they want a creative job but those in the industry will tell you that it's not all like the fantasy job you think it would be! It's VERY tiring work. You come home just drained of creativity. It's good to get it out but at the same time it's NOT a job you can just power through with a hangover. You have to be alert and on task. There are deadlines to meet! You have to show up and be brilliant. You have to stay on task because your time is being billed out an expensive and exact rate. That is a LOT OF PRESSURE. It's draining. I'm still trying that time when everything just starts to flow and I can relax a little at work. It still feels like I'm always behind and always running out of ideas or motivation to be brilliant.

It's worth it though. When it comes to a job I think you should be careful how you spend that time. Why not get paid to get better in something you want to excel at? Yes it's work but I am going through design bootcamp and this job will hone my skills so my illustration work is up to production speed and I would be able to design with the best of the multimedia designers. To rise up in your field and get paid the wages you dream of you gotta push yourself out of your comfort levels. So finding a job that challenges you is a great way to get ahead in life. Why not use that 40 hours a week to get ahead in your career?

I power on through this 8 hours a day of intense design bootcamp and I try to put my best into every project that comes across my desk. Always excelling beyond the expectations. Always giving them GOLD. I don't worry about job competition. I don't worry about keeping my position. I can see it now. It's the kind of person you are inside. It's your drive to achieve that guarantees success in life. If you have that fire you are not going to have a problem finding or keeping a job. If you have this passion and drive any employer is going to want you and will love you have you on their team. Match that with a good personality that gets along with everyone at the office and you can go to any job, any career, any path you want. Don't worry about what everyone else is doing. Focus on your drive. Every day refine your skills.
Never give them a half ass project.

THIS is what your job should be for you. Make it work for your career right?
Give your company awesome work, take pride in what you do and always work on getting better in your field.

You are the product you should be pushing. Why not invest in yourself?
If you are selling your time away at a full time job why not make it work for you?

Ignore Everybody

Head over to this site and read the first %25 of this book for free.

"You don’t know if your idea is any good the moment it’s created. Neither does anyone else. The most you can hope for is a strong gut feeling that it is. And trusting your feelings is not as easy as the optimists say it is. There’s a reason why feelings scare us.

And asking close friends never works quite as well as you hope, either. It’s not that they deliberately want to be unhelpful. It’s just they don’t know your world one millionth as well as you know your world, no matter how hard they try, no matter how hard you try to explain.

Plus a big idea will change you. Your friends may love you, but they don’t want you to change. If you change, then their dynamic with you also changes. They like things the way they are, that’s how they love you- the way you are, not the way you may become.

Ergo, they have no incentive to see you change. And they will be resistant to anything that catalyzes it. That’s human nature. And you would do the same, if the shoe was on the other foot.

With business colleagues it’s even worse. They’re used to dealing with you in a certain way. They’re used to having a certain level of control over the relationship. And they want whatever makes them more prosperous. Sure, they might prefer it if you prosper as well, but that’s not their top priority.

If your idea is so good that it changes your dynamic enough to where you need them less, or God forbid, THE MARKET needs them less, then they’re going to resist your idea every chance they can.

Again, that’s human nature.

GOOD IDEAS ALTER THE POWER BALANCE IN RELATIONSHIPS, THAT IS WHY GOOD IDEAS ARE ALWAYS INITIALLY RESISTED.

Good ideas come with a heavy burden. Which is why so few people have them. So few people can handle it."

So what is the message? IGNORE EVERYBODY!
I still come back to this page from time to time and re-read the awesome advice from this book. Isn't it crazy how much you have to remind yourself of all these principles? It's a constant fight against yourself in your own mind. There is so much push to CONFORM, CONFORM. It's so difficult to rise out of that and try to do something different than everyone else.

Just ignore them. That's what I have learned to do as well. Listen to yourself. Do it for yourself! In the end it doesn't matter what they think and who cares if they don't understand. Also you should know that this resistance is what you are going to face and sometimes on a daily basis. It's just part of breaking away from the sheep!

How To Follow Through

RAISE YOUR STANDARDS!

The only real competition is my own mind. Always trying to do better the next time around because you KNOW you can do better. No matter what kind of project I'm doing and even if it's busy work. I will put MY BEST into it and I will use that opportunity to learn and build experience.

What kind of life do you want to live?

What are your rituals?

American Express Supports Small Business

Hey I know this is a commercial but the idea is really big and the message is inspiring. I thought I would share! 

Failure is the Fertilizer for Success

Something I need to be reminded of is that failures are part of success. They go hand in hand. It's hard to stomach though because when you are trying hard to reach your goals you start to find more and more failures will come your way. You deal with more problems than the average person. You start to wonder "Why is my life so hard?" and "Why does this have to be so damn difficult?". It's because you are trying to be something bigger than you are. This pain is part of growth. You learn through your mistakes. Those with success didn't just have it handed to them. They EARNED IT. You will earn it too every time you pick yourself up and try again. It's that spark in you that won't give up. It's that spark that will guarantee success because eventually you WILL SUCCEED. It's the one that doesn't give up that gets what they want. It's when you keep on going when everyone else has wussed out.

Don't worry about your competition. Don't worry about what everyone else is doing. Keep your eyes on your goal and learn through your failures. This is where you learn to be humble. This is when you learn that you are forever a student of life and you will always have something else to learn. You NEVER stop learning and growing.

Denis Waitley is one of the great motivational speakers. This little interview is full of motivational GOLD.



"Problems are a normal part of change and because we are changing we are going to be dealing with a lot of problems. "

"Turn that stumbling block into a stepping stone."

Fertilize your life with your mistakes!

Pantone Chip Magnets!

For all the design geeks out there. Doesn't this just make you squirm with the cuteness? I wish I had saved some of my old pantone chips from previous jobs. There are so many old versions around that you can probably scavange if you look hard enough. 

Tutorial here via How About Orange 

Then someone took it to the next level and made tiny polaroid magnets! Using the same technique and DIY skills. This is a great idea for a Christmas gift or birthday present. Maybe even a super cute anniversary gift to a significant other?

 Tutorial here - via Ambrosia Girl

Entrepreneurs can change the world

Do what you love.. no excuses!

I love Gary. I met him in person when he was doing his book signing at Powell's bookstore in Portland a couple of years ago. I then finally got an audio copy of his book (Crush It!) and have listened to it multiple times. He's so PUMPED! There really are no excuses. I have to listen to this advice right now too. I come home so tired but I gotta remember the bigger picture and try to slide in a few hours every day to work towards that goal. There is no other way! Just lots of hard work and late nights..

Let's Raise Kids to be Entrepreneurs!!

For The Love Of Art - Truck Show and Craft Sale!

Hey everyone. Check out this show I'll be participating in. It's the first of the year and I'm bringing my inventory of hats that you will have access to ONLY on this day. This is before my fashion show and a good time to pick up some deals. Come on by and support local artists! We really need the help right now. Business is slow in January and we need the sales and mostly we just need the support. It's hard working at home in the winter and the off season. I've been stuck inside for hours and hours just sewing and working. It would REALLY help me to see some shiney happy faces. Come by and remind us why we work so hard!

 

FOR THE LOVE OF ART
A Post-Holiday, Pre-Valentine's Trunk Show & Craft Sale!\
Facebook event page click here. 

Come in from the cold and shop for amazing art & fabulous gifts, while enjoying hot drinks & tasty treats in a unique gallery setting.

This is a truly amazing group of artists who LOVE what they do, and want to share their work with the world. And I want to share it with YOU.

Vendors include:
* Faith Hats - Hand Made in Portland Oregon from 100% recycled materials
* Appetite - Hand-printed/handmade goods
* Vince & Sabrina -
* Bonus Pants - Underwear with a Sense of Humor
* Jasmin Star - Fine Art Originals & Reproductions
* Eden Kitty
* Brent Wear
* Lolly-Tots - Handmade Funky Hats and Accessories
* Tease Recyclewear - One-of-a-kind, eco-friendly fashions
* Littleput Books
* Uniko Jewelry
* And more...!

ONE DAY ONLY! Join us on Saturday, January 29th from 11 AM - 6 PM.

Hosted by The Egg Art Collective & Launch Pad Gallery