I’m not really sure how to go about this or how to write about it…

I’m still a little in shock.

but I won..

Unbelievably, I won. I won a portfolio review with Elizabeth Olwen for this collection I designed in her latest Skillshare class!

We live in amazing times don’t we! YouTube, E courses! You can connect with people, instructors all over the world and learn anything. ANYTHING. It’s crazy. How did we do it before?

I’ve always loved learning, in fact I easily could become a professional student. My husband says I could have been a doctor if we added up all the time I’ve spent in school!

Last year when I was working on my first fabric collection, I checked out Elizabeth Olwen’s Pattern Design: Creating Inspiring Repeats. Lurked would probably be a better term. It was weird really, I’ve been buying fabric, looking at it, sewing with it forever but when faced with how to design a collection, I was like, huh? I loved Elizabeth’s class, it really filled in the gaps and answered the questions I had.

With The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design finishing at the end of 2015, I have to admit, I panicked a bit. I’m a girl that loves deadlines and schedules. Then early January rolled around and what popped into my inbox, but an invite to another Elizabeth Olwen class, Pattern Design II: A Creative Look at a Full Pattern Collection. Building a collection over two weeks? Hmm… I waffled, do I have time? Then I snapped myself out of it. Make time. Do it now, there will never be a perfect time.

It was a gorgeous class. The lessons were well recorded and well explained. Her information was clear and concise. Plus, uniquely she provided feed back and a Skype Q & A call. From what I understand not every class is hands on like this one. Score!

I posted my mood board from the class a few weeks back. Creating a mood board was a step I’d often brush past and one I don’t think I’ll ever skip again.

In brainstorming for the mood board I realized the story of my collections was this:

When I moved to the west coast my grandfather unexpectedly started sending me letters. Every time I received one I dropped everything and wrote him back. Being a sucker for stationary didn’t hurt, however this routine we created, it allowed me to meet my grandfather in a way I never had before. He was very romantic about the past, something we had in common. I long for my pen-pal, the ritual of putting everything on hold, slowing down, thinking of what to say, answering questions, putting pen to paper and simply writing a letter.

A far contrast to the internet, Youtube, E courses, etc (all things I love). I know I’m a conundrum.

P.S. Elizabeth was very sweet and remembered the project I did her Wildwood Collection back in 2014 (and calender) . She’s awesome like that!