Creativity Series: Making a Plan

Making a plan is generally my next step in the creative process. This comes before gathering materials, unless, of course, my schema has the rule, "no new materials." which I frequently do. But not frequently enough.

I think through the project from start to finish, often mapping ideas in my sketchbook and keeping a running materials list as I progress through each step. At times, this includes a budget for the materials, where to get them, when to order, etc etc.

My current project is getting the knitting needles up on etsy.com. I have listed my materials and budget, and look forward to ordering materials on Friday. The only thing not as yet decided is the type of adhesive I want to use.

The planning stage is essential for the project to go well. Yes, surprises happen and on visual art projects I often allow the actual art making process to take a life of its own. My knitting projects, however, are frequently fully planned before I pick up a pair of needles. Pattern written and all. It makes it so much easier to stitch, quicker overall, and allows for the logic of the piece to make sense so frogging is not necessary.

Speaking of frogging, the previously mentioned wingspan in knit picks yarn is in the frog pond. Now, I've started it again in some hand dyed laceweight on size 4 needles. It is going really well.

I look forward to unveiling the new knitting needle project. It will be fabulous!

Etsy Kickoff Pending

I've been researching Etsy selling this morning. I think I am going hit this blog hard about my daily creative endeavors. Or post 2x/week at the least, as a goal. I plan to list at 930am and 930 pm, at least 4 times a week. I am going to invest $100 in this, to get started, and make as many listings as possible out of those bux. My mom found a product source that is amazing, so I will be using them. I am still on the fence though about that. That source has bamboo while my other source is wood. I don't know if bamboo takes paint. I suppose I could try it. And/or try ink. I plan to work on the graphics design and planning my inventory until my items get here, but first, I need to decide how to budget my tiny investment. It bears strong looking at to spend a tiny bit on advertising. If not money, then time. Time I have, most of the time. Money I do not, most of the time :)