I have mentioned before in my ramblings how most people would consider my method of designing patterns completely crazy and, I admit, if I wasn't talking about myself, I would most certainly think the designer was crazy, too! I learned to make bears from a man who was an engineer by trade - very precise and mathematical, measuring everything with a caliper. I am grateful to him for teaching me his ways. but my hands and mind are not very precise OR mathematical, so this is how I design my patterns. I receive a cardstock ad/coupon for TGI Friday's in the mail today. Being a vegetarian, this coupon has no value to me, so what do I do? The coupon is a perfect paper weight and size to get to work. I stand at the kitchen counter, hold the coupon in my left hand and start cutting with my right. There are no measuring tools, no guides, no pencils, nothing but my scissors and coupon. I end up with the pattern for my next bear. It takes me approximately 5 minutes from start to finish. I'll need to tweak it as I work but this is how I design. So, now you know, any time this crazy vegetarian pattern lady receives a nice cardstock coupon in the mail for anything related to meat, a new bear will be designed!
* Smiles * Hugs, Janice
Here's a picture of the finished bear made from my TGI Friday's Coupon! I had to tweak the head gusset (I always cut them too long because if you cut it too short, it's impossible to add fabric!) the legs were tweaked, as well ...
Ava has been adopted and will be moving to Australia very soon! Hugs & Blessings, Janice
* Smiles * Hugs, Janice
Ha ha you made me laugh Janice. I bet the bear turns out wonderfully well with just your scissors for designing.
ReplyDeleteHugs
So happy I made you laugh, Kay! Thank you for saying you think the bear will turn out well. I have her all cut out. I plan to sew her tomorrow ;o) xxxx
Delete:) Wonderful recycling!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Conni
:o) Thank you, Conni!!!
DeleteWere your early instructors the Ashburners? They are the only people I know of that measure and use calipers...I like to freehand draw mine, but you are very brave to just pick up the scissors and go at it! It works of course; your bears are precious!~
ReplyDeleteTami, the instructor was a man named Don and I believe his last name was Vlach. He owned a store called "Bear Makins" in Phoenix. He was also the creator of the pin eyes called "True Eyes". I do freehand draw if the design is something more complicated than what I am working on here! Thank you for the compliment on my bears! xxxx
DeleteI guess that is the difference between and engineer and and artist Janice. An artist has and eye to do it freehand, where an engineer does not. What you can do is a gift, I could never imagine doing it without at least a pencil.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Joanne. I do use a pencil on the more complicated designs! I think I would need more than a pencil to attempt one of your designs! xxxx
DeleteHmm, over here TGI's sells veggie food lol
ReplyDeleteThey do have a few veggie choices, Katy, but the coupon was for meat entrees! xxxx
Deletewow, that means your scissor is already your pencil, i still remember the traditional folk art form, Paper-cutting. I am not quite a logical person, drafting pattern still rely on pen, but only i can do changing the size by eyes :)
ReplyDeletewell done for the new TGI!
Isn't Paper Cutting wonderful, Susana! I wish I was that handy with the scissors! Thank you for the compliment on the pattern results ;o) xxxx
Deletelol thats how I make my patterns to, I think they are much more cooler when they have a print on them ;)
ReplyDeleteyour work is lovely, you are very talented
Brooke x
Good to know I'm not the only crazy lady out there! Thank you so much for the compliment, Brooke ;o)
DeleteLove your little bear... And she must be a vegetarian little gal. LoL
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Esther! I think she was a vegetarian, too! LOL!
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