Where do the ideas come from?

So, many wonder where a designer gets ideas.  Like all good designers, I keep an inspiration scrapbook.  Sometimes things pop into your head that maybe you haven't seen before, but usually, you see something somewhere and it starts your imagination; a great trim on a shirt or shoe, a beautiful suit or coat, a color comination on an upholstered piece, or the print on a great textile.  The list could go on and on.  Some of my designs were daydreams of handbags, some just popped in my head, and some were inspired by the gorgeous work of other great designers like Chanel, Liz Claiborne, Diane von Furstenburg, and many others.  Here are some great finds that helped shape Third Willow Handbags for Fall 2009 and Holiday 2009.

The two pictures below are from Vogue September 2009.  The pictures show Chanel's fall line and when I saw the runway show last spring, I fell in love with the sleeve cuff treatments.  The tight wrap with flowing fabrics on either side of the cuff inspired the Maxine Clutch below as did the image of the woman  in the purple dress from Glamour July 2009 below. 

Red and Gray are hot, hot, hot, this fall.  The picture below, speaking of gray and red, is from Marie Claire September 2009 and inspired both the Maxine above and the two red bags to follow, the Delores Clutch and the Imogene Clutch!

The bags above were also inspired by this image from Real Simple September 2009 below.

MMMMM, sequins!

These bags were also inspired by sequins, the Delores and the Clara!

The image of the woman with the bow on her skirt is from Marie Claire September 2009, while the image of the ruffles (which are a Third Willow mainstay) is from Real Simple September 2009.  Both of these images inspired the Jeannette Laptop Handbag that follows.

The images below also inspired the Jeannette Laptop Handbag, especially in the great fall wool plaids!  The image on the left from Liz Claiborne is forever plaid and is from Lucky September 2009.  The image on the right is from Real Simple September 2009 and is so yummy!

So, as you can see, inspiration can come from anywhere at any time.  Look at magazines, watch fashion shows ( my favorite is Project Runway ), sketch, draw, take pictures, and never stop collecting those images that speak to you!

Designer, Out!

Bill

Symposium at The Minnesota Textile Center in 2010

Check out this link from The Textile Center of Minnesota!  I love them, I do, and have been freaking about the great news to follow!  All I can say is HOLY CRAP!

http://www.textilecentermn.org/shibori/Shibori08Color.pdf

I have been asked to speak at a Symposium for Wearable Art at the Minnesota Textile Center in June of 2010.  The link above shows info and presentations from a previous year's Symposium.  This years will be a collection of workshops and lectures on all things to do with wearable art and fashion!  It should be amazing!

Third Willow has been recognized and I have been asked to speak about Social Networking and Marketing to promote small businesses and artists.  What a great honor, and frankly enough to make me a bit nervous for a presentation I have to give in one year.  Thank God I have time to keep working and practicing on all my networking outlets.  Now it is really time to master all these sites.  I already facebook, twitter, ning, blog, etsy, and flickr, but what else should I try.  There are so many ways to get your name and business out there.  I need to keep trying them all and see what comes up.  Anyone else have any ideas?  The more the merrier, and any help would be great.  I cannot imagine giving a 2 hour presentation to 30-50 people, but here I am, preparing for one year to do so.  YIKES!

And ya'll have to come if you live in Minnesota.  This should be a great networking and informational symposium for all artisans and etsians!

Designer, Out!
Bill

The Interior Designer On Television

The link below is me.  An interior designer "moonlighting" as an HGTV wannabe star.  Why won't they call me?  I really think I should have my own show by now.  I must have too much talent for one design network!

http://twincitieslive.com/article/stories/s1068733.shtml?cat=10698

Seriously though, my day job is that of an interior designer at a large furniture retailer.  My job can be really fun sometimes, but sometimes can be a lot of paperwork and planning and training.  One of the best perks of my job and sometimes the scariest is being on tv.  We do a three minute segment on a local television show called "Room for Improvement".  It is basically like an HGTV show where we find a room in someones home that needs to be redone and we do it for $250!  Thats right folks, I said $250.  Let's just say this ain't easy!  Then of course, I have to do it on camera and see it aired in my city.....arghhh, nervewracking!

Now, I always thought I would be a natural on tv.  Funny, witty, charming, interesting, perhaps get a tv gig out of this on HGTV.  Yeah, I was really hoping and perhaps a bit disallusioned.  For alas, it was not the case.  Lets just say, I have a face for radio and tend to look a little lost on television.  But, damn it sure is fun!  Check out one of my episodes above!  I will post the rest as they are filmed.

Designer Out,
Bill

The Amelia Handbag

100_1001_0200_edited-1 copy
Originally uploaded by thirdwillow

This delicious little handbag is in gray houndstooth and lined in black satin.  The large classic flower accenting the flap is so retro, but modern and simple at the same time!  This great little bag is only $75!  Get yours today at http://www.thirdwillow.etsy.com/

 

Inglourius Basterds by Quentin Tarantino

Just saw Inglourius Basterds with Brad Pitt directed by Quentin Tarantino.  What a great film!  Graphic, true, but what a great take on the Nazi "intrusion" on war-torn France in 1941.  The whole movie, I kept waiting for the jig to be up, but it never really was, not completely.  Granted, (spolier alert) almost every character in every scene dies, but WOW! I loved it.  And, it got my mind off of designing handbags for almost two straight hours, and that is a feat!    Check out this site all about the movie and all the specifics!  Go see this movie!         http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361748/

The reason behind the blog and the frustration surrounding!

http://www.thirdwillow.etsy.com/

Yup, that is my website where I make and sell custom designed handbags.  That is the website that started all this.  That is the website that has forced me to twitter, facebook, blog, flickr, and pull all my remaining hair out.  Today especially.

I cannot figure out to link photos and it makes me want to scream.  Whew, now I will try again!

First Day, First Post.....

Today will be short and sweet.   No need for fanfare and parades.  Finally, the blog will be up and running and perhaps, just maybe, one or two random people will wander on and read.  Now to the vow to myself that I will do this and do it right.  Cheers!