Step 2. Fantasy versus Reality or Will it really work?

For me Step 2 is where it often gets ugly. This is the most dangerous point if you are a project at my place, the point at which you are statistically most likely to be abandoned*

This is where I have been percolating an idea in my head for some time and now need to try and bring it into reality. Often my ideas are simply not do-able due to my lack of skills, lack of materials or just because they are ridiculously impossible.

Getting it on paper.
The biggest problem I have with this step is the fact that I cannot draw. I see other people little snippets of their sketch books and things on blogs and I groan..... I know I draw badly so I have learnt to live with it. I know what I mean to draw...... but my hand and brain just don't communicate.

I tend to draw on whatever piece of paper is handy, and with whatever pen/pencil/finger dipped in blood is nearest. I have so many sticky notes with little faces and things on them it is ridiculous.

BUT for me getting it onto paper is really important. I have folders of crazy stupid bits of paper. Ideas that I have had that did or didn't work, ideas yet to see the light of day and things that will probably never even get attempted.

I draw them, write them down, annotate them, leave notes for myself about them. These folders are a great tool, and I often flick through them when I am bit lost in the crafting jungle or feeling mojo-less. I tend to think of so many things that I want to try and create that I force myself to put everything on paper......once it is on paper, I know that I can come back to it, so I can let it go and move on.

(At this point you need to know that I often draw and re-draw things a few different ways and the whole project might change. *This time I hit upon a far better idea and normally would have rushed straight into it and forgotten poor Milton ,but he is the star of this series so I have decided to keep him till he's finished.)

Materials:

Once I have a few things on paper I turn to materials. Often the project dictates the materials, does it need to be soft, is it going to be played with? Colours? textures? For Milton, I want to add a bit of detail so I have a few options.

1. Embroidery - Definitely not my forte and not quite the look I am going for. So if I am going to add the detail with fabric I need something that won't fray.

2. Fleece - Oh man I want to love fleece, I see the amazing plush creations that people
make using fleece and I really really want to use it. It is versatile and it doesn't fray
(very important for this project). So here is where I start to play.

I take the fleece that I have in the house (at this point colour and shape don't matter) and experiment with it. I sew it to itself and to some other fabrics. I try a few things like raw edge applique, blanket stitch and just a folded over and sew style. But in the end I don't love any of it.

3. Felt - The felt I have that I use for my dolly hair ,whilst gorgeous, is just not robust enough for Milton, I do have some great stuff I got from Winterwood though. I rummage through
and find a flesh coloured piece and finally feel I am on the right track.
OK. So I fiddle through the cupboards, waiting for something else to leap out at me...Eventually I end up with a mix of vinyl, denim, fabric and felt.

I then spend some time, again, sewing them to each other to make sure it will all work before I launch into the project.

Am I always this anal? No, not really but working with things like vinyl can be tricky so I like to make sure before I......

make a quick trip to spotlight (because I seem to have to buy something for every bloody project I start) and get a bit more vinyl.

I test out a few things...Can I free motion embroider on vinyl? Yep turns out I can. I probably won't for Milton but at least now I know I can if I want to.

.....anyway that's kind of like what step 2 is all about for me, just experimenting a bit and fiddling a bit before I can get down to the sewing. This step often takes me just as long as the actual construction.....who said anal?????

(That would be step 3- Actually bloody starting!)