Last night I finished up my new version of Bubble Whirl–even worked the ends in, so although I also started a hat in the same yarn, I’m thinking about starting a second project just for myself. I will be doing this project from Dreaming of Shetland. I am dying to try out Betty‘s sock construction, but I don’t make socks, so these slippers seemed like a really great way to do that. I treated myself to some Vice Yarn and scrounged the Elemental Affects yarn from my stash. It is all ready to go.
Yesterday was the start of my teaching break between winter and spring quarters at FIDM. I am always as happy for the release from school as my students! The school finally got electronic grade submission. I was going to say electronic grading, but that is a distant dream. (Imagine if you could show work to a computer and it did the grading!–that would be electronic grading). I graded 15 portfolios, and lead 15 final presentations of work, plus graded 15 projects for another class and sat through group presentations. I’m very fortunate that the final presentations of portfolio work is meaningful enough that students do a great job. I still love seeing them all dressed up and presenting themselves as fledgling Product Development professionals. I guess that is why I teach.
I had a really interesting group of portfolio students this quarter. Some were really thinking in “out of the box” ways while others were just passionate about fashion. It made it fun every week to come class to see what was going on with them. I am very hopeful about what they might bring to the fashion world. So if any of you are reading this, after you enjoy being done, remember it is all time management. Sit down and formulate a plan to make the corrections and adjustments, contact the career center, and start your careers!
Next quarter I am going to team teach the portfolio class. One of my teaching colleagues, who is an artist/visual presentation professional, will join me to help students work on their visual presentation. We tackle a lot in 10 weeks, and I’m always jammed for time, so Roy graciously helps them outside of class, so we’re bringing him in. I am very hopeful it will give me time to focus on the fashion side that gets neglected in the push to create the work.
And therein lies the crux of the challenge for all of us doing creative work these days. How much can you follow your bliss, and how much do you have to create a product that is salable? We won’t even talk about how difficult it is to be seen in a world that focuses for three seconds at a time and constantly has an eye out for something newer, shinier, prettier. I try to create knitted garments that the knitter will love when they finish knitting it–and am mindful that that is not always a straight line, quick process, so the underlying design should be compelling, but not a flash in the pan. 
Well, sometimes it is a flash!
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