So It was yesterday, and I had felt like the day had escaped me, so much to do and how much did I actually accomplish on my forward-thinking list?

I was getting restless, frustrated. I needed to be walked (as my boyfriend puts it). So off I went, feeling very much like I needed to check something off my “if you die tomorrow, would you be happy with how you lived your day today” list.

A month or so ago, a confidant of mine and the assistant chair of Fashion Design Department at FIT recommended this Japanese bookstore Kinokuniya near Bryant Park for extreme pattern making books, and a month full of days unvisited had gone by. Time to check it out.

You know that feeling you get when your heart starts to pound, your eyes open wide, your chest expands, gasp, ahhhhhhh, and you hear an “ok I LOVE THIS!” sound come from your head. Yeah, that happened.

I was surrounded by hard to find fashion magazines, books, photography and more all in a cryptic language that I could not make out. Alas, downstairs I asked where the pattern books were and was lead to a display table filled with books of awe inspiring shapes and sculptures made out of fabric. Pages and pages of couture waiting to be sewn and, spending over 40 minutes reading one book, decided that this was WAY over my head, since I have no experience in pattern making myself or incredibly minimal (since I have my own pattern makers – and since I graduated FIT with a Bachelors Degree in Fashion Merchandising Management.), AND since I surely and CERTAINLY cannot read Japanese, or Korean, or which ever gorgeously enchanting language it was that filled these books. So, mental note “Em, baby steps.”, and on I pranced – or really only looked up and glanced to the next book display, to discover the rest of the store.

The CRAFT section. I came across this by what I would describe as the “flow” of life. Putting the pattern book down, looking up and slightly 45 degrees to my immediate right my eyes caught upon more books. Gorgeous colors, covers and in two steps I was transformed into wonder to find books and books of more patterns, “Sophisticated dresses”, “Easy Dresses”, “Every Day Dresses”. I continued on, touching every other book and skimming every third (not literally but it seemed like it because I wanted to read them all!) Next was “Fake Treats”, “Desserts out of Felt”, books on sewing little tiny fruit tortes, cupcakes, pies, animals. Books on making clay fruit tortes, pies, strawberries, macaroons, meringues, how to hang them on necklaces and make a charm bracelet of of them. Who on earth had the time to do this, but if that was someones job, I would LOVE to try that for a day, or a really long vacation when I have NOTHING else to do, or when I have kids some day. They were soooo beautiful! (Since I was not technically “allowed” to take photos – this is all I could sneak).

Ok I am digressing a bit, but so many types of craft books, I wanted to buy everything. Knowing I would probably never actually take this hobby of crafting small desserts up in the near future, I put them down. Next came jewelry making books – those I fully intend to add to my repertoire with in the year or so, but not yet – so I continued. A wall of mini good-fortune kitties, love those, have one. Fans, incense, a wall of crafting paper, rice paper and more.

Finally the origami section. Never thought too much about Origami since I was young, but the bright colors and gorgeous papers were enchanting me. I skimmed through, I walked to the next isle. I came back. I skimmed through again. I walked away. Some voice inside me was telling me to go back there and pick up what I was attracted to. This origami was NOT for beginners, yet I was a beginner. Then it struck me. If I can master this, I can get ahead start on my draping class and bring to it fresh ideas, I can start my progress towards mastering the architecture of creating 3D form.

You may think this is not a big deal, however – for a Fashion Designer who has a million ideas in her head – this is HUGE. It grants me an additional approach that I may layer to my garments, something origami inspired, something that seemed impossible. A rare approach to form and adding to it nods from other designers who have incorporated its theme in the past.

So. Yes- I know its a mouth/ear/keyboard full, but this is the speed at which I am excitedly thinking and engaging in something I call “actualizing your purpose”.

Taking back to my office my bounty of glory, I decided to get straight to work.

The first lesson was a single rose, and here, the following are images from my progress. It was extremely complicated and I am rather proud of myself.

Hope you enjoy and even if this is not your passion, I encourage you to “take your self for a walk” and go find what makes up the architecture of your passion.

Hope that inspires you.
xoxox
Emily