Key ingredients you need to be successful starting a new project
Have you ever had the experience where an idea has popped into your head and, as if the stars are aligned, you just start and you know exactly what to do?
But then, other times there’s no flow. You feel defeated, uninspired, frustrated and insecure about even taking that first step.
What key ingredients do you need for success when you are starting a new project?
I come from a family of makers. Sewing, knitting, woodwork, cooking, and gardening were all commonplace in our house. There were many weekends when my grandmother would come over and along with my Mum, my sister or I would start a new project.
Looking back I can see that there were four key ingredients:
Fulfilling a need
The need could have been a new dress for a special occasion, replacing clothes we had outgrown or just giving us something to do other than watch TV. Of course, the ‘need’ would have been analysed - Could you wear the same dress as last time? What about your sister’s shirt?
But in the end, it could also have been that we didn’t need the thing we were making, but rather the process of making fulfilled a need to distract us from social ailments like falling out with a friend or stress about schoolwork.
Inspiration
Like all makers, there was a fabric stash and part of the process was going through various pieces and discussing the pros and cons for the specific garment.
Sometimes inspiration came in the form of Victorian-inspired ‘leg-of-mutton sleeves’ - a trend that seems to have circled back into fashion. Or wanting to revamp (these days it's called upcycle) something we already had.
Unconditional Support
With three generations of women in the room, there was a lot of room for debate. But ultimately the act of coming together was about showing solidarity and I always felt that even though some of my ideas were not fit for purpose (like that thin, asymmetrical Issey Miyaki coat to travel during winter in Finland!), I was always supported to give it a go and commit to the process by doing it well.
Time and space to implement it
If the sewing room wasn’t stocked with threads and notions or there wasn’t the right pattern available, then the project wouldn’t even get started. Putting energy into keeping the making space viable is what helped create the potential of just starting.
Also, making an occasion of it and bringing other people together meant the project had momentum. While one person cut out, the other tacked or pinned things together.
Apply these four key ingredients to starting your next project.
So if you’re looking to start something, how do these four ingredients show up for you?
For instance, what need does your event fulfil? Is it for brand awareness, to gather support or raise funds? Have you taken time to look for inspiration or are you just doing a rinse and repeat? Do you have unconditional support around you if you want to push the boundaries and try something new? And finally, are you giving yourself the right time, space and resources to pull it off
If you need a little extra support and want to simplify the sometimes complex process of starting something, learn more about my consulting packages and say hello to discuss your project.
Endnotes:
Some brands I love that understand their customer's needs and use inspiration and support to build a community of raving fans are:
The Nest Community
nestcommunity.org.au
If you don’t have craft mentors around you but would like to start, this volunteer-led social enterprise is for you. Their tag line is ‘A welcoming space for women to connect purposefully’. Many of the women here are masters of their craft and love handing down their skills to the new generation of makers. All of their resources are donated (diverted from landfill) and they lovingly sort it to sell in their very affordable Haberdashery Thrift Shop. Check out their regular workshops.
Tessuti
tessuti-shop.com
Born out of the fashion trade, this store (online and IRL) sources high-quality designer fabrics. Drawing on their fashion heritage, they design simple, elegant patterns and show how you can make them up in their fabrics.
The Fabric Store
wearethefabricstore.com/nz/sustainability/our-workplace
Based on sustainable and ethical values, The Fabric Store has a design-driven philosophy and also produces patterns for customers to make up their fabrics as part of the #memade movement.
