A lot of times I have an idea for a shirt design and I just can't get it out of my head. It's stuck there. Sometimes I try to draw it. Sometimes I just make a note- any details I can see, and I walk away. It can be incredibly frustrating to walk away- but the alternative is more frustration when the sketch doesn't look anything like the ghost in my mind. I keep a running list in my phone of ideas- some come to me in flashes and some simmer for a while before I can put a name to them. I've been spending some time lately reaching back into my list to see if any of these stuck ideas are ready to peel away. I'm excited to say a couple of them have made it to a sketch board in my iPad. I'm really excited to see them come to life- and even more excited to show them to you when they do. In the meantime I'll share with you a couple ideas that have recently made the journey from thought to product.
This design, "Less wondering, More wandering" came to me while I was on a run in one of the more scenic parts of town. I was thinking about how therapeutic activity or just being outdoors can be. I had been having a rough couple of weeks, and these runs were giving me new life. I knew I needed to do more of it. So when running from my problems, this design came to be.
It's already a sticker and shirt. (hats are in the works) It's a mix of mountains and waves designed to be whichever you want to see. (like a Rorschach test). It's the only sticker I've ever put on my computer- because it's just the perfect reminder for me to focus on my mental and physical well being. Need a little reminder? Grab one for yourself below.
I think another thing it's hard to remember as a creator is that not every idea has to be great. Sometimes the idea just doesn't work. That's ok. It's not failure, it's an important part of the process. Ideas also don't need to be grand. I had this simple idea in my head for a while with the intention of using it for fundraising. The idea of supporting local causes inspired this one. As a coastal community, the beach and all things water carry a lot of weight around here. This was a simple quick sketch that's turned into a decal and a shirt as well.
This one is the only sticker on my car. You can also grab it as a t-shirt or tank top on the site. (linked below).
I hope that if you find yourself feeling stuck today that you can get out of your head. Go for a walk, jot some ideas down, read, put your feet in the grass. Do something to shake it up, and if it doesn't work- give yourself permission to walk away for a bit. The idea will still be there when you come back to it.
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