It happens every couple of nights, where I start thinking about what I want to do next: feverishly planning a project from start to finish in my brain, hoping equally for sleep or the morning to come. When I finally do get up, though, these ideas seem to end up in random places, the notes jotted down in whichever sketch book, calendar, or paper-like object is closest to hand, and I either do them or forget about them.
Clearly, I need a better system of organizing these. People have suggested I use Pinterest, and I do for inspirational things, it isn’t the same as keeping my start-to-finish-totally-mine ideas. My admiration for people with beautifully curated spaces, who make artistic and pretty journals that are totally instagram- and pinterest-worthy, is high, but that isn’t really me. When it comes down to it, I fall on the practical get-er-done side of the scale.
What do you mean, “peel off the sticker”?
Right now, I’m trying this index card filing system. It is far from perfect, but at the least, it is a singe place where I can write things down and maybe possibly find them again, right? The cons are that, if I do have inspirational things to go with them, there isn’t room to stick them in, too. I am thinking that using a variation of the Getting Things Done system could be really good.
So I’m curious: do you have a functional system? Care to share? I feel like I’m losing my ideas because I don’t have one in place.
I take my middle of the night, fully thought out plan and draft it out in EQ7 (or other software of your choice). Each project gets a name and I’m able to do it in different color ways….etc. Helped me tremendously. I’ve created at least one design a day since November 1st. SO helpful!
I keep “idea” folders on my computer. They contain photos, photos of sketches, EQ7 images, etc. I have files for machine quilting ideas, color ideas, piecing ideas, and a few others. I keep one folder of “ideas” that is great to flip through when I really need a creative boost.
I am surprised you don’t have a physical folder for these, Debby! I was thinking for sure you’d have swatches and whatnot with your notes.