This ‘story’ is a follow up to ‘Good Grief‘ (read here) and ‘The Why‘ (read here). Just simply working thru thoughts of a new path in the biz and life.
…most folks, especially locals, thought of me as a Painting Teacher….but teaching really was just a by-product of what my ‘job‘ really was…..the ‘base’ of my ‘job‘ was Designing for the Decorative Arts. Creating my own designs (sketches and drawings) then each design was made into a ‘pattern’ (instructional packet) for other folks to create the design, whether in acrylics, colored pencil or a mix of both mediums. The remaining part of my ‘job‘ (business) was then built around these designs and my passion for all things Creative in Art & Home….from cooking, to photography, to gift giving, to creating vignettes ~ All shared thru ‘pattern and book sales’, magazine articles, teaching local and on-line, colabs with wood craftsman, paint companies, brush companies, zoomers and wholesalers (like our Classic Cling Rubber Stamps, found here!) and of course then blogging.
….seeing our published book in Hobby Lobby was just the icing on the cake!
Designing led me down so many avenues ~ such as working with other designers to create products onto wood, tin, paper journals and more, along with a booth at a Decorative Art Convention and co-author’d books.
I sold the ‘idea’ ~ then ‘their’ products supported the idea. And then the path led to sharing ideas and concepts on the ‘blog’ of how to use the products ….and in magazines too! It was a beautiful cycle.
One idea just simply led to another and over the years ‘my own style‘ developed into ‘my own brand‘ ~ making Classic Amy Joanne Designs recognizable to those in ‘our‘ creative world.
I know for sure I will always ‘Design’, it is who I am and where my passion is ~ and for now I am simply just enjoying creativity for what it is, all while working thru the ‘how-to-share’ part of it all.
Previous design patterns can be found (here) ~ and on-line zoom class recordings including our Keepsake Journal Designs can be found (here).
Below is an example of how one design led to several ideas
~ the design below, ‘Sweet Pantry Giftbox‘ was created inside of our ‘Creative Christmas Keepsake Journal’ (read about here), then this same design was created onto a bentwood box with a unique ‘punched tin’ interior ~ each paper part from the journal can then be used for gift tags and more! (Find this design here). Read about it (here).
Below is another example of taking one design and creating several products ~ such as ‘The Cookie Keeper Baby Bundt Box’ (designed with a local wood craftsman), A ‘Gather Round’ for Cookies (or ornament) (designed and created with Sheila Landry), ~ then even creating a candle using the design as a label to coordinate with the scent ~ all coordinated with wrappings too! Read about Cookie Keeper (here) (each element within the design can be found thru our many patterns, here).
One design created with many purposes, many surfaces and products too. Then each is photographed, created into an instructional pattern, merchandised and marketed ~ then sold thru this website, magazine articles, books, and classes, then blogged about.
Most designs have inspired recipes, table settings, home decor, candles, wrappings and gift giving.
We’ve also had ‘collections’ such as our ‘Creative Keepsake Journals‘, the Recipe Card Project, Little Makers, Classic Chalk Art, Classic Clubs and Creative Wreaths….among others.
Designing may not be my ‘job‘ any longer, but it is still my passion, it is what ‘Classic Amy Joanne‘ is built on. Designing and Creating for all things Art & Home.
Follow along right here on this Blog in this Website ~ creatively yours for over 12 years!
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