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Beginnings

April 22, 2012

Starting a new blog is tricky. At least, it has been for me. This is not my first rodeo, blogging-wise. I used to blog about art and design. Now, as I begin a new chapter of my life as an artist (under a new business name!), I want to start fresh. A new beginning.

Cotton & Flax pillows - S/S 2012

The pressure of the first post is immense. I want to start off my new blog with a bang, to proudly announce “Hello, I’m here, take notice!” But what could possibly be good enough for that first post? I kept thinking of new ideas: “What about a tour of my workspace?” “I know! I’ll post my full range of new work!” “Oh, even better, I’ll start with a tutorial!” Every idea felt more exciting than the last, but somehow it just wasn’t happening.

Cotton & Flax - Behind the scenes taking photos

So this is what I’ll share with you today. It’s a bit of a “behind the scenes” of my week. I’ve been trying to take better photos of my work: the textiles, the prints, the collages. I want to make them feel more tangible and show how they fit into a home. Documenting my work takes a lot more time than I ever seem to plan for. The perfectionist side of me will take 50 photos of the same pillow, each time changing the angle, the props, the lighting. It’s easy to get pulled into the most minute detail when you are looking through a camera lens.

Cotton & Flax pillows and Morgan the Beagle

But that perfected product photography isn’t really what I want to focus on for this blog. I want to share my new projects, of course, but I also want to share what my life as an artist and maker is like. I want to document the process behind what I create, and share the things that inspire me, because that is so much more interesting than those product photos. You’d never guess that below that stack of pillows, the first photo in this post, my friend’s adorable beagle was just out of the frame. These are the things I want to share. I hope you’ll enjoy.

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Filed Under: Behind the Scenes

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sara/matchboxkitchen (@MatchboxKitchen)

    May 1, 2012 at 11:47 pm

    Hooray for blogging!

  2. Shana

    July 31, 2012 at 8:54 am

    Lovely blog Erin! I just read all the posts. Very inspirational :]

  3. Sandra Hill (@SandaraHill)

    September 4, 2012 at 7:04 am

    Hello Erin,
    I recently came across your blog (via pinterest) and love it! I have very similar passions to you – I love printmaking, hand printed textiles and linen! Your posts are so interesting and inspirational and I can really relate to them! Well done.
    Sandra Hill

    • erin dollar

      September 7, 2012 at 12:03 am

      Thanks so much, Sandra!

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A textile designer’s journal

Welcome! I'm Erin Dollar, the textile designer behind Cotton & Flax. I create patterned home decor that's rooted in creative exploration.

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