Does the change of seasons make you giddy? For us, it's not just the change of temperatures (which in Texas basically means 98 down to 56; from tank tops to sweater sets and combat boots) but also changes in the skies, the quality of the light, and even the songs of the birds in the yard.
Small business makers are already elbow deep in preparations for fall shows, followed by winter and holiday shows...and quickly into Valentines and Mother's Days.
Some folks will spend a lot of time thinking about trends, while others not as much. Even when an artist has created a recognizable style, sometimes they struggle to find inspiration or just want to augment their current line with something different, new, and fun. Some are even up for a bit of a design challenge!
That's where trends can come into the picture and provide inspiration and a helpful jumping off point. We’ve been seeing and hearing a lot about the following and think they’re trending up this fall season.
Jewel Tones - are back. Did they ever go away? All the possibilities for fall; neutrals, earth tones, or tonal black and whites, I am very glad to know that rich blues, deep greens, and ruby reds are back on the radar for the coming few months.
Dried Florals - trending in many directions, from the obvious (use in wreaths, bouquets) to jewelry and accessories (dried inside of resin). Grasses are hotter than flowers at the moment. Think of the giant 1970's pampas grasses in a vase that your cool friend's mom might have had.
Especially trendy are natural branches - they last a long time, have a super organic and chaotic/ casual vibe and are readily available. (note: Please try to cull from branches that are already abundant and ask before helping yourself to neighbor's trees or shrubs)
Metal leaves - oak, maple and olive leaves cut out from thin guage copper or brass, affixed to wreaths and swags using thin craft wire. Long lasting and not hard to make.
Simple wood, ceramic, or concrete cast bases with straight-sided glass tube or small vase to hold bundles of dried flowers, grasses, weeds, or herbs
Needle felting - on canvas and off. How frankly magical is creating tiny creatures with wool roving and a sharp needle?
Machine tufting - Graphic designers who have been craving a way to make their canvases come to life as rugs, throws, and pillow covers - take note! Classes have been popping up all over; most recently as a workshop at the Creative Arts Center in East Dallas.
Upholstery - A very good thing to know about, but a bit hard to learn at home. If you can find a class offered at a community college or Makers Space, there's a good chance you can save thousands in recovering and even re-selling lovely old furniture that gets tossed out on the curb regularly. Some interior designers offer this at their own spaces too.
Pottery - This trend has gotten so strong that there has been an uptick in studios and places to learn, make and grow your abilities. Classes can be found every day of the week at the Creative Arts Center, the Craft Guild of Dallas, Blue Goat Studios, and at FCS Clayworks in Garland. Plus most junior colleges also offer a wide array of courses.
Handmade Face Mug by Ahaus Pottery
Macrame - In a field full of fiber-related trends, this one is a fairly specialized skill set. There are some great books out there to teach this craft but know you’ll need some patience.
Paper Flowers - Hello, 1974! Anyone remember making these in the Girl Scouts?. There are so many different ways to make paper flowers and so many applications for them. If you're building an ofrenda for Dia de los Muertos, you'll want to get your hands on the stretchy kind of crepe paper that you'll recall from school bulletin boards and order it in various shades of yellow and orange to recreate the marigolds, a flower with connections to death.
Photo Credit and Tutorial by jamonkey.com