The social distancing due to the coronavirus has been very stressful, and scary. For someone who suffers from anxiety, this has triggered me beyond belief. To keep myself busy, I’ve been spending time drawing, and being creative in between work projects, and spending time with my family.

Designing shoes will always be my first love, and over the years I created stylized drawings of my shoe designs for fun. In 2009, I came up with the idea of creating shoe holiday cards to send out to my clients. This fun endeavor turned into clients requesting illustration work for lookbooks, and marketing collateral for trade shows.

A few weeks ago, I was doing a little inspiration shopping over in Highland Park. I walked over to one of my favorite shops Owl Bureau to pick up a few magazines.

Many designers, clients, and potential clients ask me what my process is, and how I get inspired. I’ve learned the craft of designing shoes by having a thirst to learn from others, working with many brands, and types of footwear, and knowing what feeds my creative soul.starting to sketch. How do you know what you’re going to do? For me it requires a little more planning, and strategy.

Just a little creative fun! I never know what I’m going to come up with when I put pen to paper.

For almost two years, I’ve been teaching a footwear design class every quarter at FIDM. Due to my freelance work, I am only able to teach one class a quarter. The classes I teach are design and development footwear classes, and technical footwear design.

It’s amazing how fast this year has flown. In just 10 days we will be at 2020.

Since 2009, I have done a holiday card. Last 2018 was the only year I did not create a card because I was traveling way too much, and being in China and NY during the holidays did not allow the time.

Taking a moment, and being grateful is very challenging for me. I tend to want to go to the negative. I am working thru it, and making time in my brain to just take time, and be present.

Some things I am grateful for are:

I wanted to let you know that I’m going to be starting a newsletter. It will be all footwear and accessory design related, trends, brands, colors, inspiration, and will evolve.

I love this time of year. Feeling the holiday vibes strong this year. Maybe because I’m not going to NY, and China.  It feels so good!

Around the close of a year, I start to reflect on my year. It mainly consists of me being hard on myself, on what I didn’t do.

Five years ago, I was hired as a design consultant for a company that licensed different brands. Working as a freelance designer, I never imagined I would work with one company for so long. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had other long-term contracts with several companies over the years, but I’m never thinking I am going to stay for years.