Spotting Trends, Making Trends

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Lifestyles make up our trends, but lifestyles always change is subtle ways. How do you keep up with the changes? Here’s a basic list of ways to keep up to date. These basic tips are helpful to all of us in the creative world. It’s good to keep in mind that many creative people are the trend makers.

For example less than eight months ago I saw a magazine photo of an actress on a surfboard with a paddle in her hands.  I was intrigued.  I searched all over the web using keywords like surfboard paddling and paddling surfboards.  I finally found stand up paddling or SUP.  Still there was not much information.  I kept that photo on my refrigerator just to remind me I wanted to know what sport was happening! Less than a month later I saw another photo of an actor standing up on a surfboard with a paddle in his hands, but this time the location was given, Hawaii.  Now I began to find more information.

Within 3 months of these photos appearing in a celebrity magazine, there were dozens of websites, a SUP magazine, and five places in Florida where you could go take lessons.  Celebrities can help build trends (and also fads), so keep an eye on what popular celebrities are showing interest in.  Many times top design companies send celebrities free items just because they are so powerful in the public eye.  Thank you Jennifer Aniston and Matthew McConaughey for bringing a cool new sport into my life with your celebrity trend making! Another example of celebrity influence is the burst of energy knitting (a classic technique in crafting) enjoyed when Vanna White from the Wheel of Fortune joined with Lion Brand Yarns in promoting the hobby.
Spot Those Trends

So you want to be a trend spotter?  There are ways to keep up to date on what’s happening in the world of trending.

* Visit www.FaveCrafts.com and its blog often
* Read scrapbooking and craft consumer magazines
* Watch the gift market
* Read home decor magazines
* Visit a local art and craft shows for inspiration
* Observe the displays in furniture and home accessory shops
* Keep color, fabric, ribbon, lace, yarn, and other swatches handy
* Keep a notebook and pen handy for quick notes
* Find the common themes and threads of what appeals to you … these are the trends or soon to be trends
* Create an index box of ideas to develop … one idea per card.
* Sit in a mall or visit stores and people watch. Look for common bonds or common themes.
* Cut out appealing displays and designs from magazines and catalogs. Keep these clippings in a folder for when you need inspiration.
* Visit model homes in your community. Most are decorated by top interior designers who stay on top of trends in color, motif, and textures.

Hot Motifs for 2009 next Wednesday!

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