Quick intro: I consider myself a weekend artist. The only art "training" I've had is by osmosis growing up because my grandmother is an artist, and I did take some theatrical costuming classes in college. I focus mainly on costumes, but I do whatever comes to mind.
Last year because my 2008 costume fell far short of my vision. I couldn't find any fabric that spoke to me, so I wasted a lot of time hunting for fabrics that I might have been able to make/dye/paint. That took time away from design, construction, and embelishment. The end product, while prize-winning by itself, disappointed me. I joined the Austin Fiber Artists group the next month in hopes of learning techniques to make my own fabric. Even if I don't make my own fabric for 2009's costume, I feel I could get help from our members when I need "that perfect fabric."
