The Journey I Didn't See Coming

Learning new tools to bring new bag ideas to life.

I have always loved going on a journey, right from when I was a young girl. I confess, as a child, the actual journey was a bit of a blank — I’d be asleep before we got out of town and wake up as we arrived at our destination. Looking back, it must have felt a bit like time travel.

Journeys still excite me. But I’ve been reminded recently that not all journeys involve leaving the comfort of your desk.

My current one is taking me along a path I would never have foreseen 10 years ago… and honestly, not even 2 years ago.

I grew up in a time when computers were around, but we weren’t using them in schools yet. Most of what I know has been picked up from family, or taught to myself. And if I’m honest, in a work environment I used tech only for the task I needed to do — and as long as everything behaved itself, I was fine.

It’s strange to think it’s mainly through my love of crafting that my confidence with tech has grown. A connection I wouldn’t have expected years ago.

In my sewing life, I’ve learned how to translate a self-drafted paper pattern into a digital file that can be downloaded and printed. I’ve learned how to use tools like Notion and Airtable to manage my workflows. I can keep an email list ticking along, schedule social media posts, and create and edit content reasonably well.

But it turns out that was only the beginning.

Since diving into the world of 3D printing, my head is permanently full of questions — especially when the software won’t do what I want it to do. I can see the thing I’m trying to make so clearly in my design book… so how do I get the program to see what I see?

It’s been three months since I began. There have been moments when I’ve genuinely thought, I’m never going to get to grips with this. I should just give up — because I’m not going to get it right, or make it good enough.

But I’ve spent my life instilling in my children: “Yes, you can do it,” and “You can do anything you want if you put your mind to it.” Which meant giving up was never really going to be the solution. My family wouldn’t let me.

3D-Printed ‘Coral’ bag from my first collection

So here I am, three months after unboxing the printer. What have I learned? What have I achieved?

Firstly: I can make sense of this stuff. I can make it work for me. If I take the program one piece at a time, each design teaches me a new tool — and it all starts to build.

Secondly: I’m so much better at finding answers. When I hit a wall, a YouTube search and a calm, step-by-step guide can be exactly what I need. It also reassures me that I’m not the only person who has struggled.

But perhaps the best thing is this: I truly believe now that if I can imagine something and sketch it out, I’ll be able to find a way to build it digitally too. It might take time — but I will get there.

And that makes me very happy.

So I’ll keep going on this journey. I’m excited about how much there still is to learn and experience. My favourite part is that there’s no final destination, no time restriction, and no limit to what I can achieve.

And this is where it starts to connect back to Albero again. Because what I’m learning isn’t just “computer skills” for the sake of it — it’s opening up new possibilities for the bags I love to make.

What I’m most excited about is how this supports the kind of craftsmanship I care about. My 3D printed bags aren’t about replacing the handmade part — they’re about expanding what handmade can include. The same thoughtful design process, the same attention to detail… just with a new way to create the parts I’ve been imagining.

Happy making!

Suzanne