I’m back with another designer interview from Fall Quilt Market (only a couple to go now).  Today I’m talking to someone who is not just a very talented artist, but also someone I consider a great friend – Monica Lee.  Monica and I met while taking Holly Becker’s Blogging Your Way class, and she is one of those encouraging, funny, generous girls that you hang onto once you’ve found them! She always has some sage been-there-done-that advice and knows how to make me laugh, so talking to Monica is a win-win.

I want to apologize for the so-so photos from this post.  Timeless Treasures has a large, beautiful booth but the spot lights make it hard to photograph (although everything sparkles in person).  Monica shared some of her photos with me at the bottom of the post because she actually had two areas in the booth and I missed one!

Check out her answer to question #3 and be sure to go read her great blog series, The Care and Feeding of a Dream.  Great stuff!

What are you most excited to be showing off at this Quilt Market?

I feel like I am having to choose between two babies since I have two collections that came out at this Market!  One called The Neighborhood which had been hanging out in my portfolio waiting for its’ moment in the sun.  I created this entire story around what happens in a neighborhood — the play, the pets, the houses, the memory making.  I dipped into my own childhood and made a print with roller skates and jump ropes, jacks and marbles.  The second collection is actually a quilt top with my Cardigan Girls on it with all their sassy sayings.  I love that these girls are encouraging but sort of quirky at the same time.  I am really happy with the coordinates from this collection since these were all original watercolors.  I was impressed that it translated so well onto fabric.  We came up with the cutest sleeping bag pattern for young girls to whip up out of the quilt top, perfect for a first sleepover and I designed it with ties instead of a zipper!  Ez Peezy!  It will be a free pattern on the Timeless Treasures website soon.

[Photo from Monica Lee]

What keeps you inspired?

So many things keep me inspired!  I love books and magazines.  I used to travel all the time and that left a wonderful imprint on my heart and in my mind.  But if I were to choose the greatest inspiration to me it would have to be people.  I feel like I did 100 years ago in my flight attendant interview when everyone said, “I just love people!”  I actually do love people.  I can soak up other peoples’ stories all day long.  And FYI – I did NOT say that in my interview.  I told them that I thought variety was the spice of life and travel offered me quite a bit of variety… ugh!  Variety and no sleep!  Just say no to red-eye flights!

[Photo from Monica Lee]

What advice would you give to someone else who wants to pursue their own creative dream?

Get clarity of your vision, write it down (I call it road mapping), put a plan in place to make it happen!  And here is a biggie that no one talks about… prepare for the “meantime.”  As we head towards our creative dreams often we wake up without any recollection of what we are doing!  At least I know I did!  I have had days when I have let my mind wander into, “What was my dream again?  What am I headed towards?”  Or the days when you think you are the only one on the planet who is pursuing a dream.  I think we all have things, people, circumstances that can derail us and I would encourage you not to let that happen!  I have a blog series that I have been writing, The Care and Feeding of  a Dream in case you find yourself a bit stalled!  I will be your cheerleader!

What has been the biggest surprise you’ve encountered when designing fabric and patterns?

If I were to really narrow the “surprises” down it would be just how quickly people can make quilts!  I don’t remember my grandmother kicking them out so fast.  My fabrics arrive right before market, and I can’t believe how quickly they are sewn up (quick shout out to Heidi Pridemore from The Whimsical Workshop who has sewn up my goodies for this market!  Amazing!)  What I love but am not surprised by is just how nice people in this industry are!  I genuinely enjoyed every minute of this show.  I think that just goes to show that “people who make things are lovely people.”  Ohhhh, I may have to go tweet that!