Follow your passion :: Interview with Carole Poirot ::

Have you ever wondered how it would feel to give up your day job and follow your passion, and make it work. I have been thinking about it a lot (more) lately. It is a combination of lack of motivation at work and feeling that I need more than this to nurture my soul. I am wondering more and more what it would be like to do something with this crafting obsession I have (or elsewhere). To find out more I have decided to interview those who just went for it. 

This month I am talking to a talented stylist and photographer Carole Poirot who blogs at Mademoiselle Poirot. I have been following her blog for a long time, and saw her grow her blog into a real business, and I will even attend one of her workshops in London soon. And I cannot wait. I am really happy she has accepted to take part in my follow your passion series, and it is great to hear about her experience. Also, you may have noted that she has the best name ever - especially if you are as a fan of Hercule as I am.

How did you get involved in styling and photography (and food)? Did it all happen at the same time?

It’s been a very long process. I started to take photos as a teenager and have always “styled” (not that I knew at the time that this is what it was called, we called it “decorating”) room and arranged things again and again. It wasn’t until much later (and after many non-related jobs) that I was able to actually “articulate” what I really wanted to do. That’s when I started my blog and started to share photos etc. Food happened much later from fun in cooking and baking and it just took off from there.

When did you know you were ready to make the switch from 'regular work to make business out of your passion?

I was still working in my day job whilst at the same time working freelance. I wanted at least a little stability, so waited until I literally couldn’t do it all anymore, that’s when (in 2014) I made the jump into becoming a freelancer.

Have you always known you were going to be a props stylist and interiors photographer?

Deep down I think I did, but didn’t really have the courage to pursue it properly and it took me a long time to start taking what I’m doing a little more serious and pursue it in a professional manner without feeling like a total fraud.

When did you start taking bookings to style props and take pictures for clients?

Oh… I think around 4 or 5 years ago? It started with blogging assignments (for companies’ blogs) and companies asking to use some of my photos and grew into “proper” bookings from there.

What is your brand style - what sort of photography are you interested in?

I think my brand style is very much my personal style. Quite natural, mostly “de-saturated”, feminine without being overly girly, a little classic and somewhere between French and British. I hope I don’t sound totally confused.

Did you follow other photographer before finding your style?

I don’t think I’ve followed photographers as such, but I always knew when I saw a photograph that just made me go “wow”. In that sense, whatever makes me go “wow” is what I’m trying to create. Having said that, Steve McCurry is probably the one photographer I admire the most. His style, his subjects, the colours and light, he’s just an incredible talent.

What are the best locations for your style of photography?

Locations with natural light, natural elements like wood, textures like bricks or rough plaster and white, lots of white – though not the glossy kind.

How do you run the business side of Carole Poirot? Do you have external help (at this stage)?

I wish I did have external help, I’d probably be much better at answering emails and interview questions in a timely manner. But no, I don’t have any help at the moment. It’s all me and from setting appointments, prop sourcing, styling, shooting, post processing, to liaising with clients, writing blog posts, posting on social media and all that goes with it, it’s all my own doing. Apologies to anybody waiting for an email reply.

What are the challenges of running a business on your own?

Time. Always time. And the fact that I rarely get to bounce ideas around with someone else or voice all those self-doubts. I have to rely on myself for motivation and to pull myself up when I feel low and like I’m not doing a good enough job.

Do you have an aim in mind - number of clients, appearances in magazines (specific or general?), maybe a deal for a book? or just a monthly salary?

I’ve never been super goal focused, I’m (unfortunately) more of a dreamer. If I had a dream (ahem, goal) it’d be to have my work featured in Elle Decoration and work on a big campaign for the likes of H&M or House Doctor. Other than that, I’m actually pretty grateful for where I am right now as I don’t think it’s a given to start from scratch at middle age and manage to make it work. I don’t think it is, anyway.

What would your advice be to people who want to become photographer? Self-employed?

Train your eye. You can learn all the technical stuff, but training your eye to really see (does that make sense?) takes time and doesn’t come easy to everybody. Don’t call yourself a photographer because you take some shots for your blog, people won’t take you seriously (yes, it’s a conversation I’ve had with many photographers). As for self-employment? It’s not for everybody. If you need the (emotional) security of a monthly wage then you will need to be honest about it because the weeks when there’s no money coming in can be tough and emotionally draining.

What do you do to make your workplace an enriching and inspiring place to be?Well, currently (until we get the office sorted) my workplace is our dining table, so I can always look at my books on the shelves. That’s pretty much as inspiring as it currently gets.

What sort of things are inspiring your right now? Where do you typically look for inspiration?

What inspires me constantly changes. A month ago I would have said Instagram is inspiring, now I’m finding myself getting a little bored with it as so much of it is the same and not about creativity but about chasing ‘likes’ and posting pictures that will generate those rather than creative or original content. That doesn’t mean that I’m necessarily any better at posting anything more creative… Right now the changing season inspires me (sunshine in London, yes!), the fact that I got rid of most of my wardrobe has given me a new kind of outlook, having found a studio space to hold workshops inspires me to share knowledge, the prospect of a little traveling, and of course there are always books and magazines. Oh, and Pinterest.

When do you feel the most creative? How do you further your photography skills?

I generally feel the most creative when I don’t “have” to be, when I have some spare time. Not helpful when deadlines are looming! To further my photography skills, I basically keep my mind open to constant learning whether that’s from other photographers, YouTube (yes, it can be a great source!) or photography forums. I’m completely self-taught and will annoy other photographers with endless questions, though that has become less over time.
How do you know which pictures will resonate with people/with clients?

I generally have a chat with my clients beforehand to figure out what it is they’re looking for. I also ask which images from my website spoke most to them. That usually gives me a pretty good idea which pictures will resonate with them. As for “my” (i.e. blog etc.) pictures, they have to first and foremost resonate with myself, if somebody else then happens to also like them it’s a bonus. If you had the time to find creativity in some other activities, which would it be?

I’d love to paint and draw again. It’s been a long time since I had a blank canvas and some oil paints in front of me and I do miss it a little.I can see that there is a strong styling community - especially on IG now - how important is it for you?

It’s nice that this community is there, but at the end of the day it’s social media and not to be confused with face-to-face communities, friendships and people we personally know and interact with. On the other hand, I have met some fantastic people through these online communities which I would never have met otherwise, so in that sense I’m grateful for and it is important to me for the contacts outside of it. I think I’m getting into a muddle now…

FOLLOW YOUR PASSION :: INTERVIEW WITH JUSTINE OF SIMPLY SOLIDS

Hello everyone! Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you all enjoyed your weekend.

Have you ever wondered how it would feel to give up your day job and follow your passion, and make it work. A few months ago I was not about to change anything, but now, after being at work for a month, I am not sure how much it helps (except on the financial side of course). I am wondering more and more what it would be like to do something with this crafting obsession I have. To find out more I have decided to interview those who just went for it. 

This month I am talking to my friend Justine who runs Simply Solids, a fabric shop based in the UK (I made two tutorials for her, here and here). I knew she had given up her (rewarding) job to run Simply Solids, but I did not know much more. So it was time to interview her, and hear about her experience. I am going to meet her in Birmingham next week, and I cannot wait! Here is her story... 

I got involved in the quilting community a fair few years ago, I think about 7 or 8, when I first started sewing again. I was a lurker on blogs and on Flickr for months and months, just observing this great community but really feeling like I didn’t have the skills to contribute anything! Throughout this time I was just buying and buying quilting fabrics and building this huge stash!! I eventually began commenting and connecting with people and the rest is history!

I actually didn’t start Simply Solids, I bought it on an absolute whim through a spur of the moment decision during the summer of 2012. I’ve always been impulsive and the opportunity arose so I took it, back then it was an online only business and had a small turnover, I was going to run it alongside nursing part-time but it became very apparent, I’d say within 6 months of me taking the business over, that I could not run Simply Solids and nurse as well, I had a difficult decision to make. I decided to quit nursing and grow Simply Solids as I felt working for myself would be more flexible around my then 3, now 4 children. I’d never run a business before but I had the support of my family and friends, some of whom do run their own businesses and I just had a gut feeling it would work.

As a business Simply Solids has grown enormously over the last 3 years and I think our success is somewhat down to the connections we make with the sewing and quilting community. When people contact the shop via social media or email, they get a fast response, even if it’s out of shop hours. I’m active both personally and as the shop on social media and in various online groups and forums and so people in the modern quilting world tend to know me. I’ve worked hard to forge good relationships with magazines, suppliers and fabric designers themselves and this has really helped. It was one of these connections that led to me taking on Lisa as an equal partner in January 2014. Since handing over the day to day financial management and office based work to Lisa, I’ve really been able to concentrate on the marketing and PR side of things. Lisa’s impact on the business has been huge, within 6 months of her been on board we felt able to take the plunge and open our first bricks and mortar. This aspect to the business has been a huge and ongoing learning curve for the both of us. In fact it’s like running two separate businesses, the needs of our local customers are very different to those of our well established online customers and we weren’t expecting that!

I would say our best selling fabrics are still Kona Cotton Solids, people come to us specifically for them. I think that our online customers recognize us as a Quilting shop rather than a general fabric or craft shop and so tend to buy fabrics for quilting rather than any other sewing project. In terms of choosing fabric we know which designers sell well, which designers are popular so we do keep this in mind but to be honest we mainly stock what we love. Lisa and I are both passionate about colour and so that is our guide, the more, the better! When the reps come to see us we make joint decisions about what we buy and if we see things on social media we tag each other so we can remember to ask the reps for specific things.

This last few months things have had to get pretty serious on the business running front, we’ve reached various different thresholds which has meant our finances have had to become even more water tight, this has been very scary as the numbers are big but Lisa has got it under control with our accountant! This side of running the business is the most difficult as we’re constantly learning the rules and regulations of what is required of us legally etc as a business. We’ve also taken on another member of staff too to work in the shop one day per week so Lisa can get a day in the office as it were!

I’d say to anybody wanting to have a go at starting their own business to just do it! It’s really hard work for very little financial gain so you’ll need support from family if you want to do it! The incentive for me though is working near to home, flexible working hours and been able to do something I am passionate about.

When Lisa and I opened the bricks and mortar shop we really hoped that it would be a place where local people could come and hang out and be inspired by the fabrics and samples we had on display as well as the classes and tutors we brought in. We just make everyone welcome, from the little old dear across the village who makes Project Linus quilts to the young girls and boys just starting out sewing. We encourage everyone to bring their latest makes in to show us and we’re often working on our own projects in the shop so people can see us in action too!

Inspiring the shop right now is quilting, we’ve really gone back to our roots and are loving planning fabrics for quilts and teaching quilting. I am particularly inspired by English Paper Piecing as I can do it on the go, my household is so busy just now that I don’t often get the time to have the machine out but I always have my EPP on the go! I find myself at my most creative when I’m at work as it’s just such an inspiring place and our customers totally inspire me, we see such great makes!

I honestly feel that people will still make things by hand and Lisa and I are passionate about passing on our skills and bringing in the best tutors that will inspire and teach people to continue making.

If I had the time right now I would make me a handmade wardrobe that would feature fabrics by Lizzie House, Aneela Hoey and Kaufman denims!!

Simply Solids has big expansion plans over the coming months, our shop is doubling in size and we have some awesome tutors coming to teach too! We will continue to source and supply the most gorgeous fabrics for quilting and dressmaking, as well as be adding more haberdashery and trims to our repertoire.

Good luck with all these plans! Cannot wait to see how Simply Solids evolves!

Follow your passion :: Interview with Debs of Debs Ivelja Photography

Hello everyone! Hope you all enjoyed your weekend.
* you can still enter my current knitting pattern giveaway here* 

Have you ever wondered how it would feel to give up your day job and follow your passion, and make it work. A couple of months ago I was not about to change anything, but now everything has changed of course and I am not sure I can find the motivation or meaning in my previous job. I am wondering more and more what it would be like to do something with this crafting obsession I have. To find out more I have decided to interview those who just went for it. 

This month I am talking to my friend Debs the very talented behind Debs Ivelja Photography. As it happens you have already seen some of her pictures on my blog here and here.I knew she had given up her job to become a photographer a bit of time ago, but in fact did not know much more. So it was time to interview her, and hear about her experience. And yes, I already booked her for our 2016 photo shoot - it is always so much fun!

How did you get involved in (wedding) photography?

After I left college I always thought I would head off to University and study. The problem was, I didn't know what to do yet and I didn't want to end up doing a degree I never used. So I took a year off and worked abroad, came home, got a job and never actually got around to doing a degree! Later, in my early 20’s, I started to do loads of evening courses. I loved to learn new skills and I’ve always loved to create things. My Mum taught me to sew when I was very young (its amazing how many hair scrunchies you can make as a 10 year old) and I’ve always loved various forms of needlework, painting and printing. I have done a few jewellery making courses and several silversmithing over the years… I travelled around Australia and kept myself alive making and selling jewellery for a lot of it!

I love to do anything that keeps my hands busy and so I did an adult education diploma course in Photography. I was studying after work and I gained a distinction in the end. I learnt photography on film and spent a lot of time in the darkroom. I loved photography but I never really thought of it as a career.

I then went travelling and for some reason put my camera down for a few years while I busied myself with life. Silversmithing became my latest love and to be honest, that's where I thought my career would move to.

In 2009 I started to get involved in the wedding industry and my eyes were opened to the talent of wedding photographers. I was so inspired by their versatility and how creative it had become as a field. It was an artform on its own and was slowly losing its bad reputation thanks to fabulous photographers out there such as Jonas Peterson in Australia. Couples were choosing to have weddings that were more original, more creative and that opened doors to wedding photographers exploring and doing new work.

I was inspired; I was hooked on the industry and knew I had to give it a go.

Have you always known you were going to be a photographer?

Not at all! In fact when I was leaving study and trying to decide on a career I remember my Mum suggesting it to me as an option and I shrugged it off. At the time wedding photography was very traditional and it just didn't seem my thing.

When did you start taking bookings to photograph weddings? 

I started to play around with my camera more and more as I was getting more and more inspired by the change in the industry and by the end of 2009, I decided it was a career path worth exploring. By chance I met with a couple who were getting married in March the following year and they were not going to have a photographer there on their day. So I offered myself! I asked if I could come along and take some photographs and they said yes (thank you Gareth and Jasmine!). I lived in London at the time and the wedding was in Cornwall… ironically in Newquay where I now live and their reception was in the harbor a stones throw away from my home. How the world turns!

The groom is a surfer so I met with him and his friends on the beach for their pre-wedding surf and from the second I took my camera out of it’s bag and started shooting, I knew that it was the start of something for me. I knew it was what I wanted to do.

I worked full time in marketing in London and so I worked on my photography until late into the night building a portfolio and connections within the industry. I started making wonderful friends with other photographers who were starting out and it opened a whole new world to me. Driven and motivated, roughly 6 months after that I left my full time job and jumped in to working for myself full time. I shot 4 weddings in my first year and it was amazing.

What is your brand style - what sort of photography are you interested in?

My work is very much a natural documentation of a couples wedding, with time during the day to do some creative portraits. I tell the story of the day rather than creating staged moments. I love the small little interations between people and I love to capture it. Little looks, the way people hold hands that is unique to them. I love to watch people and see how they interact. My friends tease me about the fact that I see everything and they are right I guess, I am a huge people watcher and I always look for the detail other miss.

What are the best locations for your style of photography? I can see now that you narrowed it down to Cornwall Wedding Photography, is there a specific style for those weddings?

I shoot all over the country and I am also lucky enough to shoot weddings abroad too. Although I am based in Cornwall, I travel a lot. By the end of this year I will have been from California to Anglesey! Next year I will be photographing a wedding in France and all across the UK. 

I love all wedding styles and locations, from woodlands to cities but I do love being by the sea. Living by the sea I tend to find a lot of my couples, who follow my work on my site or who have gotten to know me on Instagram, connect with me through my lifestyle. I always end up with couples who are similar to me in so many ways and who share the same loves as me.

Do you have an aim in mind - number of weddings per year, appearances in magazines (specific or general?)? or just a monthly salary?

I love to have a very personal approach to my weddings and so I choose to shoot no more than 20 full weddings a year. I do also shoot elopements here in Cornwall. I try and have my work published regularly and this year one of my goals was to have my work published in a (non wedding related) photography magazine. Which I did. Pro Photo Magazine interviewed me on the challenges of shooting non-conventional weddings in difficult circumstances (in this case, limited lighting! Fundamental for photography!).

How do you run the business side of Debs Ivelja Photography ? Do you have external help (at this stage)?

I run every part of my business myself. I do have an accountant who has helped me with my tax returns but everything I do myself. From the admin to ensuring my insurance policies are up to date. This is a part of business where the connections you make in the industry do also help. For advice or sharing of tools and best ways of working. There are a lot of products out there that are created to help photographers run their business efficiently, so its good to get advice from others on best ones before jumping in.

What are the challenges of running a business on your own?

I guess its being a ‘jack of all trades’. You have to now a little about everything to do it well. Its taken me several years to feel like I have everything running just as I want. From paperwork processes, to packaging.

I like to work at night and spend my mornings for myself. Whether its going to the gym, walking the dog (which I do, A LOT) or catching up with a friend. So not staying up too late and burning the candle is important for me. I try and ensure I have a good work life balance at all times. Getting my processes in place and running well has saved me a lot of time and allowed me to be more productive.

What would your advice be to people who want to become photographer? Self-employed?

Do courses, second shoot with other photographers… get experience. Although I jumped in feet first, it was in a safe way. I've heard A LOT of horror stories. I would always say to someone to do at least 6 months of second shooting and working as an assistant before jumping in as its good to get a feel for all sides of the job. It won't be for everyone.

What do you do to make your workplace an enriching and inspiring place to be?

I’ve recently bought a teeny little cottage in town and I have quite limited space. In fact my ‘office’ is a very simple desk which is a mid-century piece of furniture that closes up at night to look like a side unit. I love it as it allows me to close down at the end of the day and not see computor’s or paperwork.

I am a very organized creative and I always keep things very simple. I like to have a clear workspace for a clear head… I am physically incapable of working in clutter! So I keep everything stored away and out of sight. 

For me a huge part of going self employed was to have a strong work / life balance. Moving to Cornwall enhanced that for me so much. Here life is simple. Most of my time off is spent outdoors walking my dog or meeting with friends and that is where I am inspired. My website, my social media pages all reflect my life here, it is a huge part of who I am. My ‘workplace’ is as much about being behind my desk editing as it is being outside, in the open, by the sea or walking in a woodland and that is what inspires me.

What sort of things are inspiring your right now? Where do you typically look for inspiration?

Having just come out of a very busy summer season, I have not had a huge amount of time to reconnect with myself. For me the winter is a perfect time to recharge and for that very reason, I love winter as much as Summer!

I will visit galleries, hang out with friends and try and get involved in any goings on that will inspire me creatively. Even if it isn’t connected to photography. In fact, that's often the best inspiration.

I am grateful that where I live, I am surrounded by creative, musicians, free spirits and free thinkers. This inspires me more than anything.

Travel too. I love to go abroad or visit new places around the county. I try and make time for adventures where I can. When I cant, I just go for a walk!

When do you feel the most creative?

At about 3 am when I cannot sleep and my brain is in overdrive! I make notes and write out ideas and use them in the morning to motivate myself.

Also when I travel, which is when I have the time to sit and enjoy some quiet. 

How do you know which pictures will resonate with people?

It took me quite a long time to work this out if I am honest. Partly because I feel that if it resonated with me, it will with others. But I also now know that a lot of the time, it is all about peoples eyes. It was only really in the last two years that I learned how much I can read and tell about someone and how they are feeling from their eyes. Its hard to explain, and yet is so obvious. A persons eyes tell me everything.

If you had the time to find creativity in some other activities, which would it be?

I would like to start painting again, and maybe do a pottery workshop. I love the idea of making something beautiful from nothing!

How do you further your photography skills?

I try and do a workshop each year. Whether it is a technical workshop or a creative workshop. Sometimes these are wedding related, sometimes not at all.

I can see that there is a strong photographer community, how important is it?

Fundamental! I have met some of my best friends through photography. The industry is booming and there are so many wonderful people out there who will support and nurture you. People you will connect with in a different way to your friends who are not in the industry. They are your advisors, your friends, your sound boards… they will inspire you and keep you motivated. 

I cant imagine where I would be if it wasn't for all the wonderful photographers who I have met through my ‘job’.

Thank you so much Debs, it is so inspiring to hear about your journey, and what you hoped to achieve by following your passion - and how you managed it, without compromising on a great work/life balance. 

For more inspiration, you can read my interview with Pauline of Pauline Alice Patterns here, and my interview with Charlie who runs Offset Warehouse here. 

FOLLOW YOUR PASSION :: Interview with Charlie of Offset Warehouse

Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Have you ever wondered how it would feel to give up your day job and follow your passion, and make it work. Last month I was not about to change anything, but now everything has changed of course and I am not sure I can find the motivation or meaning in my previous job. I am wondering more and more what it would be like to do something with this crafting obsession I have. To find out more I have decided to interview those who just went for it.  

This month I am talking to Charlie of Offset Warehouse about her experience as an ethical online fabric shop owner. I came across Offset Warehouse quite quickly when I started looking for ethical fabrics - just because in the UK there are not many shops solely dedicated to ethical fabrics. However my stash is so big, that I have only made two garments out of Offset Warehouse fabric - my maternity pink tova and the Alice Top I will blog about later next week. I do have some Offset Warehouse dark denim fabric and hope to use it really soon. 

- Hi Charlie, can you let us know how you did get involved in the fashion industry? and when you decided you wanted to go for ethical fabrics?

From a young age I was fascinated by clothing. I always knew I wanted to be in this industry. During my design degree I was made aware of the hugely negative impacts that the textile and design industries have on both the environment and the people who make our products. Irresponsible farming destroying vast areas of land, carcinogenic chemicals killing the workers handling the fabrics, slave labour, farmer suicides due to debt - you name it!

I couldn’t bear the thought of my designs, which I wanted people to love and cherish, to cause another person harm, or damage the environment in any way. I became a designer to do good, and to make a positive impact, but I quickly realised just how some businesses will do anything to make an extra cent. So I began to use fabrics that I could safely say did not harm the environment and positively impacted the people who made them. I wasn’t trying to be a crusader, or to guilt trip anyone, I just didn’t want my work to do any more damage and support irresponsible businesses who know exactly the horrors they are causing.

 - When did you start your shop? How did you acquire the skills you needed to feel you could start of?

As a designer, I really struggled to source the fabrics I wanted in fashion forward styles and in the quantities I wanted. And I noticed that other designers had the same issues. So when I graduated, I put all my research up online, began testing the market and Offset Warehouse was born!

- What is the shop ethos?

Offset Warehouse sells fashionable, ethical fabrics online, with one metre minimums. For us, ethical encompasses anything that is environmentally or socially beneficial. We support artisans from around the world and pay fair wages. We also promote the use of sustainable fibres, including organic and fair trade products. 

- Who are your usual customers?

Our customers?… Anyone who uses fabrics! We work with lots of designers, particularly in the fashion and interiors industries. And we work with many home sewers who appreciate high quality, handmade products.

- What is your best selling fabric?

This is a tricky one! We have several really popular styles: our prints and ikats are very popular. I think because they are so unique, and all completely made by hand. They are true beauties, and our customers really appreciate diversity and the quality of the skills involved to create them. Similarly, our bamboo and banana fabrics are so unusual and everyone loves them! Who’s ever heard of a banana fabric before?! Better yet, to say your jacket or sofa is made of banana … amazing!

 - How do you typically choose your fabrics?

I approach our range like a beautiful “curation”. I put together the fabrics that are on-trend, in colours that will work with the seasons. It’s a real art form! I hate the thought of “hippy”, ugly fabrics.

- Do you have to make choices when it comes to ethics (for instance supporting a local community but not an organic fabric)?

While we do sell fabrics with certifications, such as Organic and Fairtrade, I often feel more passionate about supporting smaller, underprivileged communities who can’t afford the certifications. These are the people who need the sales the most. This is why I have such a close relationship with all of my producers. I visit them personally and see exactly how the work is done, and how they are being paid. It’s so important to me.

- When did you make the switch from 'regular work to make business out of your passion? (if you did?)

Great question! I continued my design consulting while I tested the market to see if Offset Warehouse was going to work. It was about two years in, when orders and emails were coming in so thick and fast, that I didn’t have enough time to do my other job any more - that’s when I decided that I could make my passion a full time thing!

- How do you run the business side of Offset Warehouse? When did you hire more members to your team?

I’m so lucky, I have two great team members. Jaime is our Resident Eco Fabric Whizz and helps with any customer enquiries. With an MA from the Chelsea School of Art, she’s an incredibly talented textile designer herself and absolutely mad on ethical fabrics! Kimberley is in charge of Business Development and Support. She ditched her corporate life in search for something with more meaning. She’s passionate about creating her own textiles and about sustainability as well. It’s a crack team for sure!

- What are the challenges of running a business on your own?

Not enough hours in my day! I have to be really strict with how much work I take on. I’m an absolute workaholic, and I absolutely love my job (a dangerous combination!!) So I have to force myself to get out and about, or I become a hermit.

- What would your advice be to people who want to become their own boss?

Surround yourself with positive people. You want to be met with high fives on your first order, not the response “..well that’s not going to cover the rent is it?” (and yes, I have heard that before!) Surround yourself with positive people who are in the same boat, or understand what you’re going through.

- What do you do to make your workplace an enriching and inspiring place to be?

I love pink. It’s no secret. So anything that I hate looking at, like my to-do list or accounts, I colour pink! I also sit by a big window, and surround myself with lots of greenery and potted flowers (pink and purple, obviously). A clear desk is also really helpful - I try and get that desk cleared by the end of the week, so I start lovely and fresh the following Monday!

- We live in such a mass-produced, buy-it-now society where everything is either a click or a short drive away, do you think people will continue to make things by hand?

Yes! Making things by hand is coming back in a huge way. We’re all SO sick of seeing the same mass-produced clothing. I never want to be caught wearing the same jumper or dress as someone else - so I make it! We’re also seeing a huge resurgence in consumers understanding the beauty and skill behind hand made products. You can see it in high fashion: Hermes, Isabel Marant, Manish Arora - all the big names are going back to artisanal skills. The time invested in handmade is absolutely unrivalled.

- If you had the time to sew anything for yourself right now, what would you choose and with which fabric?

I have such a huge list of things I want to sew! But on the top is an oversized coat made from our banana fabric. It’s so beautiful and soft, and I adore the minimalist Scandinavian trend. 

Thank you so much Charlie, it is so inspiring for people interested in ethical issues as well as those wanted to start their own business.

For more inspiration, you can read my interview with Pauline of Pauline Alice Patterns here. 

Follow your passion :: Interview with Pauline of Pauline Alice Patterns

Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Have you ever wondered how it would feel to give up your day job and follow your passion, and make it work. I am not about to do that, in fact I am going back to my day job in November - but this was my dream job for a long time. Now I am wondering more and more what it would be like to do something with this crafting obsession I have. To find out more I have decided to interview those who just went for it.  

This month I am talking to Pauline of Pauline Alice patterns about her experience as an indie pattern designer. She has her own style, so feminine yet simple, it is no wonder I have already sewn three of her patterns (here, here and here). She is also French and lives abroad, in Spain in her case, so I feel we have a bit in common as well. I hope you enjoyed this series as much as I do.

Turia dungarees

Hi Pauline, so tell us more about you getting involved in sewing?

I started sewing when I moved to Spain. I was reading some sewing blogs and thought I would love to try it. So I bought a machine and started sewing with some vintage patterns.

- Have you always known you were going to be a pattern designer? 

I have always loved to design, draw and make things in general. As a teenager, I fancied myself a future fashion designer but didn’t go through and ended up studying English literature at university. But I loved fashion and always dreamt of doing something artistic and creative.

- When did you start to draft your own patterns? How did you acquire the skills you needed to feel you could start of? 

I started making self-drafted patterns a few months after starting to sew. At the beginning, they were easy (a simple skirt or dress) and I guess not very well-fitted, but I loved the possibilities it offered. I made my first commercial pattern in September 2013. During the 3 previous years, I had learnt to make tailored garments and draft some patterns by reading some books on the subject, taking classes on internet (I’m a big fan of Craftsy) and lots of toiles!

Details from Eliana dress

- What would say your signature style in your designs is?

My style is clearly feminine and with a retro flair. I think the signature style would be a fit and flare dress and a great coat – I love coats! The common theme would be feminine details: it can be a pleated yoke, or a collar, pockets – yes what my patterns have in common are pockets: they all have pockets! Which means, I guess, that the Pauline Alice sewists like girly and practical garments ;-)

- What is your best-selling pattern? 

My best selling pattern is still the Camí dress, the first pattern I released. It has to do with the fact that it’s great for everyday and every season (my own version is here).

- When did you make the switch from 'regular work to make business out of your passion? 

The first two years in Spain, I had a “regular” job, but every free time I had I spent sewing. When my contract ended, I thought it was the perfect time to think about what I wanted to do. So I started drafting the Camí dress and releasing it on PDF first.

- Do you have an aim in mind - number of patterns per year, number of sales, etc? 

I try to release between 4 and 6 patterns per year but I don’t have any bigger aim. I try to get better patterns every time and learn from the sewists reviews.

- How do you run the business side of Pauline Alice? Do you have external help (at this stage)?

I work alone at home, the business part is the most difficult for me. If I could I would spend all my time designing patterns but unfortunately, there’s a lot more that needs to be done: invoices, books, shipments… Sometimes I would like to have an external point of view. Being on my own, it’s difficult to see the big picture and know what decisions are good or not.

- What do you do to make your workplace an enriching and inspiring place to be?

I’m not sure my workplace is enriching or inspiring ;-) I work at home and I’m lucky enough to have my home room to work (even though the whole house if full of fabric, patterns, boxes…). But I’m dreaming of a big studio… maybe in my next house.

 - What sort of things are inspiring you right now?

I like to spend time looking at Pinterest, don’t we all? But sometimes I’m inspired by looks on the street, in a movie, a magazine.

- When do you feel the most creative?

 Usually the best ideas occur when I’m not looking for one! So I try to always carry a notebook and pencil with me to draw.

- How do you combat creative blocks?

I try to think about something else and just relax. As I just told you before, ideas don’t always come when you need them.

- How do you know that designs will resonate with people?

I guess you never know. Sometimes you spend a lot of time on a pattern and it doesn’t sell as well as you thought it would, and sometimes you make a simpler model that is a huge success.

Sorell trousers

- We live in such a mass-produced, buy-it-now society where everything is either a click or a short drive away, why should people continue to make things by hand? 

I think that when you make things (sewing garments, knitting, patchwork, or even cooking, gardening…), you like the making process as much as the resulting object. For me sewing isn’t about having nice clothes in my wardrobe (even if I like that as well) but about taking the time to make something with my hands, thinking about the details, enjoying all the process, learning new things. And this is priceless.

- If you had the time to sew anything for yourself right now, what would you choose?

I just bought fabric for the last pattern I purchased, the Isla Trench coat by Named patterns, and I’m looking forward to make it. 

- What can we expect from Pauline Alice in the coming months? 

The new pattern will be released in October! 

Quart Coat

How lovely is Pauline!!! Thank you so much for being so open with us, and also bringing so many wonderful patterns and amazingly clear tutorials to the sewing world!