Kate Spain Blog Hop: Kate Answers Your Questions!

After the interview with Kate Spain at the beginning of the blog hop, you had the chance to ask Kate some questions yourself! And in her true, beautiful and generous self, she couldn’t just choose a few and she’s answered them all! Thank you Kate!

Heidi Staples wrote: I’d love to hear more about Kate’s journey more recently. Is she happy where she is now? Where does she want to go from here?

Such food for thought, Heidi! When I started my own art licensing business in 2008, I realized that the loopy path I had taken was actually filled with so many lessons and challenges that prepared me (in some ways) for taking such a leap from working for others to working for myself. I had absolutely no idea that I would be able to do what I’m doing now — especially in the first 2 years after my first Surtex show (2008) when I couldn’t get any company to respond to me….by phone, email or post mail. I tried not to let that deter me, but rather drew on all those past experiences to figure out how to stand out amongst so much talent. I realized the only way to do that was to try to make unique designs that would (hopefully) get someone’s attention. And the only way I knew how to do that was to draw, draw, draw! Thanks to all my teachers at RISD who underscored the importance of commitment and discipline. 

So I became a student again — on my own — and studied trends, went to business seminars, and focused on making patterns. Since no one was knocking on my door, I was again challenged to persevere…and it started to work. I landed my first licensing contract with a paper plate company that was able to get the design placed at Target. I was totally beside myself and when the plates finally shipped to stores, I would go to every Target in our area and take pictures in the aisles…or stand at a distance, in disbelief, and just stare at them! I never, ever, ever tire of seeing one of my designs standing out there on its own, for someone to look at and maybe even bring into their home and into their lives. I feel deep gratitude for every chance I get to make that happen. 

So as far as whether I’m happy about where I am now…the answer is simple: Yes! I’ve been very fortunate to work with some wonderful companies on an on-going basis which has brought a degree of stability and has enabled me to explore and grow as a designer. Where do I want to go from here? That’s a much harder question to answer. I love to learn new things and love a challenge, so my guess is I’ll go wherever I can find those things…and I know wherever that is, I’ll be happiest. I’d love if part of that involved stepping away from the computer as much as possible and making things by hand again.

Finding Fifth wrote: My question would be to ask if Kate browses the work of other designers for inspiration or does doing that stifle creativity and the fear of reproducing something similar?

Interesting question. I think to be genuinely inspired to create, the spark has to come from within. The energy and excitement I get from exploring and discovering how lines, shapes and colors work together is not something I would compromise by looking to the work of other designers. Each of us has a different process to arrive at the end result be it fabric, dishes, or a rug etc. — and I would miss out on so much if I tried to adapt a process that wasn’t of my own crafting. In art school I was always amazed that even when all the students in my class were looking at the same objects, or partaking in the same visual exercise, that each drawing was totally different and uniquely their own. I’m not saying that it’s impossible, but I really believe that if you pay attention to your instincts/personal style and use your own eye and hand to create designs, you’re much less likely to reproduce something because you’re staying true to your authentic “visual voice”.

Christa Marcotte asked: Does Kate use a specific color theory when picking what colors to include to each line of fabric she creates? And along the same color line, Gill asked: How do you learn what (color) goes with what? can you learn it or is it a feeling inside you?

I did take a color theory class at RISD and the science of it was eye-opening and magical. I felt like I had never looked at colors in the same way before…or since! Perhaps understanding hue/value/saturation and color relationships does influence the choices I make, but more often that not I pick colors that I like. Then when I’m working with them, they might shift here and there based on how they interact with each other. I’m also influenced to some degree by trends so I’ll sometimes try to work popular colors into my designs for marketability. 

To Gill’s question, I think colors are a very visceral thing. You can’t help but feel something when you see color and that initial feeling is based on your personal preferences. To learn what goes with what, all you really have to do is get in touch with your preferences and let them guide you. One way to do this is simply by looking around your home and taking note of the colorful things that you’ve chosen to surround yourself with. You probably picked those things because you like them so if you can find a common color-theme, it might be a great starting point for picking fabrics for a quilt or sewing project. Or treat yourself and go to a flower shop to create a custom bouquet. Be aware of which colors you’re naturally drawn to…and voila! A color palette will emerge.

Mimi and Vroomans Quilts were both wondering about how I come up with the names for my fabric lines and which comes first as far as inspiration: color concept or fabric name?

I usually find that when I have a concept in mind at the onset of designing, it’s much easier to come up with a name for the collection. For instance, Central Park was named before my pencil ever hit the paper. I knew I wanted to explore the stone motifs and geometry of the park (in NYC), so that was an easy one. But sometimes I have no idea about what the “story” is and I start only with colors and my imagination and then the name evolves as I’m designing because the collection reaches a point where I see that it’s evocative of a place or a feeling. But the hardest lines for me to name are my winter/Christmas lines! My husband Pete and I usually look at the core designs and have a brainstorming session together. Or I’ll turn it over to my blog readers and ask them for their suggestions — as I recently did for my next wintery line to be released in 2014.

Lou wondered: What inspires you the most? And similarly Erin asked: Do you have a certain room of the house you find more ‘inspirational’? or perhaps, an area outside? Or do you just get an idea and run with it no matter where you are?

Just about everything inspired me, but most often flowers and foliage. A good idea or inspiration can happen anywhere, unexpectedly at times, and there’s no turning your back on it! I try not to over-think it, but rather go with the excitement of all sorts of possibilities that stir in my mind and that build momentum as I begin to draw and as the designs take shape visually. I love gardening and am always looking at the way colors/textures/shapes/proportion interact and complement each other. At our last house, we must have moved every plant at least three times over three summers to find visually interesting combinations. It may have driven Pete a little crazy, and provided some entertainment for our neighbors, but it was worth it! Our garden was our favorite “room” and was very hard to leave after 8 years. The exciting thing is that we have moved to a house where the back yard is a blank slate and we’ve begun to make a new garden…of inspiration! We’ve even created a little spot out there for me to sit and draw. I’m sharpening my pencils now 🙂

Celia asked: How did you make the jump to designing fabric?

Good question! When I worked on Hello Kitty products, I was making patterns in repeat for backpacks so I knew how to do that much, but I didn’t know anything about the process of designing for fabric. My husband’s brother-in-law’s mother was an avid quilter (you can see where this is going, right?) and when she saw some of my patterns, she said, “You should try to work with Moda”. I had no idea who Moda was, but thought it would be fun to design fabric, so I sent a huge pile of designs to Cheryl, the design director. After a month of pacing around waiting for a reply, I finally heard from her and she decided to move forward with Verna! I’ll never forget the day or the feeling I had when that news came in. It was a mix of happiness and fear because I had never done this before. But Cheryl was so patient and helped me learn how to prepare art for screenprinting. Designing coordinated fabric collections has really helped me become a better designer overall because of the way a whole line works together…I find it much like creating a garden.

KatieQ wrote: I have seen your pillows, aprons, and kitchen towels, do you foresee your designs branching out into more home decor items?

Yes! I’ve been very fortunate to have partnered with Surya rugs and together we débuted my first line of wool tufted and flatweave rugs. I’m really excited to be moving into home décor because I feel there is more of an opportunity for people to interact with color and design on a daily basis — similar to what happens with fabric and avid quilters, but of course not everyone sews. It’s always my hope that in some small way, that interaction will have a positive effect on people and by bringing something beautiful into their homes that also might bring some extra happiness into their lives.

Many many thanks for all your wonderful questions, for your creative spirits and for sharing all your talents with everyone! I told Alyce that I have been overwhelmed to hop along and to read about each bloggers’ experiences and to see all the projects that have been popping up. You are all so inspiring! I feel humbled by the generosity of your time in joining us and thank you infinitely for your interest in learning more about my creative journey. Persevere in everything you do! Thanks so much again to my friend Alyce, to all the participating bloggers and to all the sponsors. Big hugs and happy sewing to everyone! xox

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Thank you so much Kate!! We all really appreciate your input and participation in this blog hop, and especially thank you for designing such beautiful fabrics.

Remember, tomorrow is the day to link up any Kate Spain projects you’ve finished during this month – quilt tops allowed! The linky will be open for 1 week. I’ll also announce the winners of the mid-month linky of favourite “historic” Kate Spain projects – it’s still open for another 18 hours or so if you still want to link up!