Meet Carrie Bloomston from SUCH Designs

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Carrie Bloomston of SUCH Designs. Carrie has created her first fabric collection COLLAGE for Windham Fabrics due in stores July 2013. 

Q1: Tell us about your education, experience and background?

A1: I have been an abstract painter my whole life.

Refuge I -Ink, Acrylic, and Oil on Panel

At age two, my mom found me all tangled up in her needlepoint basket and knew exactly who I was. Growing up in Alabama, my parents were both creative–my mom always had projects happening around the house like painting, crafts, interior design, etc. We had a studio in our house that was a converted garage. It was awesome! My dad designs and manufactures clothing. So, I have always watched him doing that. Designing fabric and creating patterns for my brand, SUCH Designs, is actually drawing on a lot of the experience my parents showed me. I love that I get to share it with them.

I went on to study more formally at Rhode Island School of Design (Painting, BFA, 1994). I studied in every department: glassblowing, woodworking, bronze casting, ceramics, and painting. BUT, the two buildings I didn’t set foot in were Textile Design and Graphic Design! Ha! Go figure. Now I am doing just those things. Hilarious.

After school I built a life in the Arizona desert and have a beautiful family that is my shelter and my source. My kids own me. It is the greatest privilege of my life to parent them. All the stuff I make comes from that love.

 

Q2:How would you describe your personal design style?

A2: Start with your heart. Be who you are. Kindness first. Shine your light. Celebrate your inner artist™. Those are the things I intend to do with my designs. At 40, I understand more now how to accept, love, and trust myself as an artist. So I just listen to the tiny urges I feel­–even if they are crazy ideas. I do them. It is totally OK to fail.

As for my design style? What does that all look like? Hmmm, hippie gypsy meets Nick, Jr.? Playful and modern.  Modern, propaganda posters meets children’s book, Pinkalicious? Album art meets coffee house meets greeting cards. I don’t really know. I make a lot of different things. My abstract paintings look like Japanese landscapes. But I spend most of my day watching Ratatouille and cartoons and playing with LEGO and reading children’s books. So all of those sources filter in.

I love the French illustrator, Delphine Durand:

One of my favorites is the Japanese illustrator, Taro Gomi:

And of course, we watch Ratatouille a lot. It may be my all-time favorite movie. The brand message of this beautiful, little film is exactly what I hope to contribute… anyone can cook! Anyone can sew! Anyone can be an artist!

Q3: What was your biggest source of inspiration while designing Collage?

My biggest source of inspiration while designing Collage were Words, words, words! I wanted to make a line of text, letters, and words, because I, like many modern sewists, love to sew with words. When I set out to design this line, I knew I needed to design a line that I would want to sew with. The prints will feel like a collected stack of drawings and papers and notes just beckoning you to COLLAGE! The prints are artful and bold.

 Q4:What is one thing that everybody should know about you?

A4: My life is filled with gratitude.

Q5:What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?

A5:I like to sit at our Lemonade stands and wile away the afternoon waiting for one customer, sitting in the shade of our Palo Verde tree, reading.

Q6: If you could have dinner with one famous person who would it be and why?

A6: Easy–the Dalai Lama. I once heard him speak in Atlanta, at Emory University, about 15 years ago. Did you know that he sounds exactly like Kermit the Frog, but with a deeper voice? His spirit, knowing, and joy could fill ten universities, ten cities, ten continents at once. I have never been in the presence of a more clear-minded, calm, loving, and intelligent person in my life. I try to read his books and have them all, but they are rather dense. So, I would rather have dinner with him and just ask him questions about his life–about life.

Q7: If you could be a superhero what would your superpower be?

A7: Also easy–I would like to fly.

COLLAGE will be viewable on the Windham Fabrics website in April and the fabric will be in quilt stores July 2013!

Here are some of Carrie’s lovely patterns that are available to order through SUCH Designs.

"Wonky Little Houses"

I'll Huff and I'll Puff Finger Pattern

Wonky Little Houses Pillow Pattern

www.such-designs.com

Comments

[jenny]

thanks for the interview, im really excited for Collage!

[lizzie]

Ur as awesome in writing as u r in person!! Thx for sharing ur spirit & gifts with us!

[anna]

beautiful!!! I'm so excited about this collection. And 40, you look amazing!!! :) sounds like a beautiful life! Maybe I'll get things sorted out by the time I'm 40.

[Jennifer]

Carrie... it was so fun to compose. So excited about COLLAGE!!!

[Jona]

Great interview! Carrie is so much fun and I can't wait to get my hands on her fabrics. It's a delight to see fabric that so obviously has a story and heart behind it.

[Carrie B.]

Thank you, Jenn! What a fun interview. I love all the pictures.