Featured Archives

Family History Questionnaire

Brittany

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October 12, 2022

Finding Answers

Growing up, my understanding of family history boiled down to pouring through tedious amounts of old records to discover basic information about my ancestors, like where/when they were born, marriage, and death. That’s about as complex as you can get when all you have to work with are hospital records, immigration records and gravestones. Of course, it’s much easier to get to know your family details while there are still people around to ask! The purpose of this family history questionnaire is just that–get to know your family members now so you and your children can still feel connected years later when the opportunity has passed to ask those questions.

Questions for Parents and Grandparents

Sometimes we take our memories for granted. There is so much value in writing down memories we have of loved ones while our brains still have them accessible. Well, as it happens, our parents and grandparents have years of memories stored up! Why not sit down with them and write down the things they remember? Aside from being a wonderful bonding opportunity between grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren, it’s also a valuable way to learn about your more distant relatives–the ones your older relatives knew and interacted with but you never had a chance to.

And then, of course, ask questions about your grandparents’ and parents’ lives, too! Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start, which is where this family history questionnaire comes in handy. Most people think they know their parents and maybe even grandparents pretty well. But you may be surprised by the things your loved ones share that are completely new to you!

Family History Questionnaire

This family history questionnaire is the perfect way to get your children started on their own family history journey! Just click here, download, print, then grab a pen and get started! Print as many as you want–once you get started, you may find the list of people you want to talk to grows. The questionnaire is intended with grandparents in mind, but can of course apply to anyone! Oh, and don’t forget–our family history questionnaire includes a printable frame for photos or drawings of your grandparents and other loved ones.

Now we want to know: Who’s at the top of your list to interview? Are there other questions we left off? Let us know in the comments!

More Inspiration

Loved this family history questionnaire and want more family history content? You won’t want to miss our popular family photo heirloom ornaments! This year we’re doing a community craft along featuring the heirloom ornaments–learn more about it here. For an alternate photo transfer option, try these photo transfer dolls. Also, check out these painted grandparents day frames and last year’s craft along craft, our mid-century heirloom nativity.

Mixbook Wedding Book

Brittany

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August 3, 2022

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Wedding Book Inspired by Blooms

As many of you know, we debuted our first Casetify collection last fall. Then, come spring, we came out with another new collection, Bloom. This one featured all things floral, and I thought the floral motifs couldn’t be a more perfect fit for my Mixbook wedding book. After all, my love affair with flowers is no secret. I especially love poppies, and Garet, our designer, did a beautiful job on the poppy design featured in our Bloom collection.

My Mixbook Wedding Book

It was so fun to design this wedding book template with my team! Using our Bloom collection as a reference, we created a floral-inspired template with beautiful, painterly floral stickers and backgrounds. The best part about it is that it is fully customizable! Mix and match those floral stickers and backgrounds to your heart’s content.

Discount Code for Lars Readers

Mixbook is also generous enough to offer a temporary discount code on their photo books to Lars readers! Use the code SOCIAL50 for 50% off your first photo book. The code expires on September 15, 2022, so get compiling your photos together!

Our Wedding and Engagement Photos

Then there were the wedding photos. Going back through all those old photos brought back so much nostalgia! If it’s been a minute since you’ve looked through your old wedding photos, you’ll know the feeling. Are you curious? Okay, fine, since you asked, here are some never before seen wedding photos.

This was from our engagement session. I don’t think I’ve shared any from that session with Rachel Thurston at all! Maybe I’ll share more for our anniversary next month.

Ok, now these are from our actual wedding ceremony in Newport Beach, California. We got married at the LDS temple. It’s so fun to see our friends there!

These photos were taken by my cousin, Ali DeGraff. It was one of her first weddings and she absolutely nailed it. I still love them so much!

My sister, Caitlin.

My sister painted us some signs that we held and had for navigating at the reception.

Really wish I hadn’t made that face.

My mom had the idea to do all bundt cakes. Really wish we had gotten to try them. Ha! Anyone else not get to taste the food?

I can’t believe so much time has passed. And I’m so happy to have a book in which to preserve those memories.

Now I want to hear from you: Did you make a wedding book already? And what’s your favorite wedding memory?

More Inspiration

Looking for more photo book inspiration? It turns out we’ve done more than a few projects with Mixbook in the past. Last Christmas we used Mixbook to make these team Christmas cards, and these ones from a few years ago. Also see these floral wedding invitations, our year in review, our Denmark trip documentation, and a compilation post of our Mixbook projects.

Our New Casetify Collection: BLOOM

Brittany

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April 25, 2022

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Our History with Casetify

If you’ve been following along, you’ll know all about our debut Casetify collection, which launched last fall. Since then, we haven’t been able to get enough! We painted mini pumpkins inspired by the collection, which was such a fun DIY twist on the phone cases. The retro florals featured in that collection also snuck its way into our new spring tablescape! After some time passed and we became familiar with our new phone cases, we also released a Casetify honest review, which you can read here.

Our New Casetify Collection: BLOOM

We couldn’t help but give you a little teaser along the way to get you excited about our launch. Remember those nesting Easter eggs? Well keep those in mind as you scroll through the phone case options–a few of them just might look familiar. Here’s the link to our full collection of brand new phone cases!

My Bloom Magazine Inspiration

This new collection leans fully into spring and the myriad of beautiful flowers in bloom. Hence the name, Bloom. But the name wasn’t only inspired by beautiful blooming flowers. When I was a kid, I made a magazine called Bloom! Can you believe it?! It’s like I knew what would follow, so many years before phone cases were even on the brain. This magazine was thorough, too–it included ads, recipes, advice, the whole nine yards.

Here are some highlights of the magazine, because they’re too good not to share:

If you couldn’t read that, it says “the claw. A softener, a loosener, an everything.” Amazing.

Needless to say, I’ve been thinking about flowers and gardens long enough that it was about time for a phone collection featuring them.

Garet’s Inspiration Behind the Collection

Garet, our designer, worked night and day to design this magnificent flower garden of a collection. Her connection to painting and, specifically, flowers, goes way back as well. She’s named after her grandmother, Margaret. At Margaret’s funeral, they had peonies in honor of her since she loved them so much. Hence, this jaw-droppingly lovely peony was born.

The story goes on. Garet’s aunt, who took care of Margaret before she died, taught Garet to paint–especially flowers. Garet’s aunt instilled a love of painting flowers in Garet from the time she was young and it has, shall we say bloomed? Ever since.

Some of our Favorites

Here are some of our favorite cases:

Look familiar? You may be thinking of the Easter dress we made out of the secret garden print!

But florals aren’t the only options in this versatile collection. We also have some bold, geometric prints that are lovely as well.

I especially love the tumbling blocks! The best part is all of the customizable options Casetify offers. I can’t get enough of that neon yellow with the pink and red tumbling block!

Casetify Discount Code

For followers of The House that Lars Built, Casetify is offering a 15% discount at checkout with code THTLB15.

If you get one of our cell phone cases, tag us with #Larsforcasetify. We would love to see them!

Five Influential Women to Know About

Brittany

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March 31, 2022

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Five Influential Women

These five women have certainly left their mark on the world in a myriad of ways. We decided to go with women who are creative, strong, bold and brave. Here’s our list of five influential women to know about, in no particular order:

First: Iris Apfel

If you’ve been around for a while, you’ll know all about our love for Iris Apfel. I mean what. an. icon. Earlier this month, we dedicated this post to Iris Apfel in all her bold, colorful glory. If you’re unfamiliar with Iris, she’s a fashion icon famous for defying stereotypes of age and proving that it’s never too late to follow your dreams and do what you love. Did I mention she’s almost 101 and still going strong?! Oh, and don’t forget about that H&M collection, launched TODAY. You heard me right. An H&M + Iris Apfel collab, lauched today!!

Need some Iris Apfel merch? Here’s an ornament, print, and bookmark from our shop!

Here’s a whole host of other things inspired by Iris Apfel:

Second: Alma Thomas

You’ve also probably heard a decent amount about Alma Thomas from us. To kick off Black History Month this year, we did a spotlight on Alma Thomas. You can also check out this In the Mood For: Alma Thomas post where you can get inspired by her amazing, colorful artwork. If you’ve never heard of Alma Thomas, she’s a color genius and amazingly talented artist. To learn more, check out our Great Artists course! For a complete list and the link to the Alma Thomas class itself, click here. If you’d like, you can also purchase the full course here, which gives you access to courses featuring six different historical artists, including Alma Thomas, Rembrandt, Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Claude Monet, and Michelangelo.

Here are some things to get the Alma Thomas inspiration flowing:

Third: Michelle Obama

It’s no secret that we love Michelle Obama. That may have something to do with her book, Becoming, which we read a few years ago for our book club. Her words have since inspired us to start our Becoming blog series, where we interview creative women about how they became who they are. Here’s an inspirational print for your wall featuring one of my favorite Michelle Obama quotes.

Fourth: Ruth Bader Ginsberg

RBG is a must-have on every list of influential women to know about! What a strong, determined woman. Ruth Bader Ginsberg is one of those women I think most of us want to be like. She has a remarkable, triumphant story of overcoming gender discrimination in the workplace and showing that it’s always worth it to make a stand. If you’re interested, check out her book, My Own Words.

Collecting ornaments? Add this Ruth Bader Ginsberg one to your collection! Interested in dressing up for Halloween later this year? Try this Ruth Bader Ginsberg collar.

Fifth: Frida Kahlo

Last but definitely not least on our list of influential women to know about is Frida Kahlo. I’ve been obsessed with Frida Kahlo for as long as I can remember! What an important female artist in history. Here’s a post where we talk about her life and how influential she is. We also give you some Frida-inspired fashion help! Here’s another post where we complied DIY projects inspired by Frida. If you’re still looking to learn more about Frida, remember our Great Artists course! Here’s the link to Frida Kahlo’s class, and here’s the link to the full course.

Our shop is full of Frida Kahlo. Try this print, bookmark, and ornament, to start!

Here are some more things inspired by Frida Kahlo:

More Inspiration

Loved this post and want to learn about other influential women? Try our Becoming series! Also see this post about what Iris Apfel can teach us, shop prints featuring women we love, and our female author booklist.

Female Author Booklist

Brittany

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March 18, 2022

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Female Author Booklist

We’re excited to share this female author booklist with you! There are some amazing classics in here. While I haven’t read all the books on this list, I have read a few. The ones I haven’t read are highly recommended from multiple sources, which tells me they deserve to be named. We tried to pick a variety of books, ranging from older classics to more contemporary reads, and from a variety of genres. Hopefully there’s something for everyone here!

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This book is the ultimate classic that every woman (and man!) should read. We need more books with strong, female protagonists. This is definitely a frontrunner in that category. Jane Austen is such a legend, we couldn’t leave her off this booklist.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Speaking of strong, female protagonists, Jo March is a role model for every young girl (and woman!). I grew up reading this, so maybe I’m biased, but I had to add it to our female author booklist. This is a beautiful book if you want to read a civil war era book about the struggles women faced written by a women. Louisa May Alcott’s perspective just can’t be paralleled by the male authors of her time.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

This isn’t the first time this book has made it onto our blog. We LOVE Michelle Obama, and we LOVE her book. In fact, when we read her book for our book club, it inspired our entire becoming series. You can read the interviews in our becoming series here.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Another one of my all time favorite books, Jane Eyre is a moving story about a fiercely independent orphan and her journey to find freedom. I love the strength of women this book shows. And did I mention Charlotte Brontë? I mean, all three of the Brontë sisters are essentials to the category of strong, independent women. The fact that three female authors all came from one family at the time they did, historically, is a feat to be reckoned with.

My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsberg

We couldn’t make this female author booklist without including RBG. I mean what. an. icon. I think she speaks for herself. The legacy she left behind is remarkable and we would all do well to take a leaf out of her book. Or at least read it.

Circe by Madeline Miller

Looking for greek mythology with a strong, female heroine? This is the picture of female empowerment. A 2018 New York Times bestseller, this book has proven itself. And dipping your toes into greek mythology is always a pleasure.

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

Joan Didion died in 2021, and what an iconic writer she was. This is a beautiful memoir that I haven’t read yet but is 100% on my list! It delves into the year following her husband’s death and how she had to deal with her daughter’s health issues in addition to her own. Just reading the summary feels powerful, so imagine getting to read every word from the source itself.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Another book I haven’t read yet but that definitely piqued my interest! This one delves into the sexual abuse facing fertile women in near-future New England.

The XX Brain by Lisa Mosconi

This is the perfect book to help you understand your brain and body as you age. It contains groundbreaking research on women’s health and how our hormones affect brain and body well-being as we age. More importantly, what we can do about it.

The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie

Nigerian writer Adiche explores women in relationships in a series of powerful short stories. It doesn’t take very many pages to write something impactful when you write like Adiche.

Housekeeping by Marilyn Robinson

This is a must read (really, any of hers can’t go wrong). They’re definitely on my list! Arguably America’s greatest living literary author, Robinson has won nearly every major literary prize, including the Pulitzer. Her novels explore the human condition, faith, and the origins of our modern discontents.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Schaffer

New York Times bestselling historical novel about a group of people on the Isle of Guernsey under German occupation and how books connected them and gave them hope during a time of darkness. And that movie?! I mean, come on.

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin

This is a classic sci-fi novel set on a planet where every person is gender-neutral and the implications of how that plays out in society.

The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melinda Gates

We had to include Melinda Gates on our booklist. This book is an eye-opening memoir that explores, among other things, the horrors and hardships experienced by women worldwide, and the ripple effects when efforts to eliminate poverty focus on lifting women.

A Midwife’s Tale by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Ever seen Call the Midwife? I’m the first to admit I’ve watched every episode. Well A Midwife’s Tale is also a diary, this time of a female medical practitioner and ancestor of Clara Barton. Laurel Thatcher Ulrich is thoughtful and intentional in her research and explorations of the diary. The information she exposes throw open a window into the life of an 18th century woman and the society she lived and worked in.

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

National Book Award Finalist, the story centers on a Korean woman in Japan. It’s also soon to be made a film!

More Inspiration

Looking for more books to read? Here’s a list of books and media by black creatives. Here’s a list of a few more book recommendations we made a few years ago, too! Interested in what we’ve read for book club? Here are the posts.

Living By Design Virtual Showhouse Feature

Brittany

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March 8, 2022

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The Living By Design Virtual Showhouse

Well, the first Living By Design virtual showhouse has officially launched! This is a unique opportunity to tour the Living By Design showhouse completely virtually, from the comfort of your couch. I love that on the tour, you can actively click on links to the elements of each room and get inspiration for your own home. And is it any surprise that I designed the craft room? So I’m particularly excited about that. All you have to do to access the tour is visit this link and peruse the rooms to your heart’s content.

The Craft Room

Be sure to check out that craft room! There are a lot of elements in there that I’m particularly jazzed about, like the wallpaper, art, and that amazing crafting island. Minted was my go-to for the art, and I have to say they made the decision-process difficult. So many lovely options that complimented the space so well! And those dreamy velvet curtains? You have Calico to thank for those.

But what really had me excited was all that amazing storage and furniture, thanks to California Closets! You know how important craft room storage is to me. I mean, it’s essential to have a functional space that’s easy to keep organized when you’re an avid crafter. I love how it all came together for the craft room!

Architecture and 3D Visualization

I can’t talk about the craft room without giving a nod to the amazing architecture by Brandon Architects. It’s always more enjoyable to design a space when the architecture really lends itself to the design. And since this is a fully virtual experience, I should also mention the impeccable 3D visualization by YouSee.

Special Thanks

I’d like to also give a special shout out to all of the tour’s sponsors: California Closets, Carrier, Minted, and Monrovia. It goes without saying that this Living by Design virtual showhouse tour wouldn’t have been possible without them.

Also, thanks to Martha Stewart Living, the showhouse national media partner. And we can’t forget the amazing producer/production team Embello.

More Inspiration

Did you love the Living By Design virtual showhouse, and especially that craft room? You might also be interested in this post where we talk about how we organized our craft room!

Nativity Craft Along Auction: Meet Our Guests

Brittany

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November 16, 2021

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Nativity Craft Along Auction: Meet Our Guests

To amp you up for the auction, we wanted to highlight our amazing guests and give you a chance to get to know them better. To this end, we’ve compiled the weekly craft along videos of each guest and are excited to share them with you!

Amanda Seyfried

Our first guest of the Nativity Craft Along was actress Amanda Seyfried. Yes, you read that right. Amanda Seyfried! Mamma Mia, Mank, Les Miserables, the list goes on. It was so fun to talk with her–we could have talked for hours. We talked about everything from motherhood to the need to make with your hands. I have to say, she did an amazing job painting the angel. Honestly, I wish I could buy it in the auction. Here’s her live video:

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If you can’t watch with sound or need to read rather than watching, we’ve got you covered! Here’s the transcript to her video.

Here she is with the angel. So cute, right?

Sabrina Soto

Our second guest was the lovely Sabrina Soto! Sabrina is an HGTV host, interior designer, blogger and podcast host. Needless to say, we were thrilled to get to craft with her! She was such a joy to have and it was so fun to get to know her. She blew us away with the adorable shepherd she painted. Here’s the highlight:

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All of a sudden I feel like Sabrina is my new best friend. She’s SO fun to talk to!

Mary Engelbreit

This next guest holds a special place in my heart. Mary Engelbret is one of my childhood heroes! To say I was excited to have her paint the wiseman is an understatement. I nearly peed my pants. I even did my hair for the event! To give you an idea of just how thrilled I was to have the chance to talk to her, here are some photos of me as a child.

Yeah, that’s me, and that’s Mary standing right in front of me. Can you even imagine?!

This one is good. Look closely and you’ll see that I am literally wearing “bloom where you’re planted on my hat” and an iron on illustration on my shirt.

Without further ado, here’s our Craft Along featuring Mary Engelbreit!

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I mean, who wouldn’t want a wiseman painted by Mary Engelbreit? Don’t worry, I’m probably as unbiased as you can get.

Elsie Larson

THE Elsie Larson of A Beautiful Mess was our next Nativity Craft Along guest. I’m a huge fan–I love listening to her podcast, and the things she creates are amazing! She painted the Baby Jesus for us, and did such a sweet job. It was such pleasure to chat with Elsie and we’re excited for you to listen in on our conversation! Here it is:

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Tracy Reese

It was such a pleasure to get to craft with our next guest, Tracy Reese. Tracy is an American fashion designer known for her rich, daring colors and feminine silhouettes for modern women. Her work is gorgeous! What a thrill to have someone with such a good eye for color and fashion painting our wiseman. Watch below to get to know Tracy!

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So fun, right?!

I’ve been such a huge Tracy Reese fan for years–I even own one of her coats, so this was a particular thrill.

Erin Jang

Erin Jang was our next featured guest. She’s an artist, designer, and art director who works on some of the coolest projects out there. It was so fun to chat with her about kids, magazines, and trashy tv. What a pleasure to have her paint Joseph for us! Here’s her interview:

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We are honored to have some of Erin’s work in our Lars Print Shop.

Lisa Congdon

Our next featured crafter was the one and only Lisa Congdon! I’ve been a fan of Lisa’s work and Lisa herself for years. To know her is to love her! Her work is bright, cheerful, and inspirational. It has been featured in numerous publications and she is the author of 10 books! She also has a podcast — she does it all! Lisa is an artist I admire for her kindness, mission to give, and authenticity. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to craft and chat with her. And wow, did Mary look good when Lisa was done painting her! See her interview below:

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Woo woo! Isn’t Lisa fun? We sure thought so. She’s also a Lars Print Shop artist

Courtney Quinn

For the finale of our Nativity Craft Along, we were thrilled to have none other than Courtney Quinn, of Color Me Courtney, crafting with us! It was so fun to have the Color Queen herself join us, and I loved talking and getting to know her better. She knocked that last wiseman out of the park and did a wonderful job. See the interview for yourself:

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That concludes our summary of the wonderful Nativity Craft Along! What a privilege to be a part of it. It has been so fun, and the best part is knowing we’re helping makers all around the country, through our partnership with Nest, whenever anyone buys a nativity e-book. We’re so excited to top off our donations with the auction this Sunday and hope you’ll join us! We’ll be releasing more details later in the week. If you have any questions about it, please let us know in the comments!

Lars Approved Brand Alert: Marimekko

Brittany

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March 1, 2021

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Many of us are sprucing up our homes and planning to decorate for spring. Our Marimekko roundup highlights many home decor items that are perfect for new additions and finishing touches. You may even consider replacing some items like the old dish towels and oven mitts hanging sadly in the kitchen!

Marimekko for Your Kitchen and Dining

While we’re on the topic of oven mitts, choose from this oven mitt or this pot holder for pops of bright flowers in the kitchen. Or maybe you need a new set of dishtowels. The deep magenta and orange hues add a pleasant statement anywhere they hang.

Switch your current placemats to these bold prints. Add these plates or these and some glass tumblers or mugs to complete the table setting. The magic of Marimekko design is that there is no wrong combination of prints and colors! You can mix and match any design and surprise yourself in seeing that they somehow complement each other.

If you’re heading out for a picnic or plan to throw a party at home, make a theme out of Marimekko and use these paper napkins (1, 2, 3) as the source of your inspiration.

For Your Bedroom

Simple additions like wallpaper and new bedding create an entirely new atmosphere to a room. And we love a great accent wall! Use this striped wallpaper or floral mural to create a vibrant mood. Moreover, add these striped sheets on this comforter set and you will have encapsulated our Marimekko spirit.

Marimekko for the Minimalists

For those not so inclined to bold colors, Marimekko also offers neutral pieces that add the perfect amounts of pattern. There are cream colored hand towels or a chestnut colored polka dotted one, a beige polka dotted bath towel, an off-white and beige throw, a black and white floral bed sheet set, and these subtle pink vases (1, 2). Patterns and textures provide subtle accents in neutral pieces.

For the Everyday

Maybe you can’t make such dramatic changes at the moment. There are still ways to make big impacts with small changes. Switch up your bath towels for some red florals or red and pink stripes. You’ll feel like you rolled into Candyland! Or you can add these fun slippers to your everyday loungewear and carry a colorful tote bag on your weekly trips to the market. Switch up your makeup bag or create a smaller one for everyday use. Although we may have less reasons to go out these days, when the occasion arises, carry a chic clutch instead of a big purse.

Marimekko Dresses and Fashion

Embrace your inner Marimekko spirit and create your very own wonderland of vibrant colors and prints.

Marimekko Fabrics

One of my favorite parts of this bold Finnish brand is they also sell fabrics! This way you can give your home decor a fresh DIY makeover in full Marimekko style.

Becoming: Interviewing Romy-Krystal Cutler from Sew Like Romy

Brittany

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November 17, 2020

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Becoming: Interviewing Romy-Krystal Cutler from Sew Like Romy

Meet Romy-Krystal Cutler from Sew Like Romy

Romy is a full-time mum to two little ones and an energetic, colorful maker. Unafraid to defy mainstream fashion trends, Romy picked up her needle and thread and became a self-taught sewer five years ago. You can find all of her whimsically wonderful sewing creations at Sew Like Romy and @sewlike on Instagram. Deviating from her professional career in the marketing field, Romy, with the support of her husband and best friend, Jason, and her Aussie spunk, found her passion in the creative community But, Romy’s journey isn’t over just yet as she is still on her journey to becoming her best self, seizing every opportunity and dream that come her way!

Here is our interview with Romy!

What did you dream of becoming when you were younger versus what you do now?

I had two main dreams growing up: to be a track athlete, specifically the fastest female in the 400m, and to be a health professional working with kids with mental disabilities. Now, I’m a stay at home mum who creates pretty clothes in her spare time.

What do you consider yourself? Example: Creative, artist, fashion designer, maker, marketing professional, business person, etc.

First and foremost, I consider myself a mum but with a smidge of sewing hobbyist on the side. Honestly, though, I feel like being a mum includes all of the above titles and then some, but the pay isn’t great. Just kidding! In a creative sense though, I do consider myself a part-time “maker” in the sewing community.

What sparked your interest in sewing? Is there a person who has been influential in your chosen career path? Did you ever feel pressured to pursue a certain profession?

My interest was sparked by necessity. Fashion trends dictate what’s in store, and 5 years ago, that wasn’t what I wanted to wear. After having a good, long complaint to my husband, Jason, he just looked at me and asked “Don’t you know how to sew?” Answer: I’d made a little purse in school once, and that was it. But, those words definitely planted the seed, and then, that Christmas I got my first sewing machine. I guess you could say the rest was history, but really it was filled with tears, tantrums, and lots of googling. So, that being said, my husband was the most influential and still is.

In terms of pressure, gosh, I feel it all the time. While what I do right now is my passion, it doesn’t pay the bills, and my family often asks when I’ll return back to work in my professional field – marketing (before I became a stay-at-home mum.) For now, that answer is unknown, but I’m super thankful to have a husband who provides both financial and motivational backing for all my sewing endeavors.

What initially attracted you to the marketing field, and why did you decide to switch trajectories? Are there aspects of the field that you incorporate into what you currently do?

I actually just fell into the world of marketing straight out of college. I specifically dealt with data and how we could connect the right people to the right product. As an avid shopper, that appealed to me at the time. I hated getting spammed on the internet to buy this and that, so I saw this as being helpful to consumers. Funnily enough, the marketing field and the social media game are pretty similar, but rather than marketing a product you’re marketing yourself. When I switched trajectories it wasn’t conscious. I was just home with my firstborn, and my mind was bored. You can only watch Little Baby Bum so many times before you start to go crazy. So, I started sewing again as an act of self-care. I haven’t combined the two fields yet, but maybe in the future! You never know!

You were born and raised in Australia. How has your childhood influenced what you have become?

I was indeed. My childhood has definitely influenced me. Sydney is super multicultural. I grew up surrounded by multiple nationalities and cultures within the city. Being exposed to so many different lifestyles, cultures and influences helped me appreciate and embrace differences and contradictions. I think this has manifested itself in my eclectic approach to creativity and fashion and has helped me remove unnecessary boundaries. Then, when you combine all that with the laid-back Aussie approach to life adjacent to the hustle and bustle of Sydney City, you get my full personality of hyper-organized mixed with friendly chill. In other words, my childhood turned me into a super-colourful, accepting, loving, overly-friendly workaholic who likes to sleep in too much.

Did you have anyone along the way that was instrumental in the trajectory of your life?

Oh gosh, all my family really. There’s always been one or all of my family members that have been there, but if we’re talking about who’s got the most points on their tally that would have to be Jason, my husband. The man, the myth, the legend. He’s always there and will always be there. In fact, my Instagram and blog mainly exist because of his persistent belief in my talent!

What is your workspace like? Has it changed at all since the pandemic?

Yes! My workspace up until recently was the kitchen table. I would unpack my sewing machine and notions when I would put the kids to sleep and then pack it up when I was done. I did that almost every night. Then, we moved during the pandemic! Now, I have the cold storage behind our garage as my “sewing dungeon.” It’s called the dungeon because there are no windows; hence no natural light, but to me, it’s everything! One side is filled with all my makes to take pictures of, and I have a couple of tables with my machines and cutting mat. The other side is my notions and random boxes of junk, and then. behind my sewing chair is a newly built industrial five-shelf storage rack to accommodate my extensive fabric buying addiction.

Where do you find inspiration for new sewing creations?

I draw inspiration from everywhere. I love observing my surroundings and what’s happening online. So, usually, it’s a combination of the Pinterest board in my brain that I’ve added to mentally for as long as I can remember, and then, combining that with what I see on actual Pinterest, in the online sewing community, and from my family and friends. Also, sometimes I just see something on TV or randomly on the internet and get so fixated on creating it that I can’t move on with other projects until I get it out of my system.

Now that you live in Provo, UT, does its lifestyle and culture influence your work?

Most definitely. The community here is filled with talented creatives and you just can’t escape the creativity especially in the Harmony Provo community, created by Laura and Rachel Harmon. It’s a safe place for anyone and everyone that loves making! This community has encouraged me from the beginning – even before I moved down here. They gave me something I can never thank them for enough: Confidence. Confidence to be me and to make what speaks to me. I mean, truth be told, one of the reasons we were comfortable moving to Provo was because of the prospect of being closer to Harmony and the maker community down here.

Here is a photo Romy took in front of our Lars Mural located near out studio in Provo, Utah!

What is a typical day like for you?

Our days have definitely changed due to the pandemic. So, this is what it looks like now: I get woken up by my husband. He’s working from home, so he’s with the kids when they first wake up and I get a little extra sleep. I’m then with the kids when he starts work. We do different activities and watch TV shows or a movie until it’s lunchtime. After lunchtime, it’s nap time for the kids. During this time, I do a little cleaning up and then start or resume a sewing project. I do this until they wake up (usually anywhere from 1.5 – 2 hours).

We then play with playdoh or kinetic sand until Jason finishes work. Once Jason’s off work, we spend time as a family. What we do specifically changes every day. It’s then dinner time, and shortly after it’s bedtime for the kids. Once the kids go down, I sew for another 2 hours and then spend time with Jason until it’s time for our bedtime routine. The day usually ends with us looking at pictures we’ve taken of our kids throughout the day…or me talking to Jason about my sewing extensively while he gives me encouraging, but confused nods mixed with the occasional “riiight” and “okay.”

What is a piece of advice that you have carried with you and who is it from?

When my husband and I were dating there was this slogan at my university that I really identified with: No limits. I told him about it, and it became our thing. Over the course of the 11 years we’ve been together, we’ve reminded each other of it on multiple occasions. Still to this day, we believe that there are no limits to what you can achieve.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering making a career transition, as you did?

I’d say get out of your head and follow your passion. I’ve always been a critical thinker, and I have the tendency to think of every possible scenario or combination before I even try something. However, my husband is the opposite, he goes for it. He’s more spontaneous than me, which has helped me unlock that inside of me, and I’ve never looked back.

How has social media influenced your work?

Social media has influenced my work by introducing me to the online sewing community that I didn’t previously know existed. It connected me with indie pattern designers, amazing fabric stores, and incredible creative accounts. These all influence my work and ideas. However, there are times when I need to pull myself back out. Like any community, there are trends, and if you’re not careful, you can start to lose a sense of yourself in there.

What artists and creatives do you look up to? Both historical and present.

Historically, I grew up loving Frida Kahlo. Learning about her in Spanish school was always a highlight (in Australia, if you’re a native speaker, you can go to school on Saturdays that are in your language.) She was unapologetically herself, and I loved that and still do!

Present-day, the artists I’m influenced by are Monika Forsberg, Ellie Whittaker, Ellen McKenna, and Jennifer Bouron. The Instagram handles of some of the creatives in the sewing community that inspire me at the moment are @emilynatsai, @burieddiamond, @caramiyamaui, @thecornyrainbow, @sewitcurly, @theravelout, @therealalexisbailey, @inannaapparel.

I could keep going and going, but it’s constantly changing, and I’m always finding new and amazing sewists out there. But, without trying to be corny, one of the first accounts I started following, and one of the most in-line with my style, is The House That Lars Built, so being featured is kind of a dream-come-true.

Here Romy poses in front of another fun Provo mural. Check out our full mural guide here!

What has been inspiring you lately?

Funnily enough, my inspiration lately has been coming from all the ideas I’ve shelved in the past. In the pandemic life we all live now, the isolation and social distancing have allowed me to pick up things I’ve always wanted to do but have been a little scared to approach. At times, I have held myself back for fear of wasting time on things that may not be as “on-trend” or a little too experimental. So, in a weird way, it’s actually been super freeing, creatively, to be left alone to ferment in my own ideas and see what funky things I come up with.

How has COVID 19 affected your work and aspirations? Are there additional personal or professional interests you’d like to explore?

COVID 19 hasn’t really affected my work because I’m a homebody that loves to sew. Staying home is what I do, it’s kind of my jam. However, the extrovert tendencies in me miss socialising, seeing people dressed up when they go out, all of which usually influence my creativity. In the future, personally, I’d love to collaborate more. It’s one of my favourite things to do. I love the mixes that can come from different points of view. That’s where the magic happens. Professionally, I’m not sure yet; I just love doing what I love and letting opportunities present themselves, and giving 110% of myself to whatever comes my way. It seems to be working, so why fix what isn’t broken?

What advice would you give to someone who wants to self-teach a new hobby or skill?

Keep going and keep balanced. You are going to encounter so many obstacles as you learn. Sometimes it will feel easy and you feel like you are getting into a groove, and other times, you’ll feel like you can’t connect the dots and even the simple things are difficult again, and that’s ok! I’m still learning and have so much to learn. I have my fair share of meltdowns mixed with triumphs. It’s important to keep pushing forward when it’s difficult, but it’s just as important to know when you need a break and need to step away.

Is there anything more you would like to “become?”

In general, I want to become the best version of myself. There are a few paths that I can go down and it changes every day depending on which one I want to take or if I want to go down a couple at a time. I’d love to level up with my sewing skills and learn pattern drafting. I’d also like to go back to university and get a master’s degree in data analytics or possibly specialise in the health sector (I graduated in health sciences/human resources and industrial relations). Whatever I choose, I know now that I don’t have to choose one or stick to just one. Life is meant to be lived, and you should never be too focused on the one goal because you may just miss out on other fun projects and opportunities along the way!

Where to Find Romy

Instagram

Her Blog: Sew Like Romy

Check out the quilt coat Romy sewed for me here!

If Romy has inspired you to try out sewing…

Check out our sewing patterns here! And our guide to fabric we love here, to get started on a fun new project!

This post is a part of our Becoming Series, where we interview creative women we admire. Click here to explore more interviews from this series!

Interviews With Artists of Color We Admire

Brittany

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June 5, 2020

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Interviews With Artists of Color We Admire

Kendra Dandy of Bouffants and Broken Hearts

Kendra’s work is bold, stylish, and a bit flashy. I love it. She draws a lot of faces and they all have these fabulous lash-lined eyes. In a past interview with her, we asked her how social media influences her work, and she said:

“It keeps me up to date on the latest trends and it has influenced the speed at which I put out stuff. Sometimes that can be not so great if I don’t actually feel like creating anything but feel pressured to keep up… I do like seeing what’s out there, making my own interpretations of trends and also the endless stream of inspiration.”

One thing I really admire about Kendra is how skillfully she uses her social media platform to make her voice heard. Her work about Black Lives Matter is meaningful, and shows real creativity. She doesn’t just copy-paste her style onto someone else’s idea. See her post here.

Kendra Dandy is the woman behind Bouffants and Broken Hearts based in Philadelphia, PA. She is also the creator of one of our past book club posters and bookmarks. Her print, which you can see above, is a great reminder to be fierce in your fight for what is right. Check out the full interview with Kendra here!

Jen Hewett

Whenever I look at Jen’s website or instagram, I feel transported to another world. Jen’s world. And lemme tell ya, I like what I see! Her designs are inspired by nature, and she finds beautiful ways to display her work.

Jen is a creator who started sewing and printmaking in her thirties. She says she always felt this need to be creative. However, it wasn’t until hard times hit that she found a way to make something out of her dreams:

“It wasn’t until the economy crashed and I lost my job that those two interests converged. I started screenprinting fabric and sewing it into bags that I then sold. Something just clicked – my love of the tactile nature of fabric and of the meditative process of screenprinting, my obsession with color and pattern, and also my desire to have a creative career again.”

I love stories like hers because I find it reassuring to learn about someone who discovered a new passion, then had the courage to follow it despite challenges.

We interviewed Jen as part of our Women Who Work series. Find her full interview here.

Justina Blakeney of Jungalow

If you haven’t heard of Jungalow by now, fix that!! The brand founded by Justina shows that bohemian maximalism and modern stylings work together beautifully. Her keen sense of style has undoubtedly shaped interior design for the better.

One thing that I admire about Justina is that she says what she thinks! Whenever I try to do that, I end up tripping over words as they come out faster than my thoughts can manage. Hence, the writing (and editing).

In our interview, Justina said that her ultimate plan “has always been to figure out how to be my own boss, be creative, get rich, do good in the world. The details have always been a bit fuzzier.”

Hellooooo! Putting that quote on my mood board NOW. I was just stalking her instagram while writing this (it’s worth your time) and found another strong statement I wish was mine:

“Art can transform. Art can heal. Money helps too. #blacklivesmatter”

I believe that! Each word of it. If you want to transform, heal, or help, try art. Whether you make art about a cause that matters, learn from the artwork of others, or purchase art in support of real people, you can make a difference.

We interviewed Justina as part of our Becoming series. Read her full interview here.

More Artists of Color to Support

Click here to see the art of work of over 60 black creatives whose lives and art MATTER.

We are also working to promote anti-racism by continuing to fill our print shop with diverse representation. Explore some of our prints representing women of color below, and fill your home with beauty of all kinds.