Meet The Makers

Meet the Maker: Jane Newham of Doops Designs

September 11, 2017

We first spotted Doops Designs on Instagram and were all abuzz about the cheerful prints on handmade women’s apparel and home goods. Jane Newham is the maker behind those silhouettes as well as the designs—some of which she screen prints by hand—all destined for warm-weather comfort and style. She hails from the little country town of Dunoon (her neighbors’ cows sometimes make a cameo in her photos), tucked in the hills behind Byron Bay in New South Wales, Australia. Join us on this next around-the-world trip to meet the amazing people using Spoonflower!

My day starts with:

“Having a cuppa outside before the kids get up and watching the sunrise. We are heading into our summer soon, and as you can see with all my work it’s very much summer-inspired. I love summer; I love the smell in the air—we live on a beautiful farm looking out over onto rolling hills with a national park in the background. I grew up here, though I moved to Melbourne when I was 18, and then moved back when I was 38 and have been here for two years now and love it. I’m a country girl at heart, though I do miss the hustle & bustle of the city.”

Meet the Maker: Maddie Flanigan of Madalynne

August 21, 2017

This week, we’re chatting with lingerie designer and sewing teacher, Maddie Flanigan of lingerie brand, Madalynne. Operating a studio out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Maddie is a woman on a mission. As she puts it, “My overarching vision is to provide women with feminine lingerie that is equally beautiful as it is functional, whether that be through sewing their own or buying from the market.” With a new made-in-the-USA line of lingerie available through her site, Anthropologie and more, a pattern licensing deal with Simplicity, and bra-making workshops taught in her studio, Maddie is doing just that! If you’re ready for a dose of inspiration from someone with incredible passion and drive, you are in for a treat with our next maker interview.

My day starts with…

“I wake up between 4 and 5 a.m., so first things first: COFFEE! Along with my morning jolt, I answer emails that may have come in overnight and finish any work leftover from the day before. For me, it’s also important to set aside time for myself, so prioritizing a daily workout in the morning is a habit I’ve developed over the past ten years. For example, do you ever have fifty tabs open on your computer’s browser? Well, that’s me when I wake up and by working out I’m able to ‘close out’ those miscellaneous tabs and narrow my focus to what needs to be done that day.”

Meet the Maker: Bethany Ludlam of Lsea Swimwear

August 7, 2017

When maker Bethany Ludlam visited the Dominican Republic with her husband in 2015, her soul was instantly enamored with the glimmering beaches and vibrant community of the Dominican people. That vacation is what led Bethany to create her own swimsuit brand, Lsea Swimwear. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Lsea Swimwear products are entirely handmade in the United States and feature tropical and fun prints from independent designers. Ready for a feel-good bonus? Bethany donates a portion of each swimsuit sale back to the Dominican community that inspired her brand. We love seeing Spoonflower fabrics displayed in such a playful and imaginative way, so grab your shades and soak up our latest meet the maker interview!

My day starts with:

“I always begin each day with an energizing kale, spinach and strawberry smoothie. Afterwards, I go into the office and start packaging customer orders then eventually move to designing or sewing, however each day is always different!”

Meet the Maker: Annie Casale of WRAREDOLL

July 17, 2017

The first time we spotted one of Annie Casale’s adorable outfits on Instagram, we were immediately smitten (though to be fair, it’s impossible not to be.) Her company, WRAREDOLL, offers sweetly imaginative dresses, swimwear and more featuring Spoonflower designs. As the online store has grown, Annie recently opened a brick & mortar in her hometown of Vero Beach, Florida. Read more to see which quote she feels sums up the “can’t turn it off” mindset that many of us have!

My day starts with:

“My 2-year-old waking me up. A strong cup of coffee and checking messages. My husband and I get the girls and ourselves ready and off we go. During summer the girls come to our new store, so it’s challenging to get things done. Luckily we have great family and friends who help entertain them so we can actually get some work done.”

Meet the Maker: Yaling Hou Suzuki

June 5, 2017

We’re always impressed when a Spoonflower maker and small business owner also designs their own fabric. Our latest featured maker, Yaling, was born and raised in Taiwan and loved to draw and sew as a child. After earning a bachelor’s degree in English, she moved to California at age 21 to study design. She launched her small business, Flowie, after earning a BFA in applied textiles. Her store offers beautiful made-to-order bags and accessories featuring her charismatic watercolors, plus she recently opened a Spoonflower shop with never-before seen designs. Read on to get to know Yaling!

My day starts with:

“A cup of coffee, getting my son ready for school, taking him to school, and then checking emails.” [Read more…] about Meet the Maker: Yaling Hou Suzuki

Meet the Maker: Tina Dixon Spence

April 10, 2017

design by andrea_lauren, mrshervi, pencilmein, ormolu; products by buddha babe

Our latest maker, Tina Dixon Spence, noticed a lack of options for cool, functional clothing when shopping for her baby boy. In 2014 Tina turned that market void into a thriving business through her online store Buddha Babe, featuring handmade goods for babies, toddlers and the home that are “firmly rooted in a sense of style.” Meet Tina and see her ‘drool-worthy’ products below!

My day starts with:

“Monday through Friday, I work a full time job as an executive assistant. So my day begins like any other working mom’s: struggling to get a toddler out of bed, dressed and fed before dropping off to school and rushing to the office! Lately I have been allowing myself 30 minutes of meditation before beginning the morning routine (ahem, struggle) and that has helped center me immensely!” [Read more…] about Meet the Maker: Tina Dixon Spence

Meet the Maker: Cinne Worthington

March 6, 2017

It’s safe to say that maker Cinne Worthington may have single-handedly renewed our interest in decorative scarves. Located in San Francisco, she spends her days in her in-home design studio on the old industrial waterfront of a vibrant historical neighborhood called Dogpatch. You’ll find her splitting time between her graphic design business and her Etsy shop, C.Banning Accessories, where she sells uniquely designed scarves. Get to know Cinne and see her beautiful work below.

Cinne's dog Dries and grand-nephew Benjamin in San Francisco

Cinne’s dog “Dries” and grand nephew Benjamin know all the prime spots in Dogpatch.

My day starts with: “a wake-up nudge from my dog’s snout, a bright sunrise over the bay and a little stretch/core workout topped off with a strong espresso. After breakfast I slip into my studio and get to work. My schedule is pretty unpredictable but I can usually get my graphic design work done by lunch so I have the rest of the day to focus on my own things. I fill the gaps with social media promos and admin for my Etsy shop and occasionally act as a curator for the maker’s blog, Found Made Modern.”

Meet the Maker: Zoë Linn Anderson

February 13, 2017

Our latest featured maker, Zoë Linn Anderson, returned to her hometown of Portland, Oregon after years of zigzagging between Massachusetts, San Francisco, New York and her home state. Encouraged by her mother, artist Carola Penn, to explore her own eye for design, Zoë began using Spoonflower to create her line of home textiles featuring tea towels, napkins and zipper pouches. Get to know Zoë more below, visit her website, and shop her wares on Etsy.

My day starts with: “the smell of coffee, the kid-size thundering of footsteps, and our dog Ollie wagging his whole body in an exuberant greeting. After scrambling to get breakfasts and lunches made, the kids to school, the dog walked, and the news read, I finally settle in to work.”

Meet the Maker: Solvejg Makaretz

January 16, 2017

design by solvejg

Many artists are inspired by their surroundings, and for designer and maker Solvejg Makaretz , that space is Yarmouth on the coast of Maine. Solvejg’s designs channel both natural elements of the coast and cultural elements of her Scandinavian upbringing in her company Tröskö Design, featuring handmade home goods. Get to know this Martha Stewart American Made finalist in our interview below and visit her shop online and on Etsy.

My day starts with: “walking our dog in the woods. This gives me time to follow the small changes of the season up close. After breakfast my days are a wild mix of cutting, sewing, drawing, cooking, ordering, shipping, photographing, doing chores and having at least two cups of strong coffee to go with it.”

Meet the Maker: James Hackett of Lush Kingdom

December 19, 2016

Hazy winter days are upon us in North Carolina, but our latest featured maker has us dreaming of tropical destinations. James Hackett, a fashion designer and small business owner, hails from the island of Trinidad and Tobago, just north of Venezuela in the Caribbean. His fresh and colorful designs turn Spoonflower fabrics into wearable art as dresses, leggings, bags and more. Get to know James and his business Lush Kingdom below.

My day starts with: “Work to be honest. I like to get up and go early, so I tend to leave anything I have to get done for the morning. This would be working in Illustrator or drawings mostly.”