Where does your inspiration come from?
Most of my ideas come from my own backyard. Many of my prints are from plants in my own yard or things I use every day in my home. I really try to create items that are functional and practical, so many times an idea comes from a need for something in my own home.
Do you have a spot you like to go that helps you feel creative?
So much of my work is inspired by real life, working with my hands, going for a walk, spending time with my family, and it's the quick notes I jot down when I'm out there living that turn into new prints or products. If I'm needing to find my creative mind, I usually look for a quiet spot with a good view of the outdoors and just sit for a while.
Where do you do most of your work?
I do most of my work in my home studio. I'm so fortunate in the home we're in now, to have a room dedicated to my work. The only work that travels throughout my house is my carving. I keep new prints that I'm carving on a cookie sheet and I often work on those at the dining room table or even on the sofa in the evenings.
How did you come up with the name for your business?
My husband and I were brainstorming all the words we could think of that had to do with printmaking and came up with ink (almost everything I make has a bit of ink on it) and lore (I still think we came up with this to represent the "traditional" technique I use, but he says it was for the "story" behind the items). ink+lore = inklore.
Your favorite thing to make?
I love making sachets. There is a bit of hand-sewing that needs to be done after they are printed, sewn, and filled with lavender. The hand-sewing forces me to sit down and the lavender makes me relax. I often save this bit of work for the end of the day and it helps me unwind.
What is your all time favorite design from past or current collections?
This changes all the time; it often depends on the mood I'm in or whether I've recently done something new. Right at this moment, my favorite design is my new succulent print, which I've printed on napkins and coasters.
You couldn't run your business without _______?
Toothpicks.
What advice do you wish someone had given you when you first started your business?
Keep all of your receipts tidy and sorted by type of expense, rather than by month. I spent a lot of time after my first few months in business going back and re-tracing my steps. It's so much easier to start out organized than to organize later on.
Coffee or tea?
Coffee. I am trying to switch to tea in the afternoon. Trying!
Favorite magazine/blog/daily read?
I really love the Body and Soul magazine each month. It's always full of simple ideas. I've been loving Ill Seen, Ill Said lately, though I read loads of blogs and my favorite is always changing.
If you could follow one person around for a day, who would it be?
Lotta Jansdotter
Do you have any hobbies or creative outlets other than your work?
I love to garden and cook!
If you could travel anywhere in the world, money and time being no object, where would you go and why?
Iceland. My dad was stationed in the Navy in Iceland when I was born so I've seen lots of gorgeous photos and my parents have always talked about what a lovely place it is, so I would really love to visit.
If you had to spend a year on a deserted island, what 5 things would you take with you?
Coffee, chocolate, a really long book with a happy ending, a notebook, and a Sharpie.
Thank you Samantha for participating in this week's Behind the Design.
Samantha can be found at:
Website
Blog
Flickr
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