The folks from Web store Blossom Quiltworks! got to spend some time with Moda fabric designer Lila Tueller during this May’s Quilt Market. This Interview was in Blossom’s latest Newsletter. Go here to sign up so you get the scoop too.
Blossom: Lila, what brought you to quilting?
Lila: I have always been involved with sewing…clothing, home decor, accessories, etc. But I first became interested in quilting as a way to come up with baby shower gifts. Almost all of the quilts I made back then were baby quilts, and also served as
a way to utilize my large collection of fabric scraps from other projects. But when I got involved with fabric design, that’s when I became more interested in it. Naturally when you are designing fabric for the quilting industry, you find yourself sort of thrown into the whole quilting world by default. Now I am designing quilts to use my fabric in, and it’s really fun! I am, however, a little non-traditional about it, because I have always just done it “my way”.
Blossom: So, it’s almost as if you came to quilting by accident! We know what you mean by using up those scraps! Your fabrics have such a fresh look about them–what inspires you?
Lila: I am inspired by just about everything! It seems that almost everywhere I go I see things that get me excited about designing. Whether it’s the flowers growing in a park, or the wallpaper in a hotel, or the dress someone is wearing. It’s hard to say what it is, because there is so much art and beauty everywhere, and so much culture and style in the world to be inspired by! I almost always have my camera with me, and I just stop and take pictures of everything that I see that I love. When I feel like I can’t think of anything new, I just look at those, and I get a flood of ideas!
Blossom: With all the inspiration around you, do you ever find it difficult to hone in on one specific idea? Please tell us how the Santorini line came about!
Lila: Actually, I was on a little hiatus to get some inspiration, and came across a bookstore that had a beautiful pictorial book of Greece . As I was looking through the photographs, I came across some gorgeous photos of Santorini Island . It was breathtaking…and I became obsessed with the olive groves and the gardens and the landscape of the island. That was the inspiration I needed! I wish I could say that I took a trip to Santorini, and sat out on the beach or my hotel terrace with an easel and palette, but I didn’t! I just looked at pictures.
Blossom: And it’s wonderful–LOVE the olives! So what’s next for you?
Lila: The next collection coming out in the Spring is called ” Eden “. It is a pastel-ish mix of pinks, lavenders, greens and yellows, which is a bit softer than my other collections have been. It was inspired by my two little finches that have become quite dear to me. There are some birds scattered here and there in the fabric designs, too. Here is a sneak peek of that collection for you to see in advance! I will be debuting this line in my booth at quilt market this October.
Blossom: Yummy!!!! But girl, when do you sleep? We’d love to hear about your family life and how you manage to squeeze in time to do all of this!
Lila: Funny you should ask…I don’t sleep much. I do most of my work late at night. But with seven children, (only 5 at home right now), there is never a good time to really focus. Hence, the late nights. But once in a while when I’m in a real crunch my husband will let me go stay at a hotel somewhere and just work for a solid couple of days. It’s pretty crazy.
Blossom: 7 kids! We’d need a hotel room, too!! Sounds like you have a wonderful and understanding husband! Thank you so much for your time and energy on this–we know you’re very busy!
Lila: THANK YOU! It was a pleasure!
[tags]interview, Lila Tueller, Santorini, fabric, designer, collections, Moda, Blossom Quiltworks[/tags]
