Perhaps the best way to describe designer Lysa Flower’s style is “retro vibes with a modern twist.” One look at her creations, and it’s easy to see why. Flower’s early exposure to sewing and fabric may have played a part in developing that style. She told us “I started sewing when I was young. My mom getting her first Kenmore sewing machine is still a very distinct memory. With that I grew up loving fabric and going to fabric stores with her. Logically I knew the designs on the fabric were made by someone but it never occurred to me it was a job that I could do one day.”
Flower studied silk screen printing in art school, and says she dabbled in fabric paints - but after getting inspired by Amy Butler's “Gypsy Caravan” collection she made the leap to surface pattern design, telling us “it wasn't until 2015 I got my chance. That's when I registered for my first surface pattern design online class. It was a lot of hard work! I sludge hammered my way through learning Adobe Illustrator. At the time the only ‘computer-y’ thing I knew how to use was my email!”
It may come as somewhat of a surprise, but much of what we see in finished fabric designs start out on a computer, getting sketched out on programs like Adobe Illustrator. But the use of technology does not always mean the process is quick and easy. Flower told us “A concept can be floating in my head for a year or two, or just for a few months. I’m always on the lookout for inspiration and am thinking of multiple concepts.” As for the process, Flower said it’s a lot like creating a mood or vision board. She starts creating the main fabric design, or as she calls it, the “hero print.” From there, the secondary prints come together with complementary colors and designs. And finally, the panel ( if one is included in the line ) is created last. “I leave the panel to the end, so I can pull in all the motifs from the collection. It’s one of my favorite parts of the collection to design!” Flower added “Overall this part of the process can take a few weeks or up to a month depending. I often submit to Paintbrush Studio Fabrics around June 1st and October 1st. The collections submitted in June often come out in the Fall and the October submissions often come out in the Spring. So really the turnaround is quick and in under a year!”
With such a quick turnaround, designers like Flower need to have ideas at the ready. We asked what inspires her for a new retro-modern look. “My eyes are always peeled for trends and it’s one of the reasons I love traveling. Also, I’m very curious about different eras of history, specifically in pop culture. They inspire everything I do. I also love imagining what it must have been like to have lived in those eras. I spend a lot of time researching them through documentaries, films or through looking at photos,” Flower said.
Flower also told us it’s important to not get too self-indulgent, always thinking about what will resonate with people. And as you can imagine, that can be tricky, especially when balancing a strong signature style while still considering trends and following interests. So, if you’re an aspiring designer like me, Flower offered this valuable advice: “ ‘Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.’ That was a quote from the first surface pattern design class I took. I often have to remind myself of that too. There is a ton of great content on how to do everything! Find what works for you, leave the rest and trust you’ll find your way,” saif Flower.
Check out Flower’s “Working 9 to 5” panel here. And our heartfelt thank you to Lysa for taking some time to answer our questions.
Happy Quilting!