Interview: Sharilyn with Lovely Design

Sharilyn Wright is the creative wonder behind Lovely Design, a Vancouver one-woman design studio. Her blog is one of my favorites, and I love what she creates. I’ve been admiring her work for quite some time now, and she graciously agreed to be interviewed here. So, here it is!

Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a Canadian, 30-something year old designer, maker, and mama. I have made things my entire life, but have worked professionally as a graphic designer for over 10 years, and my own product line for over eight years. After working abroad, I returned to my hometown of Vancouver to start my own studio and work on my own projects. And then I became a mama,  to my beautiful 2 year old daughter Adelaide. It is really important to me to be with my daughter as much as possible, and I also continue to work whenever I can in my home-based studio.

Assorted cards // Address file

How did you get your start in design and starting a studio?
For as long as I remember I’ve always made things. I have a vivid memory from when I was probably 8 or 9 years old, of organizing my making supplies and pretending that I had a TV show in which I taught people how to make things! From childhood I went on to receive my B.A. in communication design (Emily Carr, Vancouver,1999) and moved to Los Angeles to work. My time there was both inspiring and lonely. Because I didn’t really know anyone and so had lots of free time, I began my website lovelydesign.com, which originally was a place for me to experiment with creative web projects. Around 2001 I began creating products which originally I made just for me, and then for friends, while I continued to work as a designer and producer for several companies. My work eventually caught the eye of a San Francisco based retailer, and they began selling my goods. I also began to receive press and accolades for my work, and it began to get crazy busy! In 2004 I left my full-time job to work on my own projects full time, and opened my own little studio in 2005.

How do you describe your work?
My work very much is me. I just make what I like or what I’d like to have for myself. I’ve just been lucky that other people seem to like these things, too. I’ve made and sold items such as note-books, letter sets, posters, and my address files. But I also make loads of other things such as quilts or drawings. I’ve always got so many projects on the go.

I Miss You Mail Set // Far Away Mail Box

What are your sources of inspiration?
My inspirations shift and change over the years, but in general I try not to glean inspiration from the work of others. I love thrift shops, vintage shops, yard sales and flea markets. I love the work of little children. I like designs to be tidy and clean, but with lots of colour too. I am inspired a lot by my dreams, reading, libraries, maps, old papers and other vintage materials, fabrics, nature, spaces, and by above all by creative problem solving. I really get off on having a little problem (such as how to store something, or fix something, or what to do with materials) and a lot of my designs are inspired by small problem solving. My daughter and her joy and wonder at the world are greatly inspiring me these days as well. It’s pretty amazing to see the world (again) through the eyes of a little person.

I know priorities shift when you have a child. How do you find time to be creative?
I really feel – for me at least – that creativity and parenthood are incredibly linked. I use my creative self in so many more ways now that I’m a mama – its just that I am pouring my heart and soul into a little person rather than a product. Being creative and being a parent is the most amazing blessing that I could ever desire, and I truly want to savour these days while they are here. I will always be making things – that is just who I am – and realize that I have all the time in the world to create. But I simply don’t have all the time in the world to be with my little daughter. She will grow up, and she will go off to find her place in the world. And I will have all the time in the world to make once more.

First Birthday invites // Second Birthday invites

Every so often I struggle with balance. I am so thankful that I am able to do a little bit of my work and still be with my daughter full-time. During my time with her, I am able to, in the back of my head, think of all the things I’d like to make and do, and when I get a moment I am mentally ready and can really whip things out!

I grab moments here and there – often I will stay up late and work, or get up early and work while she sleeps. I set up a little desk for her in my studio, and pretty much every day she will want to sit and make marks or stick stickers. So I will get 20 minutes there. She usually naps still every day, and so I can get about 1.5 hours there. I’m lucky to have parents who adore being grandparents, and they come and help me out every wednesday evening, and so i can get a few hours there. And Saturdays they usually have Adelaide over to their house, and I get a day there. It all adds up.

I often think back to the time before I was a parent, with amazement at how much time I actually had. I think if I had that sort of time now, I would get so much more done. I am so much faster and more efficient now that I’m a mama. It’s pretty amazing.

Fabric Backed shelves // Adelaide

Where do you see your work going next?
Right now, at 3 o’clock in the morning, honestly, not far! I have lots of ideas, but am trying to stick to realistic goals for me right now. These days I am catching up on my product waitlists, and planning new products and ideas for the near future. I have lots of cute ideas and am looking forward to making them happen! Sometimes, this situation is daunting, but I know in my heart I am doing the right thing, and I have confidence in my creativity. It has been the one constant throughout my life, and I know that if I continue to do what I love and work hard, good things will come!

Lastly, tell us something random about yourself!
I’m a chronic insomniac.

Journey Books // Goodie Bags

Thank you so much Sharilyn for sharing with us! I can really relate to alot of the answers about keeping balance in life. Wishing you all the best!