Hello Crafters! I don’t think I know how to express my absolute excitement for today’s blog. I was lucky enough to interview a designer that creates absolutely beautiful, colorful, happy, and organic designed fabrics…Lotta Jansdotter!

We recently received her new collection, “Bella“. And in the past we have carried her collection “Echo“. Both collections are beautiful. I can see myself covering myself and my  house in these fabrics – curtains, bedsheets, pillows, and even dresses! In the interview, Lotta talks about her designs, her life, and her creation process. So, without further adieu, here is the interview with Lotta Jansdotter!

Lotta Jansdotter in her studio

When and how did you find your creative niche?
Well, I have always liked to draw, and as a young kid I loved drawing flowers and patterns…and that stuck with me. When I moved to the USA from Sweden I was 20 years old and in search for “what I would do when I grew up “. I took a lot of different classes at a community school in California, like: jewelry design, sculpture, drawing, ceramics and screen printing…LOVED screen printing!

I decided to quit school and start my own company Lotta Jansdotter, which I did, in 1996.
I printed my hand drawn print patterns and motifs on linen and made cushions and bags, that started to sell all over America and in Japan. My style was simple, clean and very much inspired by nature, being influenced by my childhood summer spent in nature in Scandinavia.

I loved drawing and cutting papers, using inks, using rubber cement, and pens. I never did get into learning how to use a computer program for this, so my very organic style was developed by letting the designs have a feel of the hand and not created in a computer…a bit uneven, very simple, a bit “wabi sabi” – imperfectly perfect!

There was not a look like that on the American market gift/interior at that time, so that is how it started.

How do you manage to stay both personal and original in your creative endeavors?
I ask myself “what makes me happy?” and “what do I love to do?” and “how do I want to spend my time, my life, doing?”…Well, I love drawing and creating patterns and motifs that is printed on all kinds of things: stationery, porcelain, shower curtains, rugs, and yes – on fabric, so I try to focus on doing that. I love being creative; making things with my hands, or style photo shoots for an example.

I run a small business and luckily THAT is a very creative process as well. It is a good challenge, but I get to be flexible, and it allows me to travel and meet the most amazing, fun, and creative people…AND I can decide who to work with or not.

I work with really, really nice people and that is very important to me ! (Windham Fabrics being one of them, they are a delight to work with). I want to make nice things with nice people. And that is the most important thing for me.

If you are passionate and happy with what you do, your personality and originality shines through. I have worked very hard and always followed my heart to be able to do this. I am very fortunate to be here, doing what I am doing today.

If you had the chance to live during a different artistic movement other than now, which one would you choose?
It looks like it would have been fun to hang out and be creative with Hemingway, Picasso and Stein in Paris for a couple of months… I would have adventures, eat great food, drink a silly amount of cocktails and wear those awesome dresses…and I would collage.

When embarking upon a new design, do you preplan your entire endeavor or do you simply follow where your inspiration takes you?
I follow my inspiration at that time, dig and look through my library of designs. I match up the designs I think is suitable for that product at that time. Colors come after the design choice. I ask myself “what do I like right now?”… “yellow”…”well, what kind of yellow?”…”A darker mustard; golden one is better for fall, and a more lime, bright one is better for spring” etc.

Your new “Bella” fabric collection is beautiful! How long did it take you and Windham to collectively decide on the final look of the collection?
Like I said above, I suggested a pattern collection to Windham, and then they trust me and give me a lot of freedom. I suggested these patterns, and they liked the patterns for this collection. I also suggest colors to them. They help me with sampling of color variations and they also give me feedback and their thoughts about scale and orientation of the print patterns.

My work and collaboration is very easy with Windham, and I truly enjoy working with them. They are a great family company with a great deal of experience in this field. I feel that they respect me very much as a designer and artist and let me make many of the decisions. It is rather amazing.

Did you use a different process for making “Bella” as you did for your collection “Echo” (another collection of yours that we have and love!)?
THANK YOU! And, no, I used the same process. I LOVE creating these fabric collections. It is like solving a puzzle…all bits and pieces; patterns and scale and colors should fit together, be able to combine and relate to each other. It is a fun challenge.

Do you have one particular “Bella” print that you love the most?
I must admit that I am crazy about stripes, and always have been and probably always will be…so “Finn” is a clear favorite.

I also think “Redig” is great. One can make so many different things with that fabric design!

What was your biggest inspiration behind “Bella”?
I wanted to create a very fresh, bright and cheerful collection. It is very light in color and it is happy, I believe.

What sort of crafts/projects could you see your “Bella” prints being used for?
Great curtains, pillow cases for your bed, and super cute apparel!

If you want to view Lotta’s website, go here.
To shop “Bella” and “Echo” on our website, you can gohere.

Thanks to Lotta for taking some time to answer our questions! If any of you make something using one of Lotta’s designs, you can submit it on our website – just click here!

Happy Crafting!