Leslie Doughty

Hello, hallo, olá and bonjour! Welcome to the Indigo-Paris Believe Creative Studio blog hop: We made it! Celebrating the creation of an impressive collection of 293 designs available at Indigo-Paris next week. We’re a group of 17 independent designers who teamed up from around the globe for one purpose: to launch our designs collectively to the international market through one of the most influential creative textile & surface design shows in the world: Indigo-Paris! At the helm is the wonderful, talented and supportive Rosie Martinez-Dekker of Believe Creative Studio and her husband Vincent. Their focused feedback and industry insight proved invaluable. Each member played an important role; offering critique, technical tips, trend inspiration and encouragement throughout the process.

Of our Fab-17 Team BCS designers, here are the participants in today’s celebratory bloghop:
Bethania Lima
Miranda Mol
Rosie Martinez-Dekker
Eva Marion Seyffarth
Ann Berger
Veronica Galbraith

While the rest of our team wasn’t able to participate, most of them have been featured on Rosie’s blog if you’d like to pop over: Sue Cashman, Phyllida Coroneo, Nicola Griffiths, Virginia Kamau, Jacqueline van Roosmalen, Bethan Janine Westran, Justine Aldersey-Williams, Laura Palacios, Becky Holmes and Silvia Micalizo. And while none of us can show you designs from the collection (very hush-hush, top secret stuff) you’ll see other beautiful, inspiring things as you bop through the hop today.

It’s a long way from my little house in the mountains of Virginia to Paris, France. Farther still to Believe Creative Studio in Almere, The Netherlands. I was nervous about stepping out into my first big venture as a surface pattern designer. Working with someone from the other side of the world, taking on such a big venue for a debut (I mean, Indigo. Paris. really?!), and last but not least, signing on with less than a month to do it all. I have a day job too. My kids were starting back to school in the middle of it. But my husband and I agreed, I had to go for it. Do you have something you’ve dreamed of doing but you’re too tired, too busy, too…whatever, to let yourself go for it? Don’t be afraid to push yourself. Take the chance. I recently took another chance entering the scarf design competition for Anthropologie/FrontRowSociety. Though I didn’t win, I learned alot from the experience. To me these designs express the idea that swimming in the deep end of possibility can be a refreshing experience.

Sanctuaire

Trailing Lotus

Am I glad I took the leap? For every reason, yes. Those 27 days preparing for Indigo were filled with creative energy, flowing ideas and personal discovery. I found out that even in my mid-40′s I can do without sleep if I work late every other night. I was reminded that I have a lot to offer the world through my art and through the special fellowship that happens when artists connect with one another. And now, I’m excited to say my designs are part of this collection, available at Booth 5U49 BelieveCS, Indigo-Paris Sept. 19-21! I’m hoping this is the start of many shows and new opportunities to come.

I’d love to say I’ll see you in Paris next week, but that statement will have to wait for another time. By all means if you’re in, near or can get to Paris in any way during Indigo, you MUST visit Rosie at #5U49. In the meantime, why not travel along with me to meet some amazingly talented designers, starting with my dear Bethania Lima. I’ve admired Bethania’s work and enjoyed getting to know her since we met as ABSPD course mates last fall. I would describe Bethania’s style as progressive, graceful, vibrant and playful. She’s been a great encourager to us all throughout the prep for Indigo. Please pop over to Bethania’s blog now to say hello and to help us celebrate “We made it!”