Lindsey Rhodes

Meet Lindsey

Pellon: Where do you find inspiration?
Lindsey: Wherever I go, I am always looking for inspiration. I’ve found that it sometimes strikes in the strangest of places (bowling alley!?) so I always carry a sketchbook in my bag to jot down details. I also love flipping through magazines and keep a collection of tear outs in my sewing space.

P: What does your creative process entail?
L: I first start with an end result. Am I looking for a certain size bag or quilt. Does it need to have certain details. I write those down and then start sketching until it feels right. When I feel good with the design I move on to the math of the project so that I can make a sample. If it works out on the first try, woohoo! If not, I make some changes and try again until I get it right.

P: Why do you enjoy sewing/crafting/quilting?
L: I love it because it connects me to my family. I am a very nostalgic person and I love thinking of my grandmother and what she would think about what I’m doing. I love it because it makes me feel alive. There is no better feeling then bringing to life an idea you had in your head and watching it go from idea to sketch to completed project.  

P: Do you create mainly for satisfaction/gifts/other?
L: I create for all three. It feels good to make things and to be able to use the things you make. To see a pillow or bag and say, I can make something like that or better than that! It’s exciting for someone to ask about something in your home or something you’re wearing and you can say, I made this! I also love sharing handmade with friends and family. It means a lot to put the time and effort into a project for someone you love.

P: What tips and tricks can you share from your experience?
L: The best tip or advice I have is to believe in yourself. In this age of pinterest and blogs, it’s easy to feel like the ideas you have are not good enough. Or compare yourself to what someone else is doing. There is enough room for everyone, so focus on your own ideas and what you can bring to the table and don’t let doubt keep you from bringing those ideas to life! Also, don’t give up when an idea doesn’t come out right the first time. It sometimes takes a few tries to get it right but you learn a lot during that process.

P: When and why did you start sewing/crafting?
L: I taught myself to sew when I was 16. My grandmother had passed away and while we were going through her things, a family member found that she had written my name on the bottom of her sewing machine. I was so overwhelmed with what this meant. Did she see something in me? Why did she leave this to me? After driving it home from Texas to Georgia, I will never forget sitting in my room with this machine. I had NO idea how to use it. I got out the manual and with trial and error I figured out how to thread it and made my first trial stitches. It was an amazing feeling and I felt like I owed it to my grandmother to give it a shot. My mom took me to buy some fabric and my first project was a little bag that I still have today. I’m incredibly grateful for what might have been a simple gesture to her, but has turned into a very meaningful one for me.

P: What inspires you to start a project?
L: Usually it’s out of need. I have a ‘make do, mend’ personality and I like creating useful things.  I sometimes make something just for the sake of making, but most of the time it’s because the end result needs to be used.