New Year, New Goals

Hello, 2018!

Recently, I listened to a segment on the great podcast, A Well Designed Business, where a business coach shared she blogs twice a week ... Twice Every Week! Yikes, that is often.

I love sharing more on my work with you here -- and giving you a bit of insight into what you may just get a glimpse of via Instagram. My biggest challenge as an artist, mom, entrepreneur, textile designer and small business owner? Finding the time. So, Thank you for reading and indulging my "post when you can" approach.

In this post, I wanted to focus on goals in this new year and what lies ahead. I have always been kinda big on goals. (After all, it was a New Year's resolution that launched Mira Jean Designs in the first place).

As I kick off 2018, I had the pleasure of celebrating with a group of fellow Awesome Women Entrepreneurs. Such a great way to begin the new year! We gathered at the sweet little local boutique The Urban Farmhouse on Wilson Blvd. The energy in the room was palpable. The guest speaker was Successful Culture CEO Marissa Levin -- talk about inspirational!

New year, new business inspiration: the group of Awesome Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) members at The Urban Farmhouse in Arlington, January 2018

Here are some of my favorite words of wisdom heard from Marissa and others throughout the evening. I hope these gems inspire you, too, in this new calendar year:

1. Never let others determine your worth

2. Know what you don't want

3. People who question you are only as valuable as you allow them to be

4. Be able to get really lean, really quickly, is key. As are ... 

5. Pivot(s)!

6. (Be able to) Fly the plane while you are building it

7. The antidote to fear is confidence

8. Have a healthy respect for mortality. (As Marissa shared, "When I get to the end, I won't have any regrets.")

9. Remember: a wall leads to a doorway. 

My Mira Jean Designs goals for 2018? They include:

#1 - Find the right showroom partner in California (if you can recommend one, let me know!).

#2 - Mix it up! -- In 2018, I'll be offering a variety of new works and services, including art and "Refresh a Room" services -- all true to the Mira Jean brand, love of color and desire to help make people's living spaces brighter.

#3 - Launch a new collection -- I've been scheming and painting away; this spring you'll see a new mix of textile and wallpaper designs added to the Mira Jean Designs line. (Hint: what in nature has fronds?).

#4 - More fully live a creative life -- I love every minute I can spend on art, interiors + design. My goal in 2018 is to seize more opportunities to make this creative work possible. It's work that truly makes my heart sing.

Would love to hear your 2018 goals, too ... direct message me or post here and share away. Let's go get 'em. Welcome, 2018! I'm already glad to meet you. 

xo,
Kate

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In the Press! New Feature in Arlington Magazine

The other day I was in the check out line at Whole Foods, browsing the latest issue of Arlington Magazine ... and lo and behold, there was a feature on yours truly, Mira Jean Designs Pinch me!

Our feature article(!) in the latest Arlington Magazine HOMES issue

I was interviewed back in November by the talented writer and editor Adrienne Wichard-Edds, whom I have admired for some time for her great scouting and sourcing of all things artisan and local. (After all, it was Adrienne who profiled one of my favorite boutiques, covet; and Arlington's best home made play dough for kids, Happy Dough Lucky).

Am beyond thrilled to be in this latest issue -- and an issue all about one of my favorite things, no less: Homes!

Thank you, Adrienne & Arlington Magazine!

xo, Kate

p.s. Yes, that's a peek at our new Tunisia design colorway in yellow, getting ready to ship as part of a custom pillow order for a client in the midwest ... more on that and our custom colorways, coming soon!)

Showroom & Entrepreneur Spotlight: Jackie Cox at Tapis Decor

Last summer I was thrilled to meet Jacqueline Cox, Tapis Decor showroom owner at the Design Center in Minneapolis, designer Ashley Lundgren and the entire Tapis Decor team. I first reached out to Tapis Decor virtually -- I was looking for a showroom partner in the Midwest, came across their company and loved the lines they carried. I asked if they would consider adding Mira Jean Designs textiles to their mix. After a trip to Minneapolis and the opportunity to share our fabrics in person, a partnership began. 

I am honored to collaborate with Tapis Decor and be represented by this team. Recently I asked the owner, Jacqueline, to share her thoughts on the showroom, trends in interior design and advice for fellow women entrepreneurs. Read the full interview, below.

If you are ever in the Twin Cities and looking for some interior design inspiration, be sure to visit Tapis Decor, located at the Design Center in Minneapolis' International Market Square. It won't disappoint!

xo, Kate

Interview with Jackie Cox, Owner, Tapis Decor Showroom in Minneapolis

When did you first open your doors? I purchased the company in 2008 and continued as a floorcovering store until 2012. It was then that I opened a second home furnishings store and rebranded as Tapis Decor.

For those new to your showroom, how would you describe it? A fresh inspiration to transitional furnishings. It's light, airy and incorporates both highly functional and usable pieces with curious and found accents.

The view when you walk through the showroom doors. Photos courtesy of Ashley Lundgren @tapisdecormn.

What can visitors expect when they walk in to Tapis Decor? Share with us a brief description of Tapis Decor and the lines you carry. We are selective about the lines we carry. We make sure you're getting a product that not only looks good but is well made. Tapis Decor features artists not just products. We love to carry boutique lines that are made with an artistic vision and we actively seek them out.

Another view of the showroom floor with its mix of original art, fine furnishings and beautiful accent pieces. 

What sets Tapis Decor apart from the other showrooms at International Market Square? Our selection and our staff! We've been told over and over that we have a beautiful showroom and great service.

What do you love most about owning a showroom and managing the business? I love seeing the people who come in and enjoy the space and selection. I also love watching it grow as a company and become a more prominent contributor to our local industry.

Another vignette from the showroom floor. Such a wonderful mix of deep indigo blues, lighter natural textures, comfy artisan pillows ... and that chandelier! 

Our textile display panels at Tapis Decor, alongside Victoria Larson and other artisan designers. 

A wonderful mix of natural textures and woods at Tapis Decor, punctuated with pops of color.

Is there a special project that is particularly memorable and that you enjoyed working on? If so, what was it and what set it apart? The projects I remember most are those in which we're a part of the process from start to finish. We're part of the project, not just the source of the product.

For fellow women entrepreneurs and business owners, what advice would you offer? Be true to you, that's how you produce your best product and result.

What suggestions might you have for someone designing or refreshing an interior space? Always incorporate something that reflects your personality and something that makes you smile.

What is one of the biggest trends happening now in interiors; via textiles, furniture, rugs and/or lighting? Color! It's back! Yeah! We're seeing less of the completely neutral spaces and more use of rich color.

Pick a color! Visitors can browse a Mira Jean Designs sample ring on display at Tapis Decor.

What do you love most about your job? Watching my vision come to life as a finished product. ###

Historic Home + Fellow Entrepreneur Spotlight: Moley Evans

People (myself included!) often say it is a small world ... this blog feature is a true testament to this.

If you know me well, you know I absolutely *love* historic homes. Years ago, my mother in law invited me to tour a magnificent one: a turn of the century Antebellum farmhouse in Alcova Heights, Arlington, Virginia. Her good friend Alice lived in it and was a master gardener; I remember vividly the day Alice graciously gave us a tour of her beautiful home and its surroundings. It was a house and garden to remember. 

A house to remember: the front door of this historic grand home with its welcoming front porch, haint blue porch ceiling and yellow door. Photo courtesy of its current homeowner, Moley Evans.

Fast forward about fifteen years ... and I found myself back in the home's dining room with the new owner, Founder & Director of EverWonder Moley Evans, talking about fabrics for her newly remodeled kitchen. My friends, this is the Universe at work. 

The view from Moley's dining room table, looking into her beautiful new kitchen (pre- roman shades)

Moley is an amazing business owner and entrepreneur. A fellow mom of two, she launched an after school enrichment and summer camp program, EverWonder about ten years ago -- and it's been growing ever since. 

Moley was kind enough to sit down with me this winter and share her thoughts and advice for fellow women entrepreneurs, below are excerpts from our conversation. She also selected my watercolored Aquafern textile design for roman shades in her newly remodeled kitchen(!!). Check it out: 

Do as the romans do: Moley and I collaborated on custom roman shades for her new kitchen in our Aquafern watercolored textile design on linen & cotton canvas. 

I am honored to have some of my Mira Jean Designs textiles in this historic home -- a home that is such a thoughtful blend of old + new. Even the coffee table in Moley's family room honors the home's past: it was custom made, from an old tree that had to be taken down on the property:

The Evans' family's coffee table, custom made from an old tree formerly on the grounds. 

Thank you for following along (and p.s. if you're a fellow mom and entrepreneur, would love to hear your $.02 on running a business, too ... what advice would you offer? Do you have a 'to do' list when you're on vacation, too? Tell me!).

xo, Kate

A Conversation with Fellow Entrepreneur Moley Evans:

Tell us about your business - what is your role, and how did it start? 
I am the Founder & Director of EverWonder Camps. I taught for six years, and then when I had my second child started tutoring ... which in turn sparked wanting to launch my own after school enrichment programs. Today, EverWonder offers camps across Arlington and Northern Virginia.

What advice would you offer fellow business owners? 
You write a business plan and think it's one thing -- but don't be afraid to make changes and get advice from other people. Brainstorm with others! Don't be afraid to say, "I was wrong about that." Do stick up for yourself and your product. Most importantly, celebrate your successes. As women and moms, we often do a lot. Don't be afraid to ask for help - and know it's okay to say no.

It is also very important to give back to the community. This is a big part of what we do at EverWonder. We sponsor the Jennifer Bush Lawson Foundation's Annual 5K Run, donate to Doorways for Women and Families, and more.

What's the best thing about running your own business? 
I love love love being able to give people jobs! I also love mentoring employees, creating incentives for them that help them grow, and providing teachers with work when schools are out of session.  I also love that I have a viable business that I could hand down to my kids.

What was the biggest surprise in running your own business? 
How much work it takes! It's hard to stop working -- even when I'm on vacation. There's alway a 'to do' list.

Tell us more about your beautiful home. 
It was built in 1836. The house has a spiral staircase, windows everywhere, pocket doors and a screened in porch. Douglas Wallop and Violet Lucille Fletcher ("Lucy") lived in it, in the 1950s. He wrote "The Damn Yankees." She was a writer, too, used to throw parties and played the piano ... I love that she is a part of at the home's history.

What other updates have you made to the home? 
Paint, paint, paint! When we first moved in, rooms hadn't been painted in 25 years. We also turned a back porch that was added in the 70's into a mudroom. Upstairs, we kept the same window line to keep the integrity of the house.

To learn more about Moley Evans' EverWonder camp classes and programs and ways they give back to the community, visit their website at: everwondercamps.com

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Serendipity

Sometimes life works in mysterious and serendipitous ways. This week has been a whirlwind! I am excited to share a few highlights with you:

On Tuesday, I was one of three artists at a special event hosted by Kate Llubers at Evans & Sheldon.  Kate runs a beautiful textiles and home furnishings showroom in Georgetown. The focus on this week's event was all about ... Wallpaper. It was an honor to be there alongside Mally Skok and Victoria Larson, two fellow textile designers whose work I admire.

I had been thinking about venturing out into the world of wallpaper for some time. Kate's event gave me what I needed: a deadline. So over the past six weeks or so, I have been testing and fine-tuning wallpaper finishes.

Talk about meeting a deadline. The product was ready just in time for Tuesday's event - but I confessed to the group, I hadn't yet named one of the designs. It began as a textile design. It was posted on Facebook and Instagram in its early stages ... but hasn't been added it to the website yet - in part because I wasn't sure what to call it.

On Thursday, I found myself out in Waterford, Virginia at the beautiful new Hope Flower Farm owned by floral designer Holly Chapple and family. Holly was the florist for my wedding some many years ago. We recently re-connected through social media. Unbelievable!

Holly's flowers made my wedding day beautiful. Words cannot describe how it felt to reconnect with a woman I so admired almost two decades(!) ago -- AND to see her flourishing in her creative career in such a beautiful, idyllic place. Here are a few pics from the visit:

One (of three) barns on the 25+ acre property

Some ranunculus that arrived while I was there. (Later that afternoon, Holly turned these beauties and more into an *amazing* arrangement. You can see the finished bouquet on her Instagram feed here)

A floral chandelier frame Holly designed, inside one of the barns. (Imagine this covered with flowers ... Stunning!)

Holly and I reminisced about my wedding (check out the old wedding pics on her Instagram feed!) and talked about our careers, families, and lives as creatives ... and about collaborating in the future. My heart and mind are overflowing with excitement about the possibilities. I cannot wait to keep you posted (and yes, Holly gave me another deadline ... a good thing!).

My family and I will be joining Holly at one of her upcoming events at Hope Farm on Sunday, May 1st: Barn dancing. Virginia friends & neighbors, It's not too late to register if you want to come, too!

In closing, one of the guests at Evans & Sheldon came up to me after the wallpaper presentations with a suggestion for the unnamed design: "Serendipity." After this week's events, Serendipity it is. 

Have a great weekend!

xo,
Kate

Collaboration Feature #1: Photographer Shelly Han

I am thrilled to share this interview with friend and photographer Shelly Han. This is the first in my Collaboration series; stories and interviews with fellow creative women entrepreneurs and business owners that I have had the honor to meet through my work @MiraJeanDesigns. My goal is to share their stories, work and words of wisdom for fellow creatives. Let me know what you think & enjoy! 

Last week, I shared photos from the wonderfully talented photographer, Shelly Han. When I was first starting out @MiraJeanDesigns, I had the good fortune of meeting Shelly. We've been collaborating ever since. 

Shelly's photos have a beautiful way of capturing color, light and energy. Fun fact: her favorite subjects are actually people. (Luckily for me, she still photographs my textiles, too). I recently asked Shelly to share some insights on her work, creative process and more. She graciously agreed and today we are sharing the interview with you here: 

Kate@MiraJeanDesigns: How long have you been a photographer?

Shelly: I started photography in middle school with my dad's film camera (digital wasn't around for another 20+ years) and bought my own camera (Canon AE-1--I still have it!) with my graduation money when I was a senior in high school. That same year I did an internship where I developed photos of the stars (the heavenly kind) at the University of Arizona's space science center -- but ended up pursuing a degree in political science. 

K: When did you know you wanted to be a photographer; when did you get the photography "bug"? 

S: Even during college and living abroad I continued to take pictures. But the photography disease (frankly, "bug" is just not a strong enough word!) returned in full force when my kids came along. I realized I needed a different set of skills to capture little things that refused to stand still so I started studying on my own and then fully embraced digital photography as it was just emerging. 

K: What do you love photographing the most?

S: People! I love capturing an emotion, a moment, a fleeting look in the eyes. I rarely take landscape photos, or photos of flowers. It's all about the face for me. Although, if you think about it, hands and body also can convey an emotion, so it's just all about having a person in the frame. The next best thing: a dog! 

K: Would you be willing to share a story about a particularly surprising photo shoot? 

Yes! One of my strangest shoots I've had was in the deserts of Turkmenistan. I had the opportunity to spend one night camping at a place called the "Gates of Hell". It's essentially a football field-sized crater that is filled with natural gas. It was created when they were drilling for gas and the ground sunk beneath them. They thought they could burn the gas off and start again, but forty years later it's still burning! At night it is the most amazing sight. I had done some research ahead of time and planned the equipment I would need, extra batteries (because no place to plug in!) etc. It was incredible. Once night fell I enlisted my camping buddies to all stand in a row in front of the pit while I took the photo. I loved the result not only because it reminds me of an incredible place and experience, but also because it represented to me what I could create if I planned ahead and prepared properly. Here is a photo of me in front of the crater during the day and then the shot I took after dark:

K: What makes it fun?

S: The unpredictability. Even if I'm shooting at the same spot, you are shooting with different people and the shoots are never the same because of that. This factor also makes it challenging, and sometimes stressful, but it's also what makes the whole thing fun for me. I like to be challenged. I like it when people say, "Oh, I don't like to take photos", or "I always look bad in photos."  That's like whacking me in the face with a white glove--game on! I want to be able to figure out how to bring that person along, capture their personality, make them fearless in front of the camera. We should all be fearless in front of the camera. Sometimes I think I'm a therapist just as much as a photographer, and I love it. 

K: If you had one tip for amateurs on how to take great photographs, what would it be? 

S: One of the best tips I learned a few years ago from a teacher was about paying attention to perspective. Not only learning to quickly read what is in the frame (a quick eyeball sweep around the whole frame to look for distracting elements or poles sticking out of heads) but also the height from which you are shooting. This teacher looked at my portfolio and he said these are almost all taken from 5'5" (that's how tall I am). So get a little workout in by bending low to the level of your kids, or stand on the nearest bench and get a little height. Your pictures will be more dynamic if you vary the perspective. 

K: Where do you get your inspiration from?

S: I follow a lot of photographers on Instagram for constant inspiration, and I am in a VSCO Film Users group on Facebook where there is stunning photography from around the world on a daily basis. You can check out the related website here: http://www.lookslikefilm.com/  I also keep a board on Pinterest with any and all things, but mostly photos, that inspire me one way or the other. I call the board "Fuel for the fire". Feel free to check it out: https://www.pinterest.com/shellyhealdhan/fuel-for-the-fire/

K: If you had one piece of advice for an entrepreneur or business owner, what would it be? 

S: Embrace the accounting! I'm still not there 100 percent, but I finally realized that to be a successful business owner you have to like business. Who knew! So I am slowly coming around to convincing myself that the business-side of things can be fun, and of course rewarding, if you get it right. There is absolutely no need to be a starving artist.You can be a great artist and a great business owner. 

K: Do you have a favorite or most memorable photo you'd like to share? 

S: Here's what it takes for a photo to make it into my top tier: awesome natural light, a real expression or emotion, and, finally, if it brings back a good memory then it's gold. This photo of my husband, Lianchao, fits all three criteria. We were sitting outside with family at a beautiful mountaintop cafe in Greece with gorgeous light from the setting sun, house wine in a carafe on the table, and he turned to me to say, "Cheers". Yes, indeed. It's one of my favorites. 

All Photos Courtesy of Shelly Han. Photos and text by Kate Hougen and Shelly Han.