Designer Tidbits: Dear Stella


Dear Stella's creative energy is evident in each and every collection they produce. Ravena, their latest, is full of beautiful prints reminiscent of vintage Indian textiles. These blues are sure to make its way into your projects and your home, adding a sophisticated touch. The Dear Stella team is here to chat about Ravena, so read on for a dose of inspiration!


Q: Where did you find your original inspiration for Ravena?
A: Ravena was inspired by a stunning image of gorgeous hand-dyed textiles featuring simple, yet dynamic stamped shapes. We loved the simplicity of pattern and the clean and fresh blue & white color palette.


Q: What was your “aha” moment in designing this collection?
A: When we came across the original hand-dyed designs that eventually became Ravena, it was a no-brainer. The vintage textiles echoed the design and color inspiration exactly.

Q: What TV show or movie does your collection fit best in?
A: Diane Keaton’s character in “Something’s Gotta Give” has the most gorgeous home (dream house alert!), and we can see the entire Ravena collection living there – especially in the elegant and airy living room!


Q: Tell me about your sewing machines. What kinds do you have and how many?
A: The Dear Stella team collectively owns two sewing machines. One is an antique Singer Featherweight from the 1940s (she goes by the name “Rebecca”). The other is another vintage Singer that was scooped up at a sidewalk sale during a weekend trip to Philadelphia.

Q: What is your favorite part of the fabric industry?
A: There are so many amazing aspects of this industry, but one of our favorites is getting to see what people create with the product. There is this constant feed – a cycle of creativity – where we design to inspire others, and then what is created as a result circles back and inspires us.


Q: From what aspect of your life do you draw creativity?
A: It might sound obvious, but we truly draw creativity from every walk of life. Whether we find tips and tricks while reading magazines and blogs, or we see inspiration in a stranger’s outfit while walking down Broadway – we are constantly being inspired. And of course, we also tend to lose hours of our lives on Pinterest

Q: What is your design process?
A: Every Dear Stella collection follows a different design process. Many of our prints are original designs from studios all over the world, some are vintage textiles or documents, and others are complete originals illustrated to be a part of a certain collection. Dear Stella is a curated collection of old and new art, coming together to put a modern spin on a classic tradition.


Q: What is your favorite print in the collection?
A: While we are partial to medallions at Dear Stella, we truly love every print from Ravena!


Q: What is the most challenging part of the design process?
A: The hardest part of the process is weeding pieces out. Unfortunately, we cannot run every single design and color we originally come up with… so in the end, many of our personal favorites must be cut to keep each collection manageable and cohesive.


Q: What are your favorite and least favorite colors and why?
A: Here at Dear Stella, we love to think pink! But as creative people, we do not discriminate – we love all colors! However, we do try to stay away from dusty tones, gravitating toward rich and clean colors in our palettes.

For a little more Stella watch our video from Fall Quilt Market 2012!


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