Jill Dorsey of Made with Moxie: Designer Interview

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
“Laying in a hammock with a quilt on the beach with margaritas and my loves. And looking fabulous in a bathing suit helps.”

What is your greatest fear?
“Out living my children.”

What is your favorite color?
“Green. Then orange. But I seriously love them all. ”


My favorite photo of myself: This was taken the first time I flew to California and met my boyfriend's (now my husband's) whole family. We had been out drinking and polka-ing at Oktoberfest in Huntington Beach with them all the night before.

What trait do you most deplore in yourself?
“Being emotional. I want to be a robot.”

What trait do you most deplore in others?
“Lack of empathy. ”

What is your greatest extravagance?
“Reading"

What is your favorite journey?
“My quest to suck all the marrow of life.”

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
“Patience."

On what occasion do you lie?
“When it makes a better story to tell.”

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
“My impossibly straight hair.”

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“True story", "in any case”, and "freakin' awesome".

What is your greatest regret?
“Quitting piano lessons as a kid. It's my greatest and only.”

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
“Danny, Jane and Jimmy.”

What talent would you most like to have?
“To be an amazing super fly dancer. And to be fluent in many languages."

My favorite thing I made myself: Okay, so I am proud of these sweet Star Wars costumes that I made that landed me on the front page of Reddit, but what I am really proud of making is these kiddos. I mean, I made two human beings! And smart and cute ones at that.

What is your current state of mind?
“Sponge.”

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
“I would have an amazing metabolism.”

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
“A man.”

Where would you like to live?
“In a renovated chapel on the Big Island of Hawaii.”

What is your favorite occupation?
“Shop keeper.”

What is the quality you most like in a man?
“I have to pick just one? Ugh. Character. And a great kisser.”

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
“Self acceptance.”

What do you most value in your friends?
“Their ability to cook fabulous foods and drink fine beers.”

My most treasured possessions: I would be heartbroken to loose my photographs. These are the walls of the stairway in my house. I get to relive my all my life experiences looking through my old photographs. My childhood, my family, my relationships, my adventures...they're always right there.

Who are your favorite artists?
“Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo, Baz Lurhmann, Cake, Claire McCardell, Bjork, Monica Solario-Snow”

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
“Laura Ingalls Wilder"

Who are your heroes in real life?
“Those who put the needs of others before their own."

What are your favorite motto?
"Dare to be different."

How would you like to die?
"I would not like to die. You'll have to wrench this life from me. "

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Heather Lou of Closet Case Files: Designer Interview

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
“A stack of books, a hammock, a cottage by a lake, filtered sunlight and a light breeze”

What is your greatest fear?
“Environmental collapse”

What is your favorite color?
“Coral, cobalt, kelly green, mustard, white, grey, black”


My favourite photo of myself: Technically not a photo, I know. I was bizarrely lucky enough to be painted in watercolour by two very dear friends, both times with weird things on my face. The one on the left was a birthday gift from my best bud Dan Bueller. He painted it from a snapshot on one of the funnest days of my life, when I got my face painted and ran around like a 5 year old high on sugar with my pals at a county fair. The one on the right was part of a beautiful series by David Shaw. He took photos of all his friends wearing these digitally printed masks he made, and then painstakingly painted huge portraits from them. I am blessed to be surrounded by creative, gifted people.

What trait do you most deplore in yourself?
“My inability to do nothing without feeling guilty about it”

What trait do you most deplore in others?
“Cruelty and selfishness”

What is your greatest extravagance?
“Butter"

What is your favorite journey?
“The one I'm on”

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
“Moderation"

On what occasion do you lie?
“Whenever I tell myself I "need" more fabric”

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
“The grey hairs that are growing in at an alarming rate”

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“The ones that get beeped on television”

What is your greatest regret?
“That I didn't travel more when I was young and free as a bird”

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
“Learning. And Guillaume.”

What talent would you most like to have?
“To be a teleporting, multi-lingual jazz pianist"


My favourite thing I've made: This dress is the one thing I would grab from my closet in a fire. The silk was hand painted by my best sewing pal Sallie Oh. We forged a real, true friendship through our blogs and this represents not only our affection for each other, but the love and generosity I've found in the sewing world at large. When I wear it I feel like I'm being hugged by the internet.

What is your current state of mind?
“Striving”

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
“The ability to be in two places at once”

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
“A tree - to be taught stillness, and patience”

Where would you like to live?
“A cottage. Or a treehouse.”

What is your favorite occupation?
“Making”

What is the quality you most like in a man?
“Character”

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
“Character”

What do you most value in your friends?
“Their wisdom”


Favorite object: I couldn't chose just one.... the tea cup is a family heirloom. Apparently a great great great ancestor was evicted from Germany during a pogrom in the 1800s and the only thing my family retained over the years was a set of Limoges tea cups. My grandmother gave one cup and saucer to each of her granddaughters. It got broken by a roommate years ago and was carefully mended by a china repairman. I never drink out of it, but when I hold it in my hands I can feel a few centuries of history. It's precious beyond words. The second object is an antique amethyst ring my mother gave me when I was a teenager. It's the only ring I've never lost and I hope to pass it on to my own daughter one day.

Who are your favorite artists?
“Frida Kahlo, Bill Murray, Joanna Newsom, Vivian Maier, Catherine Keener, Parker Posey, Joni Mitchell, Janet Cardiff, Henry Darger, George Saunders, Bob Dylan, Lynne Ramsay, Neil Young, Jeannette Winterson, Billie Holiday, my friends”

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
“Anne of Green Gables"

Who are your heroes in real life?
“Anyone who chooses compassion and kindness when the alternative is much easier"

What are your favorite motto?
"Everything works itself out."

How would you like to die?
"With acceptance"

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Sara Curtis of Radiant Home Studio: Designer Interview

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
“Some of the happiest days I can remember were days that we took our little family camping at Mt. Rainier. Dirty children are happy children! No technology, lots of fresh air and exercise, beautiful wildflower meadows, and wildlife everywhere always left us in awe of God’s creation. ”

What is your greatest fear?
“I’m not sure if it’s my greatest fear, but millipedes creeping around my laundry room certainly make me scream the loudest.”

What is your favorite color?
“Teal, blue-green, aqua – my parents used to tease me because everything in my closet was blue. I have branched out since then, but it’s still my go-to color. ”

What trait do you most deplore in yourself?
“I do wish that my words came out of my mouth as clearly as I thought them in my head, especially when speaking to a group of people. ”


Favorite photo of myself: It's not a professional photo, but this was taken last year on our 10th anniversary—still under 30 with 6 kids!

What is your greatest extravagance?
“If I had extra money to burn, I would most likely buy beautiful fabric…and chocolate…“

What is your favorite journey?
“My husband and I had the chance to travel to England this year. I would have loved to stay longer and explore the rest of the country!.”

On what occasion do you lie?
“We always tell our children that they are getting underwear and toothbrushes as birthday and Christmas gifts. ”

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
“This seems so silly… but I wish my eyelashes curled up naturally, instead of having to curl them up everyday. ”

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
"Get down from there. Stop making her scream. Please don’t ask me what we are having for dinner anymore. Go play. Put your shoes on. Who left this here? Clean up your toys. Do you need a diaper change? Yeah…I have 6 kids. "

What is your greatest regret?
“I wish I had known that a degree in art & design would be more useful than a degree in Psychology.”

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
“As a believer in Jesus Christ, I strive to love the Lord above all. But after that, my husband and children have my greatest affection.”

What talent would you most like to have?
“I would still love to learn to play the piano"


Favorite thing I made: I made this dollhouse for my daughter while my husband was away. I loved the challenge of making something with wood instead of fabric.

What is your current state of mind?
“It’s a little bit chaotic here—trying to get into a summer routine, while moving, husband changing careers, and working on some design projects.”

Where would you like to live?
“We love the English seaside! ”

What is your favorite occupation?
“I love sewing and designing things, of course, but taking care of my family is my primary occupation. I did not enjoy working as a bank teller...”


My most treasured possession: mI tried to think about what I would grab in a fire. This is one of many boxes of letters from my husband. We dated long-distance and have made it through several deployments over the years. A large portion of our relationship is recorded in our writing and I definitely treasure his words of love and encouragement to me.

Who are your favorite artists?
“Of the top of my head, I admire the work of Heather Moore (Skinnylaminx) and Anna Maria Horner.”

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
“I tend to read a lot more non-fiction than fiction, but I am a Jane Austen fan…so Mr. Darcy and Mr. Knightly?”

Who are your heroes in real life?
“I enjoy reading biographies of Christian missionaries and I am often amazed at the strength and courage they display. Two I can think of are Elisabeth Elliot and Helen Roseveare. Elisabeth’s husband was killed by a jungle tribe and she went back with her young daughter to teach them about the love and forgiveness of God. Helen spent many years in Africa sharing her medical knowledge and God’s love with the people there. “

What are your favorite motto?
"Our family motto is “No fun.” Seriously. "

Looking for the Parcel #3 Inspiration Tour? It's Right Here.
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