Welcome Christina Williams Design to Friday Finds! Christina is a very talented graphic designer who creates amazing thanks yous and notecards for a good price! Definitely head over to her Etsy Shop! Thanks for stopping by Chris!!!
What inspires you as a designer?
I'm most often inspired by what I'm around most often: my kids. It's hard not to be inspired by the creativity and imagination of children. It's fun to experience childhood again through their eyes. I'm also inspired by happy, vibrant colors, and the ocean. My mom is also a huge source of inspiration for me. She's always got great ideas and encourages me to try new projects that take me out of my comfort zone a bit. A year or two ago she got me into jewelry making. I wasn't too excited about trying it, but now I love it and thanks to her encouragement, I've got another hobby that I love.
What is your favorite pattern/print currently?
I mostly gravitate to clean and simple prints. I recently saw a little settee covered in Shumacher's "wired" print, and I'm obsessed. I also really love their "knit" print. I also really like stripes, and most simple, geometric prints.
Where do you find your bargains? If so, what have you purchased recently that was a bargain find?
I wish I could say I was a good thrift-store shopper. I've tried so many times. But I always get distracted...I can never tell if I truly love a piece, or if I love it because of the price. I do love a good flea market, though. My favorite flea market find is a little side table that I painted lime green. I got it for 40 bucks, and it's way cheaper than something comparable I could buy at a store. Recently, I've started paying more attention to how much I spend on groceries. I've started watching the sales, comparing prices and using coupons. I'm finally getting pretty good at it, and I can usually save about 50% on my grocery bill each month.
What is your most proud DIY project? What inspired you to create a piece on your own/what inspired you to fix it up?
My most proud DIY project isn't exactly one single project...it's the continual process of decorating my house. We've been on a student's budget for almost ten years now, and I decided that I needed to stop waiting for "someday" and make our home beautiful with what we've got, and what I can make. I love the direction it's heading...kind of mis-matched, really colorful, totally fun and livable. I feel like our home reflects the personalities of everyone in my family. I don't know if I would have had a larger budget to work with that I would have put as much thought into each piece I bring into our home. It's been a really enjoyable and rewarding process for me.
Did you ever go to school to learn about design? If so where and what was the most important lesson you learned?
That's funny. I actually DID go to college with the intention of applying for the Interior Design program. The semester I was eligible to apply, the university announced they were canceling the program. They were taking one final batch of applicants, and it was going to be really competitive. I totally chickened out, because I was totally insecure about not getting in. If I could go back to college, that's one thing I would change. I wouldn't be afraid to try new things; or to be told "no." Hearing an occasional "no" isn't the end of the world. I went on to graduate with my degree in English, which has actually been quite useful; but I'll always wonder what would have happened, had I not been scared of rejection.
Thanks for having me, Meaghan!
