Linda Franz is a designer and award-winning quilter, who invented Inklingo, a patent approved method of printing quilt shapes on fabric. Linda lives and works in Ontario, Canada - where she has been designing and publishing beautiful books since 2002, as well as publishing Inklingo shape collections since 2006. Her designs have become extremely popular, in over 65 countries, where they are bought and downloaded from her website and blog. So we are proud to bring you the Designer Insights of Linda Franz.
Image Credit: 1) Willyne Hammerstein 2) Alabama Beauty 3) LeMoyne Stars 4) Lucy Boston 5) Linda Franz
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1) In your own words describe your unique style and creative aesthetic?
I focus on improving the creative process for quilters. Inklingo is designed to make quilting more accessible and to inspire. Success? When quilters are enabled to create heirlooms with fabric.
2) When starting a new project, what is your creative process?
When I start a new project, I think about how quilters will use my shapes. I test the designs as if I was a beginner with more ideas than time!
3) Out of the creative people you have worked with, who is it that you respect and admire the most?
The creative people I respect and admire the most are my customers. I'm lucky because I am directly in touch with quilters every day. Some of the best ideas for Inklingo, the website, my books and videos have come from quilters. Interaction is essential to the design of Inklingo shape collections. Happiness is finding new ideas and wisdom in what they ask about and what they share with me.
4) When looking for inspiration is there a particular thing you do to get inspired?
Tough question. Actually, I don't look. Quilters bless me with inspiration every day. The challenge is not to hunt for ideas but to focus—and live up to their expectations.
5) What has brought you to this point in your career? And what is your advice for people looking to follow in your footsteps?
Easy question. Simple answer: Perseverance. (I'm nothing, if not persistent.) If something I design has the potential to make the joy of quilting more accessible, I am relentless. My advice is to be kind, listen to your customers, and never stop learning. Spend time doing things that bring you joy.
