Ask Around: Nichole Heady

Hello, moxie fab friend! I'm so glad you stopped by today! Did you guess who would be joining us for our regular installment of the Ask Around with the clues I provided for you yesterday? It’s none other than my dear friend and fellow trend watcher, Nichole Heady.

I first met Nichole when I was just a newbie at Paper Crafts and was asked to work on the Paper Crafts 101 column, for which, at that time, she was the sole contributor. It was then that I learned the depth of her technique, the breadth of her creativity, her supreme commitment to quality, and her keen eye for style. Later, she was asked to be a Paper Crafts Pro and my respect for her work deepened while our friendship strengthened.

It was a very sad day in our offices when Nichole announced that she would have to resign as a PC Pro in order to help establish her business, Papertrey Ink. Today, Nichole is one of the co-owners and is also the concept developer and graphic designer behind the scenes for Papertrey’s complete line of clear stamps, color collections, and other exclusive products. She says, “I am extremely passionate about all realms of the craft industry and wake up each morning with a craving to create.”

I miss working regularly with Nichole more than I can say, but I am so happy for her as Papertrey has grown to be one of the most successful new companies in the scrapbooking industry today.

Here are Nichole’s responses to my questions on trends. Enjoy!

Is trend-watching important to your creativity? Why or why not? If so, how does trend-watching manifest itself in your work?

Trend-watching is really where most of my creativity stems from, and from some of the most unlikely sources at that. I find myself most inspired by home décor and fashion: the color schemes, the patterns, the overall “styles” that seem to be hot. I use these things as an inspirational springboard for my own work and concepts.

A page torn from a magazine served as an inspiration for one of Papertrey's color lines, Lavender Moon.

What websites, blogs, magazines, ads, etc. are the most inspirational to you in terms of trend-watching? Why do they motivate you?

I am a self-professed magazine junky. I subscribe to over 30 publications and couldn’t bear to part with any of them! It is really hard to pick just a few favorites, but if I had to I would choose Martha Stewart Living, Domino, and Vogue. I also enjoy a digital subscription option from Selvedge magazine.

I’ve stumbled upon a few blogs over the years that are especially inspiring to me including Print & Pattern, Posie Gets Cozy, Design Sponge, and Stylebeat.

And I can't forget some super trendy websites that I check into often: Designer’s Guild, Anthropologie, and Polite Society.

An example of inspiration Nichole has found at Designer's Guild.

Without giving anything away that you are working on, what trend(s) are you currently watching?

I think the revival of handcrafts is very interesting right now. This would include felts, yarn crafts, sewing, etc. I think these things go hand-in-hand with the resurrected desire for ALL things handmade. This includes personal heartfelt gifts, handwritten notes, making jam, and cooking from your own garden. I think today’s economy paired with our fast-paced society has helped develop the trend of everyone going back to their roots and exploring the wholesome activities of our ancestors.

Some examples of handmade gifts Nichole has created recently:

What advice can you give to paper crafters who are interested in incorporating more trends into their projects?

Use what you love. If you love the color scheme of a bedding collection you saw in a recent Pottery Barn catalog, try using that as a springboard for your next project. If you love it in a different medium, you will certainly love it when applied to your paper crafting as well!

In your opinion, what paper crafting products are trendy right now and why do you think they are appealing?

Everything scalloped. Scallops just seem to go with almost anything, no matter your style. Just like the perfect black heels, they finish off any ensemble perfectly. Also, anything tactile and textural. Paper has been our material of choice since the beginning and it is fun to incorporate other materials to help spice things up. I think this also goes back to the exploration of our roots that I mentioned earlier as well.

A card that incorporates textural elements.

What is your favorite medium in which to work and why does it appeal to you? Has that changed over time? Why or why not?

I have always been passionate about stamping. I think the reason it appeals to me so much is the excitement of possibilities that can be imagined within just a single stamp image. Literally dozens of different projects can be created with just one stamp, and to me that is what it is all about: exploring your creativity within a single inspiration point.

What is your favorite part about your job as a product developer and stamp designer and why?

I am very passionate about reinventing the wheel and figuring out a better way to do something ordinary. I love creating stamps that coordinate with tools and products, making it easy for anyone to get phenomenal results. I feed off of the customers who thought that stamping wasn’t for them, but tried our products and are now hooked for life. Everyone can benefit from the satisfaction and pride of creating something beautiful with their own two hands.

Do the evolving trends change your paper crafting style, or do you inject the trends into your already established style?

I definitely like to incorporate the trends I see into my established style. My paper crafting style is all me, just like my clothing choices. I look at trends as a fun assortment of sprinkles to add to what I know I already love!

Once you spot a trend, do you have a way of filing that idea away for later use that works for you?

I have a special three-ringed binder that holds both pages of magazine clippings and carefully categorized notes and sketches for specific seasons, holidays and themes. This binder is referred to often when selecting new colors for our lines, developing stamp designs, and concepting new directions all together.

Name some doors that have opened to you as a result of being connected to the scrapbooking industry and what that has meant to you.

My two business partners, Julie and Jane, discovered me through my work with Paper Crafts magazine. I don’t think I can ever reciprocate the deep appreciation I have for being led to this opportunity. My work now is literally a combination of all the things I love about this industry. It’s my dream job and I wouldn’t have known that it existed without first working for the amazing staff at Paper Crafts. I am truly grateful.

Hey you fans out there! Leave Nichole a comment and let her know how much you love her work at Papertrey. I'm sure she would just love to hear from every moxie fab one of you!

Oh yes, and don't forget to leave a comment here for a chance to win SEI's Glitzmas line! You've got until tonight at midnight! Good luck!