Ask Around: Rebecca McAllister from Sassafras Lass

Ooooo, honeys! You are in for a treat today. Yes indeed-y-o! I've been tapping the extraordinarily creative brain of my good friend Rebecca McAllister at Sassafras Lass and we're ready to share the spoils!

I know you love Sass Lass products because you told me so in the comments you've been leaving for the Anthem and Vintage Yummy collections in this week's Moxie Monday. And what's not to love, really? A fresh approach is always welcome!

The creative force behind Sassafras Lass is yet another artistic dynamic duo. Like Julie and Eric Comstock of Cosmo Cricket, Tim and Rebecca are a husband and wife artistic team whose strengths complement one another perfectly--Rebecca sketches and adds a color palette while Tim works his magic on the computer.

If you've ever had the opportunity to meet this fun couple (you know they're fun--just look at their designs!), you know that they are bubbling over with energy and enthusiasm! They have a positive vibe that will carry you through the rest of the day. Every time I walk into their booth at CHA I feel inspired in a way I didn't expect. And besides, I like that they let me name their critters. Sally the snail? Yep. She's all mine.

Join me in welcoming the McAllister's to the Moxie Fab World!

Hi Rebecca. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your approach to trends with us today. Let's get right to it. Is trend-watching important to your creativity? Why or why not? If so, how does trend-watching manifest itself in your work?

Yes, trend watching is definitely a part of the creative process. Trend watching is a great way to be absorbed in a flow of ever-changing inspiration. What I liked 5 years ago compared to today has been influenced by the multiple trends we have gone thru in 5 years. Trend watching turns into trend setting for us. We take what we think is really fun and inspiring in the world, and use that as a springboard to create what we hope will be really fun and inspiring scrapbook products.
Where do you find trends?

Saying "everywhere" might sound cliché, BUT it’s true! Everywhere you look there are patterns and color combinations. Children’s clothing, children’s books, interior design, and advertising are a few of our favorite leaders in trends. Since trends always repeat themselves, and we love vintage, thrift shopping is one of our favorite trend-searching hobbies.




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

Use more Sassafras…HA HA…. Just kidding =) I would say just go with whatever it is that inspires you the most. What do you see in the world right now that just sparks a bit of “oh I love that so much” emotion. For example, say you love rainbows, you could take your favorite patterned papers, cut them into rainbow shaped strips, and stack your own rainbow. That would be combining your favorite patterns with your favorite trends, and make a super cute project.

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

My favorite trend at the moment is the “hand-made” phenomenon. I love this trend on so many levels. It reminds me of my childhood, mom making my school clothes. It makes me feel more crafty. So many of us are etsy fanatics, because it’s hand made. Hand made conjures up feelings of familiarity and appreciation more than most items. How often do you like something, and then hear or read the words… HAND MADE… and that just takes it over the top to, now I love it! I think that is why crafting products that look like they are hand made are so appealing. Best part- they look hand made but you didn’t have to do the work =)

What is your favorite part about your job and why? What is your least favorite part about your job and why?

I have two favorite parts two my job, First being that I work with my husband and an office full of friends. Working with family and friends can be risky, but we have an awesome team, and I love that we get to work as a team to make Sassafras a healthy vital company in the crafting industry.

Second favorite part, I love that my main focus is to be creative! It really is a blast!! On the least favorite side, both of my favorites can turn into stressful situations. A hard day at the office could turn into a 1 am “pillow side” meeting as we like to call them. It’s hard when you work with your husband to turn off the work talk at 5 and not bring it home. The creative side of things can also turn into stress. What if we chose the wrong art direction, what if everyone hates this collection, what if we chose the wrong color combination? Nothing life or death of course, but as far as crafting stress goes there are hard days =)

Where do you think trends get started and what propels them once they do?

I wish I knew the true secret starting point of trends. My guess is that it all starts somewhere between fashion and interior design. Maybe the heads of those industries are also married, and they tell each other their next trend secret…

I do think that in fashion and interior design there is a cycle of repeating history, with a fresh take. I could not believe it when leg warmers were back on the scene! In my shock I could hear my own mother 15 years ago saying how she could not believe I thought bell bottoms were cool. I am sure my grandmother feels the same way about what I would consider to be cool wallpaper right now! I think that part of what propels trends are the (post shock) nostalgic feeling new/old trends bring about. I also think the younger, hipper generation takes on new trends full force and keeps them alive and well.

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

Both. I think the more a favorite trend can be injected into a project the better. By incorporating products and styles that reflect current trends it embraces the whole idea of why we scrapbook in the first place. I love capturing the moment of what is happening in our lives beyond the picture. For example, my wedding album is scrapbooked with a very simple style and sage and lavender are the main colors. I would never chose that style or color scheme today, BUT that is what I was into when I captured those memories. Everything about the page reflects that time period in my life. So I say INJECT away! Today’s trends are tomorrow's nostalgia.

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?

For me, Rebecca, sketching is what I do 99% of the time. I will rough sketch an outline of a collection, add a color scheme, and hand it off to Tim. Tim works mostly in illustrator and photoshop. He is a wizard on the computer! I wish I was more computer savvy! That is how we have done it from day one =)

Name a designer (or two) in the scrapbooking industry that inspires you. What do you like about his/her work?

There are so many amazing designers out there! I admire when someone has a distinct style and just pulls it off so well! Here are a few picks, but really I could post LOTS MORE!!

Leila Bentahar is a Sassafras design team girl based in France. She makes amazing, dimensional projects and teaches them online as well. She is a truly talented artist and I feel honored everytime she uses Sassafras products.

Peg Manrique has been on our design team from the beginning of the dt. She has a super clean, simple, classic style. She has not changed her style one bit, yet incorporates each new collection into her Peg style seamlessly.

Tracie Hudson, UK based, designer extraordinaire is another favorite of mine.

Here is a layout I happened upon recently from Lisa McGarvey, and was awestruck by her work…

Thank you again, Rebecca, for taking time out of your busy life to answer these questions for us! A most inspiring interview, for sure. My favorite comment among the many? By incorporating products and styles that reflect current trends it embraces the whole idea of why we scrapbook in the first place...Today's trends are tomorrow's nostalgia. Oooo. That's a good morsel to chew on, don't you think?

Speaking of morsels, leave Rebecca a comment letting her know how she's inspired you by midnight MST on Sunday, June 14 and I'll draw two random winners to receive the moxie fab and super fun Bungle Jungle collection!

In the meantime, I hope you have a moxie fab day! I sure am glad you stopped on by! See you tomorrow for another edition of Five for Friday! What will I think up next?

Enjoying this groovy day,

~Cath

PS You still have until this Sunday at midnight MST to leave a comment-to-win here, here, and here! Woot on the commenting and prize-winning!