Get to Know + Giveaway: Designer Lana Kole

I came across Lana Kole's beautiful textiles in my never-ending search for fabulous fabric. Lana designs the textiles you can find in her shop at lanakole.etsy.com. 

I was interested to know where she gets her inspiration and how she decided to put her designs on fabric. So here's a little preview into her creative life. Read on to the end to see how you can enter our first giveaway on LouLouBell! Lana has generously offered two fat quarters of her gorgeous new summer line! 

Where are you from, in which city do you currently live? 

My name is Lana Kole. “Lana” means a beautiful place and “Kole” means a victorious people. I am building my business on the conept that people can be inspired to dream, create, love and laugh through the beauty of their surroundings. I was born in a small city called Washington, D.C. You may have heard of it. I currently reside in Baltimore, Maryland, which is a fabulous little city just north of Washington, DC.  

How did you become interested in your craft?

As a girl, I loved making any and everything. I loved painting with water colors, making handmade cards, yarn and paper jewelry and jewelry boxes. I loved drawing and creating things from odds and ends I found around my house. I also loved doing science projects. Not so much because science was fun, but because it was an opportunity for me to make a really spectacular display board! To this day I consider myself to be a “serial crafter”. I still love making and learning to make all sorts of things. My Dad is a painter and printer, who fostered a healthy sense of entrepreneurship in me. He would say, “Be an entrepreneur, not horse manure!” It sounds really funny, but it did the trick! My decision to specialize in surface and textile design derives from a healthy addiction to color, texture, beautiful patterns, and making people smile.  

Where do you get your inspiration? 

My design aesthetic derives from a love of nature and modern art. I am inspired by color combinations and different sites that I capture with my camera in my spare time. 

Do you sell on Etsy full time or do you have a day job? 

Yes, I do sell on Etsy full-time in addition to selling here locally at craft shows. I am also a wife and mother of a 1 year old boy and a 2 year old girl… which you can imagine are 3 full-time jobs (smile).

In addition to being a textile designer, you can also find the cutest and inspiring wall decals and graphics in her etsy shop. And bonus, you can use her fabric in your own projects for sale, just be sure to give a little credit to the designer! 

So, if you LOVE Lana's designs as much as I do, here's your chance to get your hands on some free fat quarters from Lana's collection! Leave us a comment after visiting Lana's site, let us know what your favorite fabric or surface graphic is, or just say hello! Extra entries will be given for followers of my blog or Lana's, or fellow tweeters! 

Winner will be announced on Tuesday, August 25! 

Lana can also be found in these places: 

web: lanakole.com
blog: lanakole.com/nterior
twitter: twitter.com/lanakole
facebook: facebook.com/lanakole

**This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to our winner Alice, and thanks again to the very talented Lana Kole for sponsoring!