I think of myself as a textile designer, although technically I’m the Chief Creative Offi cer of SERENA & LILY — a home decor company based in Sausalito, CA. There, I design or direct the design of all patterns used on our textiles (bedding, rugs, etc.), I direct the design of all of our products, and I oversee the creative side of the business (i.e. graphic design, photoshoots, website etc.). www.serenaandlily.com
Non-linear! I was a Psychology major, undergrad, and always thought I would go on to be a Clinical Psychologist. In between Undergrad and Grad School I took time o and worked at a Tech rm. I realized my day would not be spent being a therapist, and had an inkling I wanted to do something more creative. It was then that I picked up a paintbrush for the fi rst time and started painting designs on furniture. Lo and behold it got shown in a local art/craft gallery and sold, so I made more. It sold, and I thought I would re-direct my path and go study art and design. After a BFA and time in Florence studying, I started a business doing Decorative Painting for private clients in Denver. Upon moving to San Francisco, my client base became Interior Designers and Pottery Barn Kids Catalog (as their decorative painter on catalog photoshoots). I continued to take classes to expand my range of “mark-making” and studied textile design and screenprinting. At that point I developed my own line of hand block-printed fabrics, which I sold through Interior Designers. Soon after, I met my business partner Lily; she owned a local children’s boutique (Mill Valley Baby & Kids), and she and I commiserated about how few great options were on the market for baby bedding. The rest is history.
A psychotherapist.
Great question. I want to be serving the same role at Serena & Lily, but with more of me to go around to my kids, family and friends thanks to all the talent that surrounds me there…maybe even leaving me enough time to paint again!
I believe in unlimited possibility, I’m internally driven (always have been), and I’m perpetually inspired.
If I’m proud of and satisfi ed by the product of my eff ort.
If I make a mistake I don’t learn from.
Lots, but I always learn from them and build on that learning. So “mistakes” become the course of things.
The team of people we have working with us. We are like a family and I’m honored to have them all putting their time and energy into a common cause that started with me.
You don’t need to know what you want to be when you grow up. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, learn what feels right and what feels wrong, and adjust accordingly. But above all else: follow your own internal compass…no one but you can know your path.
I’ve learned that it’s all about presence. Presence makes time count, and it becomes about quality over quantity. Since there’s never enough quantity, you might as well have quality.
Currently it’s Fireboat (by Maira Kalman), an amazing children’s book about a fi reboat that became an unlikely hero fighting res from the Hudson on 9/11. It’s a touchingly gentle way to introduce 9/11 to kids and an absolutely lovely story.
Not having to make a single decision, sunshine, and great food. If I have all three it’s an epic vacation.
1) Copenhagen, Denmark
Incredible shopping, lovely people, phenomenal style
2) Marrakech, Morocco
Lush exotic otherworldliness
3) San Sebastian, Spain
Low-key, jet-set beach
4) Telluride, Colorado
Jawdroppingly stunning, but still-rough-around-the-edges mountain town
5) Paris, France
The most beautiful city in the world. Still.