A little Q& A game to get to know each other better.
1/ Could you tell us a little about yourself?
Well, in a few words… I’m 55 years old, married, and the proud mum of a wonderful 23-year-old daughter!!!!
I was born in Paris, but I’ve been living in the south of France for a long, long time… I truly feel like a southerner at heart.
I spent 15 years working at a design studio as a textile graphic designer, mainly focusing on the children’s world.
Creativity has always been a part of my everyday life…
2/ The story behind the name?
It was my best friend and business partner, Nathalie, who got me started on this adventure. She did a lot of embroidery and thought that my work and my own distinctive style would be a perfect fit for embroidery.
And so, 20 years ago, we created Lilipoints!
The “LI” was simply the syllable our two first names had in common, which is how we came up with LILI.
3/ When and how did your passion for design begin?
I discovered graphic design when I joined an advertising design studio straight after finishing my studies. Very quickly, it became more of a passion than just a job.
I was lucky enough to work in the fashion industry, particularly in children’s fashion, which was a wonderful experience…
4/ When did you create your very first cross-stitch design?
Our very first collection was “The Children’s Collection” — which is hardly surprising, given my background!!!!
And the very first design was E001, “My Daisy Friend”.
I still can’t help smiling a little whenever I see it pop up in our orders. It’s still selling well, despite its grand old age!!!!
5/ What do you love most about being creative?
When you create, whether it’s something big or small, you feel as though you’re moving forward, that you’re truly alive. It’s a constant process of questioning yourself, but also of building something along the way.
Every day is different, and that’s what makes it so exciting and inspiring!
6/ What do you love most about embroidery?
Designing for embroidery comes with very few technical constraints, and you can see the results of your work quite quickly. I love playing with colours, different shades of thread and a variety of textures.
There’s so much freedom in this art form…
7/ Where do you find your inspiration?
In everyday life! Quite simply…
I’m very observant, and I read lots of fashion and interior design magazines. When you know how to look, you can’t help but be influenced by what you see around you.
A few months ago, I created “Le P’tit Lait Fraise” (Strawberry Milkshake). I had fallen head over heels for a gorgeous basket of strawberries at the market! Every single one was as perfect as the next…
I thought I simply couldn’t pass up such a wonderfully graphic and delicious-looking fruit.
It just goes to show that inspiration is impossible to explain… and that you can find it absolutely everywhere!
8/ Any quirks or little habits?
I stitch everything! Nothing goes out without having been stitched first.
I’m very particular about colours. I can even unpick an entire colour and stitch it all over again just to go one tiny shade lighter or darker…
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9/ Make three wishes?
Wish No. 1: I wish all this piracy and photocopying would stop. It’s a real scourge, both for designers and for shops.
It’s also incredibly disheartening to see your work pirated, stolen or counterfeited…
We designers aren’t big corporations with the resources to absorb these losses and simply write them off as a cost of doing business. The financial impact is much harder for us to deal with, not to mention the emotional side of it all…
I believe some designers will eventually give up because of this… perhaps one day I’ll be one of them?
Wish No. 2: For Wish No. 1 to come true.
Wish No. 3: For Wish No. 2 to come true!
15/ Future projects
As soon as I’ve finished one collection, I’m already thinking about the next one. So there’s always something in the works…
16/ My fans
I can only thank all the stitchers who appreciate my work and bring it to life so beautifully. Every finished piece is the result of a collaboration between passionate people, and it’s this shared passion that gives my work its true meaning…
So… thank you!
Caroline de LILIPOINTS
