Sponsor Profile: Victoria Larson Textiles

Victoria Larson Textiles

One fun aspect of producing House of Fifty is working with the magazine's sponsors! I recently had the opportunity to learn a bit more about Victoria and the beautiful line of fabrics she has created.

{swatches}

Janell: First of all, thank you for being a sponsor of our latest issue of HOF and I adore the image seen in your ad! Now, jumping right in, what do you find is the most rewarding aspect of designing textiles?

Victoria: You're welcome, and forgive me if I get a little excited when I talk about this! The fact that I can translate images from my head onto finished fabric is pure joy. But I have to say that the most rewarding is when someone chooses to use one of my fabrics in their home. Our interiors are a visual declaration of who we are, how we live, how we express ourselves. To know that one of my fabrics speaks to someone on such an emotional level is very satisfying.

Q: What is the biggest challenge you face in your work?

A: Where do I begin? Probably leaving the office behind. I never know when a design may pop into my head and I have to get it into paper right away. This business is truly like another child that requires attention and devotion. Since it’s mine all mine, it’s sometimes hard to let go, and since I work from a home studio it’s really hard to walk past the computer without getting sucked in.

Q: Hum, that sounds oddly familiar. If you could choose, whose home would you love to see your fabrics in?

A: If I say Colin Firth do I get to meet him? This is a really hard question to answer because I think that the incorporation of my fabrics in any designer’s home would be the highest compliment. The list of my design heroes is long but I think I would love to see the Keno Brothers revive a fabulous antique chair with one of my modern fabrics.

Q: Oh, the Colin answer would work for me! But, let's not get distracted...if you could offer one piece of advice to other women business owners, what would it be?

A: Don’t wait! As a mother and wife I felt for years that I had to wait to start my dream company. It was never the right time, I was too nervous to jump in, I was too busy being a Mom, I was too afraid to make the investment. As I got closer to 50 than 40, I began to wonder just what I was waiting for. For the first time in my professional life I feel really content. I think I’m finally “what I want to be when I grow up”!

Q: I love your answer, it holds a lot of truth for many women including myself. When you were a child, what did you think you'd be when you grew up?

A: Ballerina. Definitely a ballerina. But when I asked my Mom this question she reminded me that I spent a vast amount of time designing and re-designing everything from my Barbie’s wardrobe to my room. Always armed with a sketch pad or a sewing machine I think the design field was my destiny. One of my girls now re-arranges her room every 6 weeks – I think I’m in for trouble!

Q: I think we are living in parallel universes Victoria! What is the activity you enjoy making time for, when not working?

A: I’d love to say something really racy like sky diving but truthfully I love spending time with my 10-year old girls, Mugsy and Olivia. I still love to paint when I can squeeze a few hours out of the schedule. I love oils but watercolor suits my schedule better these days. My girls love to paint too so now we have big sessions of acrylics or pastels. I’m always amazed at their natural creativity.

Thank you Victoria, and continued success with your beautiful line!