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Angela's Tried-And-True Tips
heartfelt advice:
Make your life happen.
Actively pursue the things you want.
Be confident in making short-term
decisions. A lot of little steps can take you where you want to go.
Love
what you do, and you’ll stop thinking of it as work.
Outsmart yourself.
Take on different challenges, even though you have little or no experience.
Learn from your mistakes. No matter how far down the wrong road you go,
turn back and head in the right direction.
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What’s going on in the world definitely affects how we design,” Angela says.
For example, in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, she was
moved to create a line called Utopia, a series of calming, serene patterns and
colors. “Our business is about inspiring the senses.” Because she believes
there’s no beginning and end to a collection, but rather an evolution, she is
constantly testing looks and searching for new manufacturing methods.
Asked
to name a critical turning point in the development of her business, she says,
“There wasn’t any big moment. It’s been a thousand little steps.” But she admits
she’s faced her share of challenges. “Things always take longer than you think
they will.” As head of a constantly growing company with many different layers,
she finds that controlling the pace is often difficult. “Between all the
traveling I do and all the meetings and shows, finding a few spare hours in
which I can actually design things gets trickier every day.”
At any given
time, hundreds of products are in various stages of production, supported by a
modest staff of 22 employees. Angela usually starts the process with doodles in
a sketchbook, on paper scraps, and even candy wrappers. “I rarely use a ruler or
any other tool—I’d rather let my imagination roam.” Then, depending on the
product, her staff scans the designs to make technical drawings. Whether they’re
creating small letterpress posters or large commercial carpets, the same
attention to detail goes into every project. “We all work as a team,” she says.
Before starting her company in 1998, Angela, who had studied art and
interior design, made a living by hand-painting patterns on walls and furniture.
She began translating her designs into custom rugs. Upon realizing that she
didn’t want to make every single item by hand, she established her own rug
production studio. “We weren’t afraid to come up with our own techniques and
tools.” (These days, she partners closely with a manufacturer.)
Guided by a
strong belief in the quality of her work, she vigorously marketed it, selling
designs to top New York merchants. She’s now considered a trendsetter in design
circles. Her distinctive products can be found in books and magazines, and have
been featured on the sets of television shows such as Good Morning America and
The Apprentice.
It helps that her personal life is as successful as her
professional life. “Sherwood and I very much share the same dream,” she says.
“We want to keep growing the business while creating beautiful patterns and a
comforting environment.”
(g) An alluring Lulu bed ensemble. (h) Angela and marketing
director Betsy McDonald
finalize the season’s handbag collection.
(i) A note card set in four fun patterns. (j)
Corice tiles for kitchen and bath. (k) Angela’s
downtown Portland
retail showroom. Studios and offices are on the
second floor. Her husband also
designs and manufactures furniture
here.
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