September Designer in the Spotlight: Lilith Eeckels

This month the Clique Kits girls asked Lilith Eeckels to be our Designer in the Spotlight because she inspired us to include chalkboard paint in the September Kit with her creative use of it on a scrapbook layout. We are very fortunate to have her  as an honorary member of the Clique! Read on to get to know Lilith a little better…

Q: First of all, thank you so much for visiting with the Clique this month as our Designer in the Spotlight. Can you share with everyone the places where they can connect with you such as your blog, you tube channel, instagram feed,etc ?

A: Thank you for asking me. You can find on my blog where I post regularly. http://lilithandscrap.blogspot.com
You can subscribe to my facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/lilithscrapbookingventure
My instagram account is: http://instagram.com/lilitheeckels and I also tweet a little (https://twitter.com/LilithEeckels). I also love making videos and have a youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Lilithsscrapbooking


Q: How long have you been designing for the paper crafting industry and can you tell us about the companies you now design for? We LOVE your work for Glitz Designs and American Crafts. Are there also other companies in Europe or elsewhere who you design for? How did you get 'discovered' ?

A: At the moment I'm designing for Glitz Design and I have designed for American Crafts for three years. This year was my last year with them and I have loved every minute of it. I have been scrapbooking for a very long time but it became and major part of my life about 5 years ago. I really wanted to be on a design team. Not for the perks although they are nice but to be pushed out of my comfort zone. I LOVE to learn and to be creative and being on design teams has meant I have learnt so much about papercrafting but also about mixed media and I have also be able to grow. I have learnt more about myself by scrapbooking than even before. My first DT was a kit club and it gave me the confidence to try out for other teams. I then had the privilege to design for American Crafts and Crate Paper (my dream come true). Lately I have been working more and more on personal projects like online classes and my photography business. I am also designing for SCRAPBUTTONS a European company that creates flair and special paint papers.
 
Q: Have you always been creative? Who or what have been your influences artistically throughout your life?

A: I have always been creative. Before I started scrapbooking I loved to paint to do calligraphy. I grew up in a musical family and learnt how to play the piano, trumpet and guitar. I also took up singing and sang in several choirs. I believe that my love for music and art is very close as music inspires me every day. I remember as a teenager buying books about Monet, Manet, Renoir and Van Gogh. My love for art has always been very present in my life.

 Q: Tell us a little about your work space. What are some of your 'must have' supplies and tools? When are you the most creative? 

A: I am lucky to have an office as I am a teacher. I have created a little nook which holds all my scrapbooking supplies (video:http://youtu.be/fkoDbFrxPYo?list=UUd9yZKv59-2Y9oi6j7bLWtw ). My favourite tools are my silhouette Cameo and watercolours but I love all kinds of supplies. I have caught the scrapbooker's bug and love anything related to papercrafting. My husband is always reminding me that have enough supplies for a life time. I am a teacher and usually don't have a lot of time. Looking after my family also takes about a lot of time so I usually scrapbook in the evening. When I am on vacation I do scrapbook during the day but I am the most productive at night. 

 Q: This month's kit is named Study Abroad and features a collection, One Way Ticket, from a Polish scrapbooking company called Studio Tekturek. Since you design for some American companies, can you compare and contrast ways that scrapbooking is alike and different in America and Europe?

A: I love seeing European companies entering the scrapbooking world. Like all companies they are creating products that helps us document memories and special moments. I do feel that they are orientated in an artsy direction. Their collections focus a lot more on modern design and usually there are less products but they are extremely well thought through and I enjoy working with them. I usually use the whole collection and have very little left over. Buying a whole collection from an American brand (especially the larger companies, where the collections are composed of a lot of products) wouldn't be an option for me but I would buy an entire collection created by Studio Tekturek. 

 Q:  Many different trends come and go in scrapbooking. What are some trends you are loving right now? Are there any trends you predict are right around the bend we should watch out for?  Can you let us in on any lesser known sources of inspiration you have?

A: I am still loving all the gold and the watercolour look. I can see that rub ons are making a come back and can't wait to see more of those. As for shapes I think diamonds might be on a rise. As for inspiration I usually use my pinterest boards. I do love looking athttps://dribbble.com/ for graphic design pieces. They inspire me immensely. 

Q: Right now, what are you...
Reading- The Siren by Kiera Cass (well just finished it and LOVED it.)

Listening to- I love supporting upcoming artists and my current favourites are Peter Hollens (the song Baba Yetu) and Chester See (love his song Where are you now?)

Loving to wear- dresses. I LOVE dresses but summer has been a bit chilly so I've gotten my leggings and warm sweaters out. 

Trying for the first time- sketch pens on my Silhouette Cameo. LOVE LOVE my first tries. 

Thanks so much for sharing! And thank you for inspiring us to include chalkboard paint in our September Kit! We can't wait to see what everyone creates with it this month!

Click.Connect.Create.
-xThe Clique Kits Girls