Photo by: Stella Kelinina

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
he concept of outdoor living is a major inspiration for me. We are so lucky in Los Angeles to be able to spend most of the year outside and have some connection to nature, even if that's just a little backyard.  Enjoying time on my patio, whether entertaining friends or just lazing about with my husband and our dogs always brings me joy.  Hedge is a way for me to provide a little bit of that lifestyle to anyone, no matter what climate they live in or whether or not they have any outdoor space. 

I also draw a lot of inspiration from craftspeople and the process of making. Growing up the daughter of a carpenter and seamstress, I saw from an early age the problem solving involved to take an idea or design and make it a reality. Now, I love to visit crafts people in their shops or studios and see them in action. A lot of my design ideas are generated  by observing how they manipulate materials. I also love to see the hand of the craftsperson in my designs. There's always some small imperfections that say this was not cranked out by a machine.  

What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?
" You never never know when you're done, but you always know when you've done too much!" was a quote from my artist Grandfather. I think as creatives, we have a tendency to second guess when a piece is ready to meet the world. 

Photo by: Stella Kelinina

What is your creative process like?
My creative process is very fluid. Sometimes, a concept or sketch is the beginning of something new. Other times, I am inspired by an interesting material and I work out ideas that are influenced by that materials capabilities. Either way, I never commit to what the design really is until I start making the prototypes. I like to live with the prototype for a while and make changes based on how it really functions. The Beatrix and Gertrude Hedge Planters went through so many variations before I was satisfied. Many of the early prototypes are still hanging in my garden, as a constant reminder of that progression.