Behind the Scenes with Lia Griffith

You guys, Lia Griffith is not just talented, she’s also nice.

And fun.

And pretty.

And talented.

We had her in our clutches for a week of filming (seriously, cannot wait for these classes to come out), so we took advantage of our time together to get an interview.

Where do you live?

Portland, Oregon

Do you have any adorable pets/kids/life partners we need to know about?

Yes! I have an Italian doxie who was born in Milan. I call him my “fancy dog” but really, his name is Enzo. We rescued him when an Italian family left him behind after they moved out of the area and he basically sits on my lap all day. I also have a little black cat named Cleo and a 20-year-old daughter, Emily. She does not sit on my lap all day.

How (and when) did you get into paper crafting?

Probably when I was about 6 years old – about the time I could hold scissors. I started making paper dolls when I was very young, and I’d make them cardboard cars and forts and all kinds of cutout clothes and shoes.

What’s the toughest part of doing what you do?

Producing fresh and original material five times a week. I do every step:

I come up with the idea
I make it
I stage it
I photograph it
I put it on my blog and write about the process

I’m always on. Occasionally, I do stop and sleep.

What advice would you give people who are just starting out in the creative blogosphere?

Learn how to take amazing photos. Those will get you noticed. Equipment is important — use a good DSLR with a large aperture lens,

In my experience, it’s easier to learn how to do it yourself than to work with an opinionated and expensive photographer.

Where do you go for inspiration?

Everywhere.

I try not to stalk too many other bloggers, since I want my ideas to be fresh and unique. In fact, they best way to get ideas is to travel.

My eyes are always open. I see possibilities in everything.

How do you make time to craft?

If could make time, I’d make 48 hour workdays. But since we’re stuck with just 24…I stay very busy.

I do what I do every day because it’s my profession, but even if I had a 9-5 job, I’d come home and craft because I’m so passionate about it. I’ve always done it so at this point constantly working on new ideas and projects is natural to me.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

Let me check Instagram. *winks*

I love Anna of Rifle Paper Company. I love the simplicity of her designs and her color is always spot on.

And I gained a new appreciation for Van Gogh after seeing an exhibition of his work. I loved his artwork before, but now I understand a little more of the pain he went through and I really see his brilliance.

What are your favorite materials to work with?

Paper is number one.

I’m also very keen on fabric — I love to sew. Most;y, I sew things for interiors. I’ll reupholster a chair, or make new curtains. That way I get what I want.

And paint. I love to paint furniture. I like to take an ugly piece and make it look like it came out of 19th century France.

What is your most favorite thing you’ve ever made?

My Papier Couture collection. I’ve been working on it for 4-5 years and It’s my favorite project. It opened doors, windows, eyes for me! And it’s not done yet.

Be honest – how much fun is it to film these Creativebug classes…or at least to get to hang out in SF for a little while?

For the last five years, I’ve know deep in my soul that my future is in video. Being here is heaven.

And the quality of Creativebug’s videos is amazing – that’s not a plug. It comes from the heart.

Best and worst or hardest parts of filming a class:

The hardest part of filming is having that nervousness — making sure that everything makes sense as it comes through my head and out of my mouth.

Last question: Where can we stalk you online?

Of course my blog