A Moment with Allie Biddle
Allie Biddle hand illustrates, prints on recycled paper by French Paper Co. and to top it off, hand-stitches each piece! We had the chance to speak with her about her inspirations and the development of her brand.
SKUE
So great to have you with us, Allie! You mentioned that your practice started as a way to pass the warm Texas days — I can really feel that relationship to the heat of the state in the colors you use. How did you settle on the palette for your brand? Do you have a curation process to keep your brand image cohesive?
Allie
Aw, thanks so much! There’s a lot of really beautiful colors in our state — especially in the summer even though it’s so hot! Lots of warm tones, our big blue sky, and shades of green + tan lands. From there, I have settled for now on a lot of pastels in my work — light pink, yellow, and aqua and a file of swatches I pick and choose from. I also like to keep all the cards on the wall in my studio to make sure they all ‘go’ to keep things cohesive.
SKUE
I would love to see that wall! I’m always curious to know hear about the developing stages of a product. What was the inspiration behind embroidering the cards, and what aspects of the design or construction have changed or remained the same?
Allie
I had loved the process of embroidery and stitching on paper in college. From a business perspective, it seemed like a good idea to create a hand-embroidered item under $10! Over time, I grew more confident in my illustration abilities and decided to marry that with my skills as an embroiderer. It’s been really fun and sometimes challenging to make sure both of those pieces fit together in the card and nothing feels ‘off’ or like an afterthought. I hand-stitch every single card of mine that goes out into the universe and it makes me so happy!
SKUE
Clearly a very good idea! What was the best piece of advice or feedback you received about your product?
Allie
To be me! I think when you start a business, you get so consumed by what other artists and designers are doing and how they are ‘successful.’ But the truth is, no other designer can be you and nobody has your voice + your unique perspective on the world. I try to always make sure that my designs and copy have my voice and are a unique product I’m proud to share with the world!
