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Hello there! I’m Michelle Fifis, founder and creator of Textile Design Lab. I’m a successful textile designer and entrepreneur who knows just how rewarding it is to build a business doing work I love. When I first started out, inspiring people came alongside me and shared their wisdom and experience. Their help made a huge difference in my life. I created Textile Design Lab to help you in the same way they helped me.
In 2010 I left my role as a textile designer for a large corporation to start my own freelance business. It was an exciting and challenging time for me, full of lots of hard work and trial-and-error. I learned to truly listen to my clients, improve my craft and level of service, and listen to my heart. Today my business is thriving, and I’m able to balance my work with a full life as a wife and mother. It’s amazing!
In 2011, I started teaching online classes and since that time I’ve helped thousands of artists and designers...people just like you… improve the professionalism of their artwork and grow their businesses.
I’ve joined with an awesome team to give you the ideal environment for learning. We’ve created easy to absorb video tutorials, audio lessons and PDF guides to help you. This year we’ve improved our membership site to make your experience welcoming and easy to navigate.
Most importantly, we know learning doesn’t have to be lonely. We’ve created a warm, friendly community where you can ask questions, get answers and build relationships. I’m proud of what we offer, and I’m excited to connect with you as you achieve your textile design dreams.
Trending Courses In the Lab
Goals Reset Workshop
August 29,2020 / 5 CommentsIn this one-week workshop, you'll get clear on what you hope to accomplish in the next four months...
Wellness Workshop
March 14,2020 / 3 CommentsIn this workshop we'll take a deep dive into the wellness industry and explore what it means to...
Branding Your Business
January 12,2020 / 3 CommentsIn this course you’ll explore your brand identity and create pattern collections that tell your...
Two Weeks to a No-Fail Seamless Toss Repeat
September 12,2018 / 8 CommentsIn this course you'll learn Sherry London's No-Fail method to develop a seamless repeat pattern and...
Designing Textiles for Women's Activewear
March 17,2018 / 8 CommentsTake your textile design work to a new level of mastery with this high value, hands-on course....
Print Studio Workgroup
January 11,2018 / 1 CommentsIs your portfolio finalized and are you ready to apply to print studios? We’re here to help!
Repeat Challenge
January 11,2018 / 2 CommentsAre you ready to add repeats to your list of services in your design business?
Surface Pattern Design Mastery
January 29,2017 / 2 CommentsReady to Create Eye-Catching Surface Pattern Designs? Learn how to turn your sketches, paintings...
Our Team
Chelsea von Hasseln [ Community Manager ]
Ken Chapple [ Help Desk Support ]
Sherry London [ Tech Talk Expert ]
Chelsea von Hasseln is a freelance textile designer who loves living in the sweet little mountain city of Missoula, Montana. She studied Textile Surface Design at FIDM in Los Angeles, and prior to that earned a BFA in Dance at the University of Montana. When Chelsea is not designing patterns or helping manage the Textile Design Lab community, you can find her enjoying Montana’s numerous outdoor activities or scouring local thrift shops for design inspiration.
Looking for help with your account or the Textile Design Lab website? Ken's your guy. Ken Chapple is an accomplished software engineer and flatpicking guitarist who lives in Asheville, NC with his wife Michelle and two daughters, Cora and Ruth. You can learn more about Ken at www.kenchapple.com
Sherry London has written over a dozen books on Photoshop, Illustrator, and Painter, taught Photoshop, Illustrator, prepress, history, systems design, ballet, and knitting, and been a fiber artist, digital artist, graphic and surface pattern designer. In her spare time, she spins, creates off-loom seed beaded jewelry, and knits. She is based at the Jersey shore and is delighted to be able to share her love of Photoshop and her eclectic skills with you.
Laura Olivia [ Home Decor Expert ]
Lise Gulassa [ Apparel Industry Expert ]
Mary Jane Mitchell [ Quilting Expert ]
MaryJane Mitchell has been designing textiles for the babies and children’s markets for over 25 years. She has a wealth of experience designing for home decor products for kids, apparel, the quilt market and sleepwear and we are thrilled to have her on the TDL team of experts!
Melissa Schulz [ Licensing Expert ]
Laura Coyle [ Illustrator Expert ]
Amanda Rouse Letscher [ Project Administrator ]
We met Melissa Schulz of Branded Licensing at SURTEX and immediately loved her warm, inviting personality. She’s outgoing, a champion for designers in this industry, and she’s also a licensing rock star. Melissa’s vast experience as a Creative Leader is associated with leading brands such as Hallmark, Hard Rock, American Greetings, and Kathy Davis to name a few. With over 20 years of experience in the art licensing and product development fields, Melissa has strategically led creative teams through transitional, successful and growth periods. Charged with entrepreneurial spirit, she has spent years helping artists and companies strategize their business growth path.
Amanda Rouse Letscher creates art and patterns in her forest view studio in Durham, New Hampshire. She has been a member of the Textile Design Lab from the start and loves collaborating with our pattern design community. Amanda teaches workshops around northern New England in painting, printmaking, and indigo dyeing, in addition to managing her design business, Rouse House Design, and spending time with her family of boys. She has lived in three of the four corners of the United States, some cities in the middle of the country, and for a short spell in Italy; so far New Hampshire is her favorite spot.