Michelle Fifis [ TDL Founder ]
Chelsea von Hasseln [ TDL Community Manager ]
Amanda Rouse Letscher [ Project Administrator ]
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.
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. Within the Textile Design Lab 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.
You can tag me on the forum @michelle.
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.
You can tag Chelsea on the forum @chelsea.
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.
You can tag Amanda on the forum @manders11386
Melissa Schulz [ Licensing Expert ]
Sherry London [ Tech Talk Expert ]
Laura Olivia [ Home Decor Expert ]
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, with over twenty years of experience in the industry.
Throughout her years in the licensing world, Melissa has gained tons of knowledge and experience in designing for journals and other paper products. Check out her guest expert training here: https://legacy.textiledesignlab.com/designing-product-melissa-schulz-journals/
You can tag Melissa on the forum @melissa-s.
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. You can learn more about Sherry's work through her website, and on Facebook, Instagram, Vimeo, Pinterest and Twitter @prancingpixel.
Check out Sherry's monthly live trainings on various topics in Photoshop.
You can tag Sherry on the forum @prancingpixel.
Laura studied Textile design at Nottingham Trent university and now runs a surface pattern design studio which specialises in hand painted artwork. Although she works mainly with home decor clients, she is also regularly involved with fashion projects. When she is not running the studio she is looking after her one year old daughter Jasmine with her husband based in Nottingham, UK.
Check out Laura's guest expert trainings: Designing for Kitchen Textiles and How to Produce a Successful Home Decor Collection.
You can tag Laura on the forum @lolivia.
Lise Gulassa [ Apparel Industry Expert ]
MaryJane Mitchell [ Quilting Expert ]
Ken Chapple [ Help Desk Support ]
Lise Gulassa is one half of the creative duo behind Sisters Gulassa, an international design house that produces art, patterns, products, and trend forecasting. Throughout her career she has been head designer for a number of clothing designers, including Levi Strauss & Co., and instructor for the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in San Francisco. Lise has worked with countless activewear brands including Athleta, The North Face, Timberland UK and Title Nine.
You can tag Lise on the forum @lise.
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.
Check out MaryJane's guest expert training: Designing Nursery and Children's Textile Collections for the Quilting Industry.
You can tag MaryJane on the forum @maryjane-mitchell.
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.
You can tag Ken on the forum @ken.
