CWC Member Feature: Lauren Treiser
By Roslyn Russell Today I welcome Lauren Treiser as our featured member on the CWC blog. You might already know her as our Women in Art columnist, but Lauren is also a freelance graphic designer and is the founder of Patchy Rugs. She is passionate about fine art, interior design and jewellery and is currently studying Gold and Silversmithing.
What do you create? I’m a graphic designer and run my own freelance business (laurentreiser.com). I create everything from branding, packaging, print material, websites, digital marketing to wedding invitations.
I also recently started an online patchwork rug company called Patchy Rugs . It’s the first time I’m selling a tangible product, so it’s been an exciting learning curve. I enjoy the marketing side of it and I’m quite active on social media, but my husband definitely is the business brains of the company!
Have you done training in your creative field or has it come about informally? Many moons ago, I completed Brighton Bay’s folio building course. I loved that you could explore so many creative areas; photography, printmaking and drawing just to name a few. I then went on to study Graphic Design at RMIT and did my honours there too. A few years later, I completed AWARD School (Creative advertising course) and I’m once again back at school studying Silversmithing at NMIT.
What are your main creative inspirations? Blogs for sure! But I still do love holding a beautifully designed book and magazine (Vogue Living is a weakness of mine). I like to get out and about in Melbourne; exploring new cafes, visiting galleries and attending events.
I love travelling and have many places on my wishlist including Morocco, India and Egypt! I love watching Grand Designs and have recently started listening to podcasts (I know that’s a bit late to the game) but ABC RN cover some fantastic topics.
Some of my favorite blogs are: The Design Files (I admit, I am just slightly obsessed.) Miss Moss – missmoss.co.za Design Lovefest – designlovefest.com Pinterest – find me under Patchy Rugs I know it’s not a blog but I love instagram too! My name is @ilovelollies, so come and find me!
How do you balance your creative projects with the administration aspect of creative work? It's hard when I feel I’m doing more admin than actually creating, but I guess that’s all part of working for yourself.
What do you do when you experience a creative block? Eat chocolate! This doesn’t always work so I usually try to distract myself. If I have something percolating in the back of my mind, whilst I cook or run errands, an idea will eventually cometo me! I am a very visual person so it helps me to stimulate my senses. That, and a lot of brainstorming in my studio, or at a café!
What future goals do you have for your creative pursuits? I would like to continue growing my freelance business and work with interesting clients who let me explore new creative areas. My dream is to have a jewellery collection for sale in the future and in my next life, I want to be an interior designer or a stylist.
Thank you Lauren for sharing your creativity with us! Find out more about Lauren and Patchy Rugs here: website, facebook and twitter.
Roslyn Russell is a sewist, blogger and teacher. Her blog, Sew Delicious, is where she showcases her latest projects, designs and sewing tutorials. Roslyn also enjoys cake baking and decorating, exploring Melbourne cafes and restaurants, and hunting through op-shops for vintage sewing and kitchen treasures.