i am so excited to share this [talking picture] today. not only does it comes from one of my very favorite designers, amy butler, it also comes with a very inspiring story. i’ve yet to meet amy butler in person, but she and i have shared some fun emails and discoverd we had much in common. and i have come to realize amy is one of the kindest and most generous designers i’ve ever come across, so i’m quite happy to share a bit of her history with you today.

you probably know of amy butler’s beautiful collection of fabric lines, sewing patterns, accessories and now organic bedding and bath towels, but you probably don’t know a whole bunch about what’s behind her determination and success. we all need mentors and people to aspire to, and this is a glimpse into amy’s personal story. i love this photograph and what it means to amy, and am so grateful to her for sharing it. thanks so much, amy!

here’s the great tale behind amy butler’s [talking picture]: “This is my favorite photograph of my Grandmother Velma Heymann from one of her famed fishing trips in Canada, July 1950. I love her determination in this picture. I mean who would mess with a woman with three good sized large mouth bass? I keep this picture in my studio where I see it every day. Velma has always been a huge inspiration for me. She lived her life fully and made time for all the things she valued…. family, creating, crafting, gardening… and enjoying nature. All of these things she taught me to love, and I work hard to nurture them and keep them my top priorities too. She was a strong, self-made woman, super creative and always in the process of making something… great food, a quilt, a painting or several things at once. She even had a ” McGiver- esk ” quality where she could fix anything or rig up a solution. She was more handy than most men. I just love that she’s my guide and even though she’s gone from this world, her spirit inspires me daily and it’s a comfort I’ll have the rest of my life.”