I had the privilege of taking a weekend workshop at Summerhill, the home and studio of Fred and Leslie Fehling, in June of 2011. The name of the workshop was “High End Embellishments”. I met Leslie at the Custom Sewing Institute in Houston, TX in 2007. I’ve taken several classes from her and learn a ton each time she teaches. Leslie is one of the most talented ladies that I know and she’s an artist in every way. From gourmet cook to gardener to painter to quilter to drapery maker…. The way she combines all of her talents is unique and impressive and artistry shows in every corner of her life. Visit Leslie’s Blog, Everyday Artist.
Leslie Fehling
Leslie & Fred Fehling's Home & Studio, "Summerhill"
This week, I’m going to present an interview that I had with Leslie. Next time, I’ll show you what I learned at the High End Embellishments Workshop.
LESLIE, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR FIRST JOB AS A DRAPERY MAKER, IS IT A FOND MEMORY OR A TERRIFYING ONE?
I remember it like it was yesterday! The year was 2000 and the attorney that we had used when we built our house asked me to make some upholstered cornices for his living room, not an easy job for a novice. I found some basic instructions online, and my husband, Fred, and I constructed the three cornices using the most rudimentary of tools. When I look back, I’m not sure how we managed to do it with just a hand stapler, but they came out really well. My customer loved our work, and I was pretty tickled with the way we had figured it all out and were able to produce something really nice, despite our inexperience. When I came home, I remember walking in the door with a big grin on my face, waving the check in the air like a victory flag, and yelling to Fred, “$700.00!! Someone just paid me $700.00 for sewing!!!!” So that first job definitely inspired me to continue and to grow with my business.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR FAVORITE PRODUCTIVITY TIP?
If we’re talking productivity and efficiency, I would say don’t do anything by hand that could be done more quickly and efficiently by machine. Hand work is not, in and of itself, better than machine work. What really matters is the quality of the finished product.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR BUSINESS AND LIFE ARE TAKING NEW AND FRESH TURNS. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THREE to FIVE YEARS?
"May Morning" by Leslie Fehling (2011)
I seem to crave change in my life, and, having been in the drapery business for ten years, I’m feeling a yearning to move on and tackle some new challenges. A few years ago, I read a quote that said, “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” That struck a chord with me, and I made a decision at that moment to pick up a paint brush again and begin to devote more time to my art. That decision has changed my life in so many ways, and I feel like this is the direction God wants me to go right now. New opportunities seem to be falling into my lap, and I’m excited to see where I’ll be in three to five years. Right now I’m a full-time workroom owner and part-time artist. In three to five years, I hope that will be reversed.
WHAT PIECE OF WORK OR PROJECT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF AND WHY?
The individual piece of work that I’m most proud of is the Trapunto (a puffy, decorative feature, trapunto utilizes at least two layers, the underside of which is slit and padded, producing a raised surface) ceiling that I made for a powder room in our home. It is completely unique and I think it says a lot about who I am as a creative individual. It took a lifetime of experience in the fields of sewing, quilting, drawing, and design to be able to think outside the box and come up with an idea like that and to construct it so well. I don’t think I could have done it any better, and that’s a rare thing for me to say! I’m usually my own worst critic.
Doorway View of Trapunto Ceiling
Closer View of Trapunto Ceiling by Leslie Fehling
Detail of Trapunto
But, even more than any individual project that I’ve fabricated, I’m most proud of my years of teaching, both at conferences, and here at Summerhill. The past several years, I’ve had the privilege of hosting classes here at my home, and I’ve been absolutely amazed by the whole experience. It’s been more rewarding than I ever could have expected. I knew I’d be able to teach the techniques and skills that people came here to learn, but I didn’t realize when I started out that I would be impacting people in so many other ways. I’ve been surprised and humbled when people tell me that their Summerhill Weekend with me was a life-changing experience. I’m glad that my life has been an encouragement to so many others.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VISIT LESLIE FEHLING’S BLOG, EVERYDAY ARTIST, WHERE SHE’S POSTED OVER 100 BLOGS TO SHARE HER LATEST PROJECTS, DELICIOUS RECIPES, PHOTOS OF HER FAMILY AND TRAVELS, ETC. E N J O Y!
