Life & Work with Emilie Eklund

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emilie Eklund. 

Hi Emilie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
LIEFdesign studio creates custom lettering + illustration work alongside a paper + home goods product line. I gain my inspiration from the natural world and create simplistic, modern designs in hopes to inspire + remind us of the beauty within and among us. I started LIEFdesign in 2008 while living in Chicago, feeling compelled to do work that aligned closer to my true self and that gave space for me to explore my creativity. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has certainly not always been a smooth road. There are often various internal and external challenges that make me question and doubt. Being a solo entrepreneur is hard. There are a lot of pressures and a lot of hats that need to be worn. And now I’m in a season of adding on the hat of mother, which is beautiful and hard to hold space for everything and find balance. The internal voices that whisper “you’re not doing enough,” you’re not talented enough,” are hard to work past. Especially in a creative field because, at least for me, creativity is so deeply connected to my internal work, that when I’m feeling these things, it’s really hard to then just sit down and create something either for myself or a client. I am continually learning how to tap into my creativity, even in moments when it feels blocked or far away. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a designer that creates hand-lettered and illustrated paper + home goods. I have a product line that includes stationery, art prints, coasters, and tea towels. I also host a lot of workshops, such as illustrated journaling, hand lettering, and calligraphy. 

I think I’m most known for my hand lettering, as most of my client work is centered around that. 

What am I most proud of? I had to really sit with this question; I haven’t really thought through that before, but it was a wonderful process to do so. What came up for me was a retreat I hosted with a friend of mine, centered around creativity and true self. We gathered women on Lake Michigan for a weekend and gave them space to tap into their creative selves and while doing so, listen and learn more about their own true selves. And I’m proud of the ways we were able to create safe and sacred spaces for women to do this. Watching the women go through the process and come out more connected to self was such a gift to be part of. 

I think what sets me apart from others is the way I try to add depth to my work, to connect creativity to understanding self, and celebrate people along the way. 

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Being authentic and true to myself. The moment I find myself trying to shift my work to fit into someone else’s expectations or make work disconnected from my true self, I feel it. And my work suffers when I do that. So, the more I can stay grounded in my own creativity, voice, and self, the richer my work can be. And I think my work then connects with others in a deeper way, which I find so beautiful about art and creativity. 

Pricing:

• Art Prints : $18.00
• Greeting Cards : $4.00
• Tiny Art Prints : $2.50

Contact Info:

• Website: www.liefdesign.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/liefdesign
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/liefdesign

Image Credits
Tifani Lyn Photography