I originally connected with Bhiravi R. via Instagram. We were both participating in a quilting bee together. Bhiravi started her quilting Instagram account in October 2020, and released her first pattern in March 2021. Her quilt patterns are modern and lots of fun. My personal favorite so far has been her Redwood Coast Quilt! I know Bhiravi is going to continue to create stunning quilt patterns while also educating quilters in the quilting community with tips and tricks to make quilting easier for quilters at all levels.
Be sure to check out how you can connect with her and get her patterns at the bottom of the post!
Please explain your main creative area.
I’m primarily a quilt pattern designer, though I do occasionally take commissions and make handmade items. My focus is teaching people how to quilt, and express their creativity through sewing.
Tell us about your business and what your favorite thing about your business is.
I left my job in October 2020 to start Strawberry Creek Quilts. I’d been working in tech and project management for about 4 years, and I was realizing it wasn’t for me. I was so unfulfilled at work, even though it was taking 110% of my effort and energy. That October, I decided to strike out on my own and design quilt patterns!
I released my first quilt pattern in March 2021, and I’ve launched 3 patterns to date.
I’m still finding my footing with my business, and it’s definitely not easy. I am still figuring out so much about how I want my business to function, and how to turn it into a sustainable source of income. But running my own business in the quilting space means that I get to work on projects that I am truly passionate about. I love sewing, I find so much joy in creating great quilting experiences for others, and I believe that getting in touch with our creativity can be deeply fulfilling and healing.
Being able to work on something I’m so passionate about, and share it with other people, is my favorite thing about my business. It keeps me going every day!
What has been your favorite make or creation so far?
You know, I’m still in love with that first Petal Points Quilt I made! It’s bright and bold, and it really pushed my skills both as a pattern designer and a quilter.
(You can see here stunning Petal Points Quilt to the Right! )
What is one tip you'd recommend to someone just getting started in your creative area?
What are 3 words you'd use to describe your creative style?
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- Playful
- Bright
- Modern-traditionalist
Do you have an upcoming make, launch, or project that you are excited about?
I do! I’m releasing my Reclaimed Cabin quilt pattern in October. It will be a traditional log cabin pattern, with extra info on how to use reclaimed and repurposed fabric from your closet or scrap pile. I’m excited to show people what a log cabin in modern fabrics can look like! I’ll also be hosting a sew-a-long for the Reclaimed Cabin Quilt from late October to early December.
(Bhiravi also just released her newest pattern this week! Check out the Simple Stripes Quilt to the left.)
What is one skill (either craft related or not) that you wish you knew how to do?
I wish I knew how to write well!
I’ve wanted to write fiction from a young age, and I am a huge reader and lover of literature. In college, I double majored in English and Cognitive Science. I would love to someday learn to write stories. Right now writing can feel like pulling teeth — even when it’s instructional text, like a pattern.
What would your high school superlative be? Most likely to...
Sit in a corner and not talk to anyone! I was a really shy and anxious kid. So much has changed since then!
What's the oddest food you've ever tried and did you like it?
Snickers salad. It’s apparently a Midwestern thing! And it’s absolutely delicious.
If you had to lose one of your five senses, which one would you give up and why?
This is such a hard one. What did other interviewees say?! Any sense would be such a huge loss, and I can’t even begin to fathom what it would be like to lose one, much less choose.
Lastly, where can the readers connect with you and see more of your work?
You can find me on Instagram @strawberrycreekquilts, and on my website at www.strawberrycreekquilts.com.
IOFAT Creative Convos are bi-monthly short Q&A style blog posts that allow me, Katherine, to share other wonderful creatives and small business owners in not only the quilting space but in the creative textile space.
The goal is to provide a seat at the table for all types of small business creatives and to introduce my community to businesses that they may not have connected with yet.