Meet Phyllis Dobbs | Licensing Artist for Product Design, Textile and Fabric Designer, Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Phyllis Dobbs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Phyllis, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am from Mobile AL, but my aunts and grandparents were from rural north Alabama. My grandmother had been a quilter but it was before I was born. She had the traditional drop down quilt frames that were used to create a huge supply of quilts, not for display but to keep them warm. My aunt was a needleworker and always had a needle or crochet hook in her hands. She taught me needlework at a very young age. This, along with the beautiful quilts instilled a love that is still with me. I had always wanted to design my own needlework but didn’t know how to go about creating it professionally until I went with a friend to a professional trade show. I talked with designers there to learn enough to get started with my own business. Through the years, the art for my needlework and quilt designs morphed into more. I designed fabric and signed with a well-known fabric company. I designed textile products for a company that required frequent trips to Asia to help with production. I then used my art for licensing onto products such as bedding, rugs, stationery, gifts and more. All of my experience came together in order to co-found an artist conference, ArtBizJam, where artists can learn to grow their own businesses and meet face to face with product developers. And all of my career is based on the needlework taught to me at age 11.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love bright colors and love whimsy. I combine those into my art and have been told numerous times by others that it makes them smile. But when working with clients, it is best to be versatile and be able to create what they need. You have to listen to them and put their needs first.

Based on my professional creative beginning, it has been a struggle at various times. After I started designing needlework, I had huge immediate success way beyond my expectations until the market for needlework crashed a few years later. My sales plummeted and hit bottom, so I had to reinvent myself. I learned two lessons in my career recovery. The first was to never “put all my eggs in one basket”. So while I was designing fabric, I was involved in other areas to grow my career and this has been how I’ve worked ever since. When one aspect of your business may be flying high, another may be sinking. It’s all a ripple like of slow waves of what is working at any one time. The second thing I learned is that everything changes. It doesn’t matter what – styles, trends, product types, etc. It is all going to change to some extent. What you are working on today may be on the back burner next year and vice versa. There are also so many outside influences that you have no control over. I had many designs in the pipeline when 9/11 hit. All were cancelled as the company wanted patriotic which they already had in-house. Recently, Covid really changed markets and how things work that will continue for years if not permanently. Other variables can be shipping costs, material supplies and so much more – these all can affect how you work.

I love what I do as an creative. I had a regular job years ago but creating was what I feel that I was born to do. When you are in this position, you don’t feel like you are working. You get excited about your next step, what you will create and learn in the process. There is so much new on the horizon with technology, so it’s how to work with it, not against it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The first thing I would do in planning an itinerary, would be to look to see what concerts will be happening during the visit, from major to smaller venues where you can sit back and have a drink while listening to good music. Along with this, there are plenty of festivals in Birmingham with music, great food and vendors.

I would next check to see what special exhibits are at the Birmingham Museum of art or other art installations. and events. Birmingham also has a beautiful botanical gardens where something is always in bloom. Oak Mountain, a gorgeous mountain park with hiking and more is very close, so we would hit a trail one morning.

The next step would be to decide on restaurants. Birmingham is a great restaurant city so I would pick a variety of restaurants with different food types and specialities. I would arrange these so that some of my local friends can join on some of them. I love one on one time with a friend to catch up, but a small group of 4 or 5 can be fun and spirited with lots of laughter. I would also prepare a meal at home, so we can have a relaxing night to sit back and talk. Also served would be peach daiquiris.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My career has been long so my thanks would make a long list but to narrow it down:

Jodi Beckett and Andy Sylvia who signed me for fabric design and had faith in my abilities..

Website: https://phyllisdobbs.com/ https://artbizjam.com/ https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/phyllisdobbs

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phyllismdobbs/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phyllisdobbs/

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