Welcome to my second Muse Monday feature! This time, I interviewed another dear friend, Mercedes of @abirdinthemountains on Instagram. Mercedes is a fabric artist who creates quilts, embroidered pieces, and historical costumes. Her attention to detail is one of the things I admire most about her process. Her pieces are absolutely breathtaking; I’m honored to have a little hand-sewn and embroidered pouch she made me, which now holds my embroidery threads. The interview is below.
Interview with Mercedes
How would you define your creative work?
My partner eloquently describes it as “touching the past” while I describe it as “bringing old things back in style,” and I suppose they are both true! As someone whose passion resides in history, I love bringing the past to life with tangible items.
What inspires you in your creative practice?
Classic literature, historical dramas, and nature I’d say are my main inspirations. I have made an entire quilt collection that is all based on literature. The romanticism tucked away in each passage, scenery, and garden is what really drives me to create what I do. After all, why can’t I live in my own version of a Jane Austen story?
What are your preferred mediums?
I dabble in a lot of different mediums, but my first preference is fabric.
Do you have a daily routine, and if so, does this help or hinder your creativity?
Yes! Routine is key in our home. Since both my partner and I work from home, and I homeschool my child, routine helps keep us on a timeframe that allows for creative endeavors throughout the day. Otherwise, I tend to get sucked into projects for hours on end!
Can you access your creativity anytime, or does it wax and wane? If it does, have you noticed a pattern around when you are inspired and when you aren’t?
My creativity can definitely come and go! I’ve noticed that it tends to wane when I’m not staying present or when I’ve made the mistake of starting too many projects at once, which does tend to happen!
How does motherhood affect your creative practice?
Motherhood compels me to be very selective on which projects I take on. I only start projects that I’m very passionate about, and while it may take longer to finish them (because parent life), the reward of seeing the finished product is incredibly rewarding.
Would you share some thoughts about what it means to you to live a romantic life?
For me, living a romantic life is synonymous with living gently and moving through the world kindly and intentionally. Filling your home with things that you find beautiful, and your heart with those who inspire you. I spent my entire 20s trying to “fit in” at great cost to my own happiness. Now, in my 30s, I’ve embraced the hobbies and experiences that truly bring myself joy. I’ve tossed out the mentality that you need to have a certain personality type, a home with minimal aesthetic, and complete certain milestones to be “happy.” I live a life that fulfills me and I believe that that shows in how I move through my days.
Are you working on any projects at the moment?
I am currently wrapping up a Matilda quilt (Roald Dahl book), and a pair of black 1790s stays (what corsets were called prior to the Victorian era). I’m hoping to finish them both soon because I’ve got a Jane Austen’s Emma quilt that I can’t wait to start on!
Anything else you’d like to share?
Do not be afraid to live authentically! You’ll find people who are attracted to your energy and passions that align with your soul.
Thank you, Mercedes for inspiring me and others to live a beautiful, full-hearted life.
Mercedes is open for commissions, so if you have a project in mind, be sure to reach out to her @abirdinthemountains on Instagram.
What an enjoyable conversation! Thank you both for sharing.