Blog
Updated 7 January 2021
In the sixth instalment of our new series Natalie Walton, creator of the recently relaunched Daily Imprint, revisits Shannon Fricke, pictured above, to find out where her creative journey has taken her since the original interview.
It's been eight years since Daily Imprint was launched. During that time I have published more than one thousands posts on people in the creative arts - from artists to designers, photographers to writers, and architects to florists. After re-launching the site recently, I thought it would be interesting to revisit some of the interviews from the early days and learn how these people have progressed on their creative journey.
Meet interior stylist Shannon Fricke. She was originally featured on 16th July 2009.
It's almost 6 years since you were interviewed on Daily Imprint. What have been some of the highlights for you since then?
Wow… Time flies! So much has happened in the past six years. During this time I launched my workshop series based out of my studio in Bangalow. The focus of the workshops is about creative empowerment through the tool of interior design and decorating. Over the years, the workshops have drawn women from near and far who are interested in shaping their spaces - and their lives - to suit their personal style. The workshops have been a personal highlight for me - so many of the women we've hosted have gone on to do and create amazing things. The workshops were the springboard to a book - How To Decorate - released in 2012. I was thrilled that Random House published the book in the USA.
2012 saw the launch of my range of bedlinen - Shannon Fricke Heart & Home. The brand has been steadily growing during that time - now we're available in 200 stores nationally. As I write this, I'm in the USA in meetings with potential stockists as we have hopes to grow the brand offshore. Shannon Fricke Heart & Home is all about designing your bed and your home from the heart and in your own personal style. I love seeing the style combinations that our customers come up with - there's such a freedom in all this creativity.
Alongside the work I do for my own brand, I also consult to private clients on everything from interior design to branding and marketing. In the last year, I've launched my home in Byron Bay - Graciosa Byron Bay - as a wedding venue and luxury holiday home. We've converted our large barn into a wonderful wedding backdrop plus we've added a bridal studio suite. I love the celebratory energy that a wedding brings - and it's lovely for us to share our beautiful property. As well as work, I've been watching my lovely children grown into teenagers - my daughter Inez is now 16 and Joe my son is 15. It's been a busy few years!
At the time we were talking about how you got your start as a stylist. Do you still style for clients? What role does this play in your life now? What is your main creative focus now?
I do still work for private clients, however, in a different capacity now. My consultation work is more in the role of creative director - overseeing all aspects of "story telling". On a project, I will oversee all visual aspects from interior design to graphics and branding, combined with verbal storytelling - the words that tell the story of each brand. Combined, these threads are what brings a brand to life. I work closely with my team to shape the face - and heart - of a brand. What underpins all of the work I do, whether for my own brands or that of my clients - is the desire for emotional connection. Without heart, a brand and business simply won't survive. My job is to find the heart of each brand and to tell this story.
You have since hosted many workshops on decorating and written a book about it - what are the common problems people face, and what do you advise them?
The biggest problem is self confidence and a disconnection to one's inner creative voice. Negative storytelling is another barrier. And, of course, finding the time to connect and create is tricky in this day in age. I've never believed that creativity is for a select few only. Creativity is within all of us. However, to create, one must find the space - both inner and outer. Decorating is such a lovely entree into the world of creativity. It has a practical aspect, which helps us find the drive to do it. But more importantly, it helps open the window to a deeper creativity. The women who come along to my workshops are ready to take the creative leap but don't know how. I find all they need is a little nudge onto the path of play. Once you are ready to play - then the world of creativity opens up and all of the goodies are there to be found.
Shannon Fricke's Be Your Creativity series from Temple & Webster on Vimeo.
You have also renovated a large property in the Byron Bay area - what was that experience like? Do you still enjoy your life up there? Do you still feel engaged with the design community or is a little bit of distance a good thing?
I've been living in Byron Bay for almost 10 years now and it was the best decision that I made for myself and my family. Byron Bay has taught me so much about building confidence, from the core. Living in the country puts you through your paces in a different way to the city. It's wild. And unpredictable. To survive you must be resourceful - and this requires digging deep in a way that I'd never experienced before. The distance from my design community was a concern at first. However, what I learnt is that I can drive my own life in a way that totally fits my skin. I have to say that I don't think I've ever worked so hard in my life! Everything we do, particularly when you live on a farm, requires a mass of energy and commitment. It's not for the faint hearted! But this kind of training has given me a strong foundation to create from. In Byron Bay I've learnt to shape my life to suit myself. What could be better than that!
What's the biggest lesson you've learnt in recent years? And what are you looking forward to?
The biggest lesson? There's been so many lessons that I don't think I could put one ahead of the other! However, overall I think the biggest lesson is to trust. To trust that life is unfolding exactly as it's meant to. I've learnt to stop striving. I've learnt to set my intention and then to sit back and watch it unfold in front of me without investing masses of emotional energy in the outcome. I've learnt to live in the moment. I've learnt to move with the rhythm of life rather than against it. I look forward to taking these new skills into the next phase of my life. From here, I can see my brand, Shannon Fricke Heart & Home growing even further. It's time for another book - and so I've been busily writing. Most importantly, I look forward to every day as an opportunity to live life to the full. I feel blessed to have a happy and healthy family and close connections with friends. Nurturing these connections is what life is all about.
Find out more at www.shannonfricke.com
Subscribe to Daily Imprint for a daily dose of creativity, or follow on Instagram @dailyimprint
Daily Imprint presents Shannon Fricke
In the sixth instalment of our new series Natalie Walton, creator of the recently relaunched Daily Imprint, revisits Shannon Fricke, pictured above, to find out where her creative journey has taken her since the original interview.
It's been eight years since Daily Imprint was launched. During that time I have published more than one thousands posts on people in the creative arts - from artists to designers, photographers to writers, and architects to florists. After re-launching the site recently, I thought it would be interesting to revisit some of the interviews from the early days and learn how these people have progressed on their creative journey.
Meet interior stylist Shannon Fricke. She was originally featured on 16th July 2009.
Shannon's Heart to Home bed linen collection
It's almost 6 years since you were interviewed on Daily Imprint. What have been some of the highlights for you since then?
Wow… Time flies! So much has happened in the past six years. During this time I launched my workshop series based out of my studio in Bangalow. The focus of the workshops is about creative empowerment through the tool of interior design and decorating. Over the years, the workshops have drawn women from near and far who are interested in shaping their spaces - and their lives - to suit their personal style. The workshops have been a personal highlight for me - so many of the women we've hosted have gone on to do and create amazing things. The workshops were the springboard to a book - How To Decorate - released in 2012. I was thrilled that Random House published the book in the USA.
2012 saw the launch of my range of bedlinen - Shannon Fricke Heart & Home. The brand has been steadily growing during that time - now we're available in 200 stores nationally. As I write this, I'm in the USA in meetings with potential stockists as we have hopes to grow the brand offshore. Shannon Fricke Heart & Home is all about designing your bed and your home from the heart and in your own personal style. I love seeing the style combinations that our customers come up with - there's such a freedom in all this creativity.
Alongside the work I do for my own brand, I also consult to private clients on everything from interior design to branding and marketing. In the last year, I've launched my home in Byron Bay - Graciosa Byron Bay - as a wedding venue and luxury holiday home. We've converted our large barn into a wonderful wedding backdrop plus we've added a bridal studio suite. I love the celebratory energy that a wedding brings - and it's lovely for us to share our beautiful property. As well as work, I've been watching my lovely children grown into teenagers - my daughter Inez is now 16 and Joe my son is 15. It's been a busy few years!
Graciosa Byron Bay
At the time we were talking about how you got your start as a stylist. Do you still style for clients? What role does this play in your life now? What is your main creative focus now?
I do still work for private clients, however, in a different capacity now. My consultation work is more in the role of creative director - overseeing all aspects of "story telling". On a project, I will oversee all visual aspects from interior design to graphics and branding, combined with verbal storytelling - the words that tell the story of each brand. Combined, these threads are what brings a brand to life. I work closely with my team to shape the face - and heart - of a brand. What underpins all of the work I do, whether for my own brands or that of my clients - is the desire for emotional connection. Without heart, a brand and business simply won't survive. My job is to find the heart of each brand and to tell this story.
Graciosa Byron Bay
You have since hosted many workshops on decorating and written a book about it - what are the common problems people face, and what do you advise them?
The biggest problem is self confidence and a disconnection to one's inner creative voice. Negative storytelling is another barrier. And, of course, finding the time to connect and create is tricky in this day in age. I've never believed that creativity is for a select few only. Creativity is within all of us. However, to create, one must find the space - both inner and outer. Decorating is such a lovely entree into the world of creativity. It has a practical aspect, which helps us find the drive to do it. But more importantly, it helps open the window to a deeper creativity. The women who come along to my workshops are ready to take the creative leap but don't know how. I find all they need is a little nudge onto the path of play. Once you are ready to play - then the world of creativity opens up and all of the goodies are there to be found.
Shannon Fricke's Be Your Creativity series from Temple & Webster on Vimeo.
You have also renovated a large property in the Byron Bay area - what was that experience like? Do you still enjoy your life up there? Do you still feel engaged with the design community or is a little bit of distance a good thing?
I've been living in Byron Bay for almost 10 years now and it was the best decision that I made for myself and my family. Byron Bay has taught me so much about building confidence, from the core. Living in the country puts you through your paces in a different way to the city. It's wild. And unpredictable. To survive you must be resourceful - and this requires digging deep in a way that I'd never experienced before. The distance from my design community was a concern at first. However, what I learnt is that I can drive my own life in a way that totally fits my skin. I have to say that I don't think I've ever worked so hard in my life! Everything we do, particularly when you live on a farm, requires a mass of energy and commitment. It's not for the faint hearted! But this kind of training has given me a strong foundation to create from. In Byron Bay I've learnt to shape my life to suit myself. What could be better than that!
Shannon's Heart to Home bed linen collection
What's the biggest lesson you've learnt in recent years? And what are you looking forward to?
The biggest lesson? There's been so many lessons that I don't think I could put one ahead of the other! However, overall I think the biggest lesson is to trust. To trust that life is unfolding exactly as it's meant to. I've learnt to stop striving. I've learnt to set my intention and then to sit back and watch it unfold in front of me without investing masses of emotional energy in the outcome. I've learnt to live in the moment. I've learnt to move with the rhythm of life rather than against it. I look forward to taking these new skills into the next phase of my life. From here, I can see my brand, Shannon Fricke Heart & Home growing even further. It's time for another book - and so I've been busily writing. Most importantly, I look forward to every day as an opportunity to live life to the full. I feel blessed to have a happy and healthy family and close connections with friends. Nurturing these connections is what life is all about.
Find out more at www.shannonfricke.com
Subscribe to Daily Imprint for a daily dose of creativity, or follow on Instagram @dailyimprint
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