Meet Cara Naylor | Multidisciplinary Designer & Creative Entrepreneur

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

Hi Cara, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Having always identified as both self-confident and resilient, I tend to dive in head first trusting that if I can’t swim immediately, I’ll learn before I drown. So in the realm of creative entrepreneurship I’ve historically gone all-in on ideas before working out the nitty-gritty of the how and when. Back in 2015 I left the stability of my fine dining career to live on the road in an RV and launch an Etsy store selling handmade goods (which took a path through knit beanies and chalk bags for rock climbing before finally landing on handbags.) Then again in 2018 after a brief return to the food and beverage industry, I quit my job again – this time to finally use my graphic design degree and work in logos and branding. I had zero clients lined up when I gave my notice – and this field is still one of my primary streams of revenue. Fast forward another couple of years to the fall of 2020 when I had the idea to start a local, quarterly subscription box featuring women makers and artists in my community. Within 3 months of having the idea, I registered the business and opened a business bank account, curated the first few boxes, built a commerce website capable of handling recurring subscription payments, hired a photographer, marketed the project, sold out my first 100 boxes, and distributed them.

While I certainly can’t say that my risks always pay off, I find taking them to be my natural inclination. And I am a believer that you cannot succeed and thrive as an entrepreneur without taking risks!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
While I have dabbled in many different art forms over the years (drawing, painting, photography, knitting&crocheting, sewing, pottery…) I have finally found the thing that really fires me up – surface pattern design. For those unfamiliar, this involves designing seamless repeating patterns for use on any number of items like fabric, wallpaper, stationery, clothing, housewares, and even for digital use. When I became aware that this was a career option, it felt like the most perfect marriage of my interests and experience.

I had gotten a degree in graphic design back in 2009, but for the better part of the decade after college graduation, I opted out of office jobs and instead took the path of saving up money through restaurant work to take off for periods of slow travel. As opportunities presented themselves, I would pick up freelance design tasks, but for the most part at this time my creative pursuits were for pleasure and not for financial gain. It wasn’t until late 2018 that I decided once and for all to fully exit the service industry and exert my efforts to building a design business. The following two and a half years were filled with logo and branding projects, website build-outs, and contracting with a couple of incredible women-owned businesses – one local marketing company here in Bend, and one design company based in Jackson, Wyoming.

The next big stepping stone that lead me to where I am today was getting introduced to the niche world of surface pattern design. A friend had recently transitioned her work from traditional graphic design to SPD through taking an online course. I followed in her footsteps, took the course, and became enamored with repeating pattern. Finally I had a way to combine my skills in graphic design with my love of creating art – the art that I want to see come alive rather than the art I create for the client.

Drawing inspiration from our magical earth and from the high desert landscape which surrounds me in Central Oregon, I design earthy + free-spirited patterns for the nature lover, the bohemian wanderer, and the adventure seeker. I stand for equity, inclusion, and representation; for preserving our earth as best we can; for community over competition; for immersing ourselves in nature; and for surrounding ourselves with beautiful things. Each of these pillars has been a guiding force in the work that I create and the collaborations that I seek.

How did I land here? A series of taking leaps, keeping my eyes wide open for opportunities, and connecting with people. Was it easy? I mean, certainly it has taken a lot of hours and hard work… however, I have primarily operated from a place of knowing the end goal (which is something along the lines of “have a successful career being self-employed and creating art”) while not hyper focusing on the how or the when. Because of this, patience has been the most challenging but necessary component. There has been a constant internal voice these last four years reminding me to acknowledge the growth I’ve already experienced, and to know that the best is yet to come.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well this is serendipitous timing, as I just had a close friend from the design community visit last week! I can give you the exact play-by-play of the visit (and I wouldn’t change a thing!)

Day 1 : breakfast and coffee at home; paddle boarding at Hosmer Lake in the mountains; late lunch/happy hour at 900 Wall followed by wandering through the farmer’s market and some shopping in downtown Bend; dog park in the evening; dinner at home featuring some fresh market finds.

Day 2 : breakfast and coffee at home; short hike and exploration of Tumalo Falls; quick lunch break back home; visit to The High Desert Museum; early dinner at the bar at Bosa followed by drinks downtown at San Simon; board game night at home.

Day 3 : breakfast and coffee at home; hike Black Butte; stop in Sisters on the way home for an afternoon iced chai and cookie; head over to the Old Iron Works District where I have my studio space and wander through the fabulous shops and studios there; grab a drink at Spoken Moto and explore the Box Factory area; get Poke Row takeout and take it to the park to have a picnic and play bocce.

Day 4 : hit the road early to bring guest to Eugene (about 2.5 hrs drive away from Bend); stop along the way at McCredie Hot Springs for a soak.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Two people immediately come to mind here:

(1) Julia Duke – my magician of a photographer. Over the last three years we have collaborated on numerous projects and shoots, and my businesses would not be a fraction of what they’ve become without her. Her vivacious energy is contagious, and her artistic eye is unparalleled. I have found a kindred spirit through our collaborations and that is simply invaluable.

(2) Bonnie Christine – my teacher and mentor. Before I was introduced to Bonnie and the world of surface pattern design, I had really lost sight of creating art for the sake of beauty. After many years of solely producing client-based work, her online course reinvigorated my love of making art, and the community she has cultivated offered infinite inspiration and support.

Website: www.charlienovember.design

Instagram: @charlienovemberdesign

Image Credits
Julia Duke Photo