MY LIGHT BULB MOMENT
Textile designer Molly Mahon
MOLLY MAHON, 42, set up her company in 2014, producing fabrics, wallpapers and home accessories. She lives with her husband and their three children. CREATIVITY runs in my family. But at school I was pushed into more academic subjects. My teachers told me art was a hobby.
I wanted to work for myself fairly early on. After two years with an events company, I set up my own business, Atmosphere Events, at 22. Happily, it had an artistic side — I enjoyed overseeing the flowers and table decoration — but when children came along, it became impossible to manage both.
We moved out of the city to a more family-friendly town. At a local interiors shop, Tobias And The Angel, I got chatting to Angel herself, who introduced me to block-printing through one of her workshops. I loved it.
I set up a workshop in my garden shed and began printing fabric and papers for stationery. But I still thought of art as a hobby.
Then a friend asked me if I would recreate a design, Birds and Bees, as wallpaper for her shepherd’s hut, which she rented out. When her guests asked if they could buy some, I realised I could make a business out of something I loved.
But two years ago, just as the business was taking off, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a real blow, but printing became a helpful distraction from my illness. It was the only time I could switch off, because you have to concentrate completely.
Cancer really made me focus on what I wanted to achieve: today, I sell Birds and Bees in six colours and it has been used to decorate a Landmark Trust property.
At the same time, living to work rather than working to live has become more important. My illness made me realise I want everything I do workwise to be pleasurable. Developing the right business relationships, but also enjoying them, is paramount.
Recently, I had reconstructive surgery and found that drawing my designs is the most calming thing. I want people to know that, as scary as cancer is, it is still possible to live life to the full. It can even be empowering.
Having my family and running a small business while being ill has made me stronger.