Meet Lisa Martinez

Lisa is the founder of Quilt Magazine, an online community-driven LGBTQ publication with an emphasis on the underrepresented parts of the spectrum. She is passionate about leveraging the power of the internet and creating platforms that provide marginalized communities a safe space to come together for support, celebration, and inspiration. Quilt Magazine is the second online publication that she has founded. She is looking forward to sharing as many stories as possible that embody intersectionality and inclusivity.

Q+A

What don’t people know about you?
I’m extremely introverted. I often have to remind myself that my thoughts should be external instead of internal when I’m in social settings.

What inspires you?
I’m really thankful to have so many friends that are creatives. They are a huge inspiration in my life. It’s a really beautiful thing to be able to watch the entire creative process happen from beginning to end. They start out with a rough idea, slowly define it, figure out a good execution strategy, and then they make it happen. That’s obviously the streamlined version; however, most of the time the process is much more complex than that, but I love seeing how they work through each issue that comes up. Whether it’s a large production or a small one, their creative work can touch someone’s life or offer some sort of inspiration. In the end, they have done this beautiful thing that they share with people, and it was all worth it. With project after project, they just keep going; likewise, it’s a good reminder that I should do the same.

If you had to change careers what would you want to do?
If I had to change careers, I would become a furniture designer. I’d create functional and minimalist pieces. My days would be spent sketching out designs and hunting down recycled and reclaimed materials to use, while my nights would be spent hammering my ideas together. I love the idea of creating timeless pieces that could be passed down from generation to generation. I’m also a huge fan of the tiny homes movement, and I could see myself doing some design work in that sector as well.

What makes you laugh?
I’m a sucker for a good wipe-out. As long as no one gets hurt, I will fully appreciate the visual spectacle that the universe has sent my way.

Favorite quote?

“We have to be more interested in making things better than just being right, or interesting, or funny.” – Roxane Gay

This isn’t necessarily my favorite quote, but it has definitely been resonating with me since I came across it earlier this year. I think about it a lot in context to life in the LGBTQ community. I’m constantly aware of how much work needs to be done to help get us to a place of peace, understanding, and acceptance. We could get there a tiny bit faster if we could all stay focused on the end goal. It’s unfortunate, but there is a lot of conflict that happens within the LGBTQ community, such as disagreements on approaches, strategies, and even language that we choose to use. I just think that quote is a good one to keep in mind at all times.  

Want more? Connect with Lisa on Facebook and Instagram. 

Photo credit:  Sarah Deragon