I started designing as a child by making clothes for my dolls and later grew into customising my own clothes and making jewellery to sell to friends, family and neighbours. My mother is my main inspiration and she always encouraged me to learn new crafts and techniques. She was also very supportive of my educational choices and enjoyed the creative process of learning something new with me.
I come from a long line of craft orientated people; my grandmother (who learnt from her mother) is a master knitter, clothes maker and needleworker, as are my aunt and my mother (who learnt from my grandmother). So I guess it's not surprising that I've always been passionate about arts and crafts, or that I ended up in this profession!
There were many craft kits in my Christmas stockings over the years, from french knitters, to soft toys. My mother also made my first sewing kit, complete with needles threads, spare fabric for making dolls clothes and even a hand-held sewing machine! I think I have it packed away somewhere, but can't lay my hands on it now to take a picture... (a shame). It was a tear drop shaped wicker box, which mum lined in green cotton, with a cream floral ditsy print. It lasted me a good few years, but unfortunately I have way outgrown it... I now have a floor to ceiling cupboard instead! And that's filled to bursting point too!
Since moving away from home it's rare that I get time to sit down with my mother to create, we opt for craft markets and fairs these days instead... cooing over other people's work and talking about our latest projects. I'm hoping this will change over the next few years... would be nice to have the space for my own studio and also to have my mother over to spend time creating together... we shall see!
Here is a picture of one of my mother's cross stitch works... unfortunately it was unfinished for years, as my mother is not able to work on such a finely detailed project anymore. I've always loved it, so I added a framework of vintage crochet that I found in a market and embellished it with beads.
DAY - Ocean turquoise and green set onto white is treated to delicate beading for this collection. The idea is that these are fun pieces that can be worn with casual jeans, or dressed up with your summer linen.
OCCASION - I have infused Apricots with rose and mulberries and finished them with antiqued golds and silvers to create a delicate vintage feel for this collection. Whilst most pieces could be taken out of context and worn with jeans, this is intended to be a dress-up look great for dinner parties, Weddings and other events.
I adored the first issue of DIY City Mag, who didn't! It was a wonderful look at the DIY scene in New York, with tips on where to shop, new designers and great project ideas. Like most I immediately book marked the page and am eagerly awaiting the next issue on New Orleans.
I love craft books, always have... you should see my library! In fact that reminds me - I need more shelving! Anyway, back to my love of craft books... they always manage to inspire me, even if the technique or artist's style is completely foreign to me and they are a great learning tool if you want to try something new. So as you can imagine I am thrilled to have been asked to review new books for a British Company before they go on sale in their on-line shop!
1. Tell me a bit about your background and how long you have been an artist/crafter.
4. If someone was looking to take up this craft should they have any related experience before they start?
Oooh not long now!
The Scrapbook Theatre
Graduate Showcase
