What do you make?
Japanese textiles - vintage scarves and bags, indigo dyed Shibori scarves and bags and gifts.
How long have you been running your creative business?
8 years.
What inspired you to start your creative business?
A seminal bucket list trip to Japan to learn with international textiles guru, Bryan Whitehead in 2014. I learnt Shibori resist dyeing and Katagami stencilling and how to dye with indigo. That and being made redundant the year after I came back!
Japanese textiles - vintage scarves and bags, indigo dyed Shibori scarves and bags and gifts.
How long have you been running your creative business?
8 years.
What inspired you to start your creative business?
A seminal bucket list trip to Japan to learn with international textiles guru, Bryan Whitehead in 2014. I learnt Shibori resist dyeing and Katagami stencilling and how to dye with indigo. That and being made redundant the year after I came back!
Do you work at this full-time on your creative business or alongside other work? Tell us about your other work?
I am a full-time textiles artist, maker and teacher.
How did you learn your craft - are you self-taught or did you attend courses - if so what and where?
Courses at West Dean College near Chichester and in Fujino, Japan with Bryan Whitehead and then lots and lots of practice and making.
I am a full-time textiles artist, maker and teacher.
How did you learn your craft - are you self-taught or did you attend courses - if so what and where?
Courses at West Dean College near Chichester and in Fujino, Japan with Bryan Whitehead and then lots and lots of practice and making.
What is it you love most about the creative process?
There are just so many designs you can make with Shibori, in particular, which is my main focus. I especially love the unpicking of pieces after they have been dyed in the indigo as it is magic to see what you have created and how the dye has travelled through the fabric.
Is there another craft you are drawn to other than your own?
I have always wanted to try glassblowing. I did some glass fusing and slumping at West Dean and also some glass bead making there so the idea of working with glass excites me!
There are just so many designs you can make with Shibori, in particular, which is my main focus. I especially love the unpicking of pieces after they have been dyed in the indigo as it is magic to see what you have created and how the dye has travelled through the fabric.
Is there another craft you are drawn to other than your own?
I have always wanted to try glassblowing. I did some glass fusing and slumping at West Dean and also some glass bead making there so the idea of working with glass excites me!
Where do you look for creative inspiration?
I love going to Japan and visiting second hand and antique textiles stores and the temple markets and will buy vintage fabrics with interesting patterns as inspiration.
I also love spending a few hours on Pinterest discovering pattern and others’ Shibori work and there's the World Shibori Network which has good links to events, exhibitions and creativity. I'm also a big fan of the free exhibitions at Japan House on High Street Kensington.
How do you find you benefit from being part of a creative collective?
It can be quite lonely being a maker and, whilst I am very comfortable in my own company, it is great to meet with my fellow creatives and find out what they are working on. It can even lead to collaborations too. For instance, a few years back I worked with alumni member, Isabella Lepri, a potter. She made lamp bases and I made Shibori lampshades. There's also loads of help, advice and support about marketing,exhibitions, social media and a bunch of other stuff. We all share our skills and support each other and we exhibit together throughout the year at our markets and other events.
I love going to Japan and visiting second hand and antique textiles stores and the temple markets and will buy vintage fabrics with interesting patterns as inspiration.
I also love spending a few hours on Pinterest discovering pattern and others’ Shibori work and there's the World Shibori Network which has good links to events, exhibitions and creativity. I'm also a big fan of the free exhibitions at Japan House on High Street Kensington.
How do you find you benefit from being part of a creative collective?
It can be quite lonely being a maker and, whilst I am very comfortable in my own company, it is great to meet with my fellow creatives and find out what they are working on. It can even lead to collaborations too. For instance, a few years back I worked with alumni member, Isabella Lepri, a potter. She made lamp bases and I made Shibori lampshades. There's also loads of help, advice and support about marketing,exhibitions, social media and a bunch of other stuff. We all share our skills and support each other and we exhibit together throughout the year at our markets and other events.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists, designers and makers?
Give yourself time to play and explore your craft. That's where the creativity and joy comes from. And, very importantly, have a variety of different income sources. I teach online and in person, sell at markets, in shops and when I do exhibitions and teach, I do online talks, sell kits, threads and books. Then if one thing is slow, you can try to double down on something else to make up the shortfall.
What is the biggest challenge of running a creative business?
Getting enough money coming in. You can't rest on your laurels. You always need a pipeline of work and to do enough marketing and promotion to keep driving sales. This is my only job, so I have to make sure I earn enough to pay my bills and have a life. I wouldn't do anything else though!
When you're not working on your business, how do you like to spend your time? hobbies, pastimes etc
I love immersive theatre and go to lots of events with friends. And I love a good walk and eating out too.
To shop with Romor Designs or join a workshop head to the website here.
Give yourself time to play and explore your craft. That's where the creativity and joy comes from. And, very importantly, have a variety of different income sources. I teach online and in person, sell at markets, in shops and when I do exhibitions and teach, I do online talks, sell kits, threads and books. Then if one thing is slow, you can try to double down on something else to make up the shortfall.
What is the biggest challenge of running a creative business?
Getting enough money coming in. You can't rest on your laurels. You always need a pipeline of work and to do enough marketing and promotion to keep driving sales. This is my only job, so I have to make sure I earn enough to pay my bills and have a life. I wouldn't do anything else though!
When you're not working on your business, how do you like to spend your time? hobbies, pastimes etc
I love immersive theatre and go to lots of events with friends. And I love a good walk and eating out too.
To shop with Romor Designs or join a workshop head to the website here.
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