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Being a crafts maker

Please give us a few words of introduction about yourself

I am 45, and live and work as a cushion designer in Kent. I find complete calm comes to me when I am working.

When did you decide to pursue making crafts as a career?

When I was about 5, although it has showed itself in a variety of guises throughout the years.

What training have you had?

I studied fashion design for nearly 7 years, culminating in an MA in Fashion Design from St Martins (where I studied alongside Alexander McQueen).

What has been the high point of your career so far?

Mary Portas requesting a ‘LOVE’ cushion for her bedroom and being featured in Elle Decoration.

General Questions

What’s your favourite quote?

There are two great days in a person’s life – the day we are born and the day we discover why.

Do not take life too seriously; you will never get out of it alive.

You know you’re getting fat when you can pinch an inch on your forehead.

Who is your favourite artist?

I couldn’t possibly choose a favourite artist. I find the Saatchi Gallery inspiring and I LOVE Hopper and Bacon, but could also spend hours in the National Gallery looking at ‘Old Masters’.

What are you aiming for?

Brilliance and calm.

How will you get there?

Hard work and focus.

Is anything holding you back?

Talent, money and space.

You and making crafts

What feelings or reactions do you hope to arouse in people who view your work? Are you ever surprised by reactions that you get?

I want my work to make people smile, gasp or want to touch the work.

From start to finish, how long does it take for you to create your work?

The process depends on the style of the cushion. The floral cushion for example can take several hours.

What music do you like to listen to when you work?

I listen to a lot of different things, Nick Cave, Adele, Rob Pattinson are all current favourites, although actually I tend to have the TV on most of the time, using it like a radio . . . ‘This Morning’ is my guilty pleasure!

What are you working on next? Any future plans or projects in the pipeline that we should look out for?

I have been asked by an art collecter in New York to produce a bed blanket covered in embroidery that relates to his family life. I am currently in the design stage and LOVING it.

Being inspired by making crafts

Who (living or dead) inspires you? and why?

Inspiration comes from all areas of my life, thick and fast. It tends to be less about who and more about what. The current fashion exhibition at Kensington Palace is wonderful, but I am as likely to be inspired by a child’s drawing or an interesting blog.

What feelings, subjects or concepts inspire you as a crafts maker?

I enjoy texture, natural motifs and colour.

What is your favourite work that you’ve produced so far and why?

My floral cushion or origami cushion because they are both entirely unpractical but desirable. Also, they both came to me as instant ideas which is always nice!

a crafts maker’s advice

For those thinking about turning a passion for making crafts into a career, could you give any advice?

Look, Listen, Love and Learn.

Any tips on how to get your work seen and get the commissions coming in?

I spend a lot of time emailing stylists, blogs and press contacts in order to get good coverage. It’s all completely free and can make a huge difference to sales.

Thanks Rebecca!

Head on over to www.cushlab.co.uk for more cushion funkiness.