Tuesday 22 June 2010

Interview with SLC

So, as promised here is the first in the series of interviews I will be doing over the next few weeks.  The interview is with the fabulously talented Sarah of SLC


1. Tell us a bit about yourself:-

I am a textile designer. I studied Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design at Leeds College of Art, graduating in July 2009. I am now self employed and own a small shop in my home town Barnard Castle called SLC.

2. When did you first start crafting?
It might sound twee but I first started crafting when I was very young and since then I have loved it!! Taking it right through to my profession.

3. Would you describe this as your work or your passion?
My work in my passion. I love designing textiles I do it for business for a living but also make for pleasure in my spare time for myself, family and friends.


4. What inspires you?
I love where I live in Teesdale, and most of the time my work is inspired by nature and dale life. I do work to brief so this is not always the case, but generally you will find my personal work is themed by nature and the things that around me.

5. Tell us about your favourite creation – do you have a picture?
My favourite creation, is the work I did for my degree show. This project is called Whimsical nature, (picture attached). This work took a year to produce. I was influenced by a poem written by Rose Fyleman called 'fairies'. This poem is about a young girl creeping out of the house to visit fairies at the bottom of her garden. I took this journey into account and thought about what she might see and encounter on her way down the garden and produced a series of prints.

6. How do you keep yourself motivated?
I love what I do, keeping motivated is not a chore. I love providing people with things they will cherish for years to come. My whole surroundings motivate me everyday!

7. Do you attend craft fairs etc. or do you sell purely on-line?
I do attend craft fairs many of them are still to be confirmed for this year and will be taking place at the end of summer you can find more about these on my website as and when they are confirmed. I also sell on-line through my folksy shop which mainly has jewellery for sale, and ebay which sells wonderful cake decorations which are also for sale at SLC high street shop-- www.sarahlouiseclare.co.uk provides links to both of these shops, my website also provides an online contact for my textiles and wedding favours.

I also have a shop on the high street in Barnard Castle DL12 8NF where you can find all of these things and more.

8. Where do you do your work?
I work from home and my shop SLC.

9. Do you have a favourite medium to work with?
I don't have a favourite medium, but I have a few I do tend to stick to and have sort of become my trade mark. These are water colours, pencil drawings both colour and gray scale before moving on to fabric, wallpaper, Ceramics, etc.

10. What are you working on right now?
Right now i am working on promoting my current collection Whimsical nature, but in the background I am working on a new collection which will be coming out soon.

11. Where can we see your creations?
You can see my weekly thoughts and finds on my blog, www.sarahlouiseclare.blogspot.com, you will find my jewellery on my folksy shop, and my cake decorations on my ebay shop each found through www.sarahlouiseclare.co.uk, or you can book a portfolio viewing at SLC 01833 690 855 / info@sarahlouiselcare.co.uk

12. Do you have your own website/blog?
Yes! www.sarahlouiseclare.co.uk

www.sarahlouiseclare.blogspot.com

Wednesday 9 June 2010

Can't believe how long.....


Can't believe how long it has been since my last blog post.  Been soooooo busy since last post, but no excuse for leaving it so long!!!

Now that my mum has retired, one of her projects has been to get the garden in order, and unfortunately we can't do it ourselves, so we have had the gardeners in for the last week.  Lovely guys and they have made a marvellous job of it, I just wish they weren't so bloody cheerful when they woke me up at 7.00am every morning!!!!!

The top half of the garden has been completely re-laid with slabs, to make some great little patio areas for us to sit out in the sun (!!), and the bottom half has been gravelled ready for a massive greenhouse and fruit cage.  Mum has got a bit carried away with the buying of fruit trees, and I am seriously considering having a stand outside the house, like in the Good Life!!!

Being completely useless, I forgot to take before shots, but here are the during and after photos;-


During.....and after.....

They also cleared the pond out so I can see my little froggies again......
Aren't they gorgeous????

Well, now I am back on track, I will be a concerted effort to keep up the weekly blog, and will start doing some interviews with my fellow Folksy sellers soon.

Zoe

xx