SHORT STORY

My influences come from the desire to be kind to the planet whilst using quality products. My truly unique pieces draw inspiration from different aspects of my life. Many ideas come from my local surroundings, living by the sea in Portobello: the wide skies and sea which change daily with colour and form; the rich architechure in Edinburgh and the wide lanscapes I visit in Scotland. As well as this, I have been greatly influenced by my family and their love of patterns, colour and textures espically my Nanny Joy who inspired many of my most colourful designs.

I notice the different textures which are all around us and how these collide into each other without questioning. This realisation is reflected in my work in which I use a variety of textilies and colours to create my geometic and abstract design.

The design of the boxes is based on original mid-century sewing boxes. I admired the clean lines and elegant design, and also saw the potential that they could be used for much more.  The idea was born to create pieces with the ability to store precious items which, rather than being hidden away, could take centre stage in any room. 

LONG STORY

I have always loved fabrics, colour and textures and studied upholstery at the School of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishing in Stirling. It was using this knowledge, and the love of combining a variety of textiles and colour, that the idea was born to create truly unique upholstered boxes.  Every one I create is different, telling a story inspired by the world around me. 

Growing up I was always drawn to colour; my mum always had colourful flowers around the house and every week we would visit my Nanny and Papa.  Nanny Joy was always dressed in the most colourful and vibrant dresses and their garden was an explosion of colours, full of a depth of colour and textures. The house was full of love and it was here where I experienced my first use of a needle and thread and the feeling of creating items from stitching different fabrics together.  

Whenever I think of those visits, I am filled with great memories and it's from here that my passion for textiles and patterns grew. Not only that but the colours Nanny Joy often wore, yellow and blues are often my go-to pallet.

Now living by the sea and walking my dog Lola on the beach every day, my designs are often inspired by the vast ever changing sky and water, from the inky blue and green sea to the rolling hills in the distance and its contrast with the flat ocean (on a calm day!) It can also be the smallest thing that inspires me from the the patterns the cracks make in the sea wall or the swirls in the peebles on the beach.