An Interview with Rosebud Casson

Rosebud Casson

Rosie Casson aka Rosebud is a talented textiles and jewellery designer maker from my hometown Hartlepool. Not only is her work unbelievable in style and quality but she's an extremely lovely lass and I'm planning on adding to my Rosebud Casson jewellery collection very soon!

Rosie will be exhibiting her collection Natural Ornamentum at SEWN on Mach 7th.
I caught up with Rosie for a cheeky interview:

Your work mainly being focused on nature, how do you narrow such a wide subject? 

I love the fact that natural forms are so unique and diverse, which in turn allows my work to be as experimental and exciting as i want it to be. But narrowing it down is really hard! I generally like to go out and get primary research, for example going on walks in the countryside or at the beach taking photos, and look for surfaces and patterns that catch my eye. My collections are usually quite focused, and i like to keep a theme running throughout them whether its things such as flowers and beetles or shells and the sea. I then attempt to translate these patterns onto the fabric using print and embroidery techniques. I think my goal is to experiment with all aspects of nature, but that may take me many years!

What makes you look closer into to subjects such as insects and sea urchins? 
I am just fascinated with the microscopic beauty of sea urchins, shells and insects. They are so beautiful and wonderful, i want to make sure people know what they have right in front of their eyes when they visit the beach or rivers. I feel that the beautiful pattern and structure of natural forms are just screaming out to be translated into something beautiful you can wear! Nature has always been a massive passion of mine growing up, so its only natural to combine two of my greatest loves - nature and fashion textiles! 

You finished your degree last year, you sell your work and now you're preparing for SEWN, how have you kept your creative juices flowing?

It's been really hard to keep working on my art, as i ended up starting a full time job quite soon after graduating that has nothing to do with my work, so i've had to really keep on top of my embroidery to keep me inspired. I have a terrible habit of neglecting my embroidery as its so time consuming, and working more towards my laser cut jewelery, but i guiltily go back to stitch, and remember how much i love it in the first place! I constantly flick through Pinterest on my phone, and seeing such beautiful imagery on there is a massive part of keeping myself motivated to carry on creating my own pieces. I think the biggest part of keeping my creative juices flowing, is knowing exactly what i want to do with my career, so i'm quite pro active and passionate about working hard within my skill. 

Can you describe the core style of your work?
Combining techniques and a range of different media to portray beautiful detailed pieces.

What do you think about independent exhibitions and events such as sewn?

Exhibitions such as SEWN are incredibly important. There is so much artistic talent in the North East, especially within Teesside and you can see that from just how much talent there is from the undergraduates and graduates at colleges and universities such as Cleveland College of Art and Design. Events and encouragement from people such as King Crumpet are incredibly important to get artistic individuals, young and old, to step forward and say "hey! look what i can do!". From living in Hartlepool my whole life, i have noticed there is a constant lack of these sort of things, and i really feel there needs to be more of a focus on the art world, instead of people saying "the only way to make it in art is to move to London!" I begrudge moving away from an area that has so much potential, just because areas like London seem to have a claim over successful art. 

What is your dream project? 
Working in costume or fashion for tv and film projects. I would love to attempt historic and/or period embroidery within costume design and see my work up on the screens and being worn!

Professionally, what’s your goal?
My goal is to become completely self employed - making a living out of something that you love is such a rare thing these days, and i want to be one of the lucky few who can use their talent and skill and make it into something that pays the bills. Even if it doesn't work out in the end, i still want to be able to look back on my business and think - hey, at least i tried eh?!

 You can check Rosebud Casson out via her Facebook or Blog!

You can also meet and network with Rosie in person at SEWN.

Click here for tickets and info!

All images in this post are copyrighted to Rosebud Casson.

An Interview with Linear Outline

Sarah Davidson of Linear Outline is an exceptional designer and Applied Artist. Not only am I very fond of the unique styling of her work but I'm now happy to be working with and representing her for the SEWN exhibition.

Movimento is the title for the body of work to be exhibited by Sarah at SEWN. She says "Motion restricts your ability to see your visual surroundings, resulting in the difficulty to concentrate on the quick paced snippet of events happening before your very eyes". Her uniquely stunning work focuses on hand embroidery into vintage family photographs and woven textiles. 

I caught up with Sarah for a quick chat and a little peek at her brand new work being shown at SEWN:

Your work mainly being focused on old photographs and embroidery, what first inspired you to combine the two?

The thought behind combining the two came along while I was working on my Final Major Project at University last spring, my concept and theme was all about the idea of motion, and the problems in which we face trying to capture a moment in time. I felt it was only right to use my own personal portraits of past family members, and by doing so it allowed them to come back to life, but in a new contemporary way.  Through reworking back into them with a varied colour pallet of hand embroidery, it added a whole different element to them, whilst forming a more detailed image. 

You finished your degree last year, you sell your work and now you're preparing for SEWN, how have you kept your creative juices flowing?

Honestly Pinterest has a HUGE part to play in this!!! Through seeing inspirational and beautiful imagery daily it keeps my creative juices flowing, and makes me want to carry on making and creating and doing what I love!

Can you describe the core style of your work?

Contemporary, conceptual, & experimental. 

What do you think about independent exhibitions and events such as sewn? Are they important?

I think it’s hugely important, the North East is full of artistic creativity but it’s constantly overshadowed by signature areas such as London, therefore the North East is in great need of other independent exhibitions to allow new and upcoming artists and designers the chance to showcase their work. I’m so excited to be a part of SEWN, as it brings together some of the best North East Contemporary Textile Artists within the same space.

Professionally, what’s your goal?

Ideally I want to create a successful platform to work upon, which allows me the opportunity to be able to work self-employed full-time; balancing my time between the two of been both a Freelance Illustrator as well as a Contemporary Applied Artist. Ideally having stockists which are dotted all around the UK, before eventually branching out within Europe within the next few years.   

I want to also offer my services of creative workshops around the North East working with a varied target audience of all ages, cultures and backgrounds. I’ve recently completed my Level 2, Health and Social Care qualification and am already volunteering within areas of community arts within the Stockton area.  

What’s your dream project?

My influences are constantly changing, so therefore my dream project is forever changing too! BUT right now it would involve working with a very limited colour pallet, working with varied materials to create a very oversized woven final outcome, made up of a range of different yarns, threads and wools. 

 You can check Linear Outline out via her Facebook or Blog!
You can also meet and network with Sarah in person at SEWN.

Click here for tickets and info!

All images in this post are copyrighted to Sarah Davidson.

An Interview with Kayleigh Falcus!

Kayleigh Falcus is a friend of mine and also a very good jewellery designer, hard worker and determined individual. I was happy that she jumped at the opportunity to take part in SEWN.

'Skyline of My Soul' is the title of a brand new and exciting body of work by Kayleigh Falcus. Highly influenced by the skylines and the streets of New York City, Kayleigh explores this in her distinctive cutting edge style.

I caught up with Kayleigh to ask her some further questions and to get a sneaky peek at the behind the scenes of her collection for SEWN.

Your work mainly being focused on New York, whats the fascination with the big place?
I visited New York in May 2013 and I fell in love with the place. Its a combination of the opportunities, the buzz and just the general vibe of the place. I love how people come together and I felt very at home there. The skyscrapers cant even be described unless you go. They're as big as the dreams of everyone there and I feel as an artist it is like the center of the universe. The city that never sleeps.

You finished your degree last year, you run your jewellery business and now you're preparing for SEWN, how have you kept your creative juices flowing?
Personally I rarely struggle with motivation because I have a very driven mindset. I keep in touch with designers and artists, always on social media to see new work and keep me inspired. I go on pinterest, watch short art films and listen to a lot of music too but it doesn't feel like I'm trying to keep my juices flowing, these are just things I do naturally. Its something I don't find hard to do. If I'm not busy I feel lazy so I'm constantly working everyday.

Your work being exhibited at sewn is a textiles adaptation of illustrations that you've done, can you describe the core style of your work?
My work tends to be minimal with some detailed pieces. I love straight edges and geometric shapes. So a collection of sharp drawing combined with textiles techniques for this specific exhibition.



What do you think about independent exhibitions and events such as sewn? Are they important?
I think they are massively imporatant. As new fresh designers, it is vital for us to strive for people to see what we do. It can be hard to get into more well known galleries so these type of events are a great outlet to showcase work.

Professionally, what’s your goal? and whats your dream project?
Professionally I am aiming to create a luxurious jewellery brand along with illustrations and ther products as the brand grows. My dream project? My dream goal would to have my own stores worldwide, stocking in prestigious boutiques and stores like Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, notjustalabel.com and so on.

You can check Kayleigh Falcus out via her YouTube, Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook!
You can also meet and network with Kayleigh in person at SEWN.

Click here for tickets and info!

All images in this post are copyrighted to Kayleigh Falcus

SEWN EXHIBITION

Hi all! I'm so happy to announce that SEWN has launched!

With an amazing lineup of textile designers that I love professionally and just so happen to be the sweetest ladies I know.

King Crumpet Presents SEWN, a contemporary textiles exhibition featuring an all female line-up including Rosebud Casson, Poppycock, Kayleigh Falcus, Linear Outline& Tracy Lloyd - Textile artist. On view at Hartlepool College of Further Education on March 7th, Sewn is King Crumpet’s inaugural exhibition event. With newly featured work from each designer, Sewn promises to deliver an exciting display and an excellent night of visual fun. Between 6.30pm and 11pm, guests are invited to join us, buy some art, network and also receive a free gift bag worth £10. Tickets for this event are £5 and can be purchased from my Etsy page: etsy.com/shop/kingcrumpet Paid entry on arrival acceptable for guests without tickets. If you'd like to know anything in detail about this exhibition then please feel free to email me at:  KingCrumpetCraft@gmail.com Check out the ladies taking part, I really hope you can make it. It's important to me that we invest some time and culture into our small towns! ♥www.rosebudcasson.com ♥poppycockillustrations.blogspot.co.uk/ ♥www.facebook.com/LinearOutline ♥https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kayleigh-Falcus/438189632876144 ♥www.tracylloyd.co.uk

King Crumpet Winter Fair

So you know when you have 1000 tasks to do all at once? Lately it's been like that for me at King Crumpet. Here's some of the pictures from the Hart Village Winter Fair that I hosted on 30th November and 1st December. 

If you have any questions about any of the images or the traders then please feel free to email me at

kingcrumpetcraft@gmail.com

Note to self: Hire a photographer!

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Winter Fair!

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Street Revolution Yarn Bomb!

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I've been a busy bee!
Hartlepool Borough Council have recently been given a budget to get stuck into organising some really cool events, I was over the moon to be invited along to be their mystery Yarn Bomber.

I covered 13 trees, a bench, traffic cones and A CAR!

Check out some pictures below, I'll have more to add later too but I couldn't wait to show you all the work.

Follow me @King_Crumpet on Instagram to keep up to date with my goings on!