My sister and I used to sleep head to tail in a single bed and she had a pink silky nightie and I used to go to sleep rubbing the fabric between my thumb and forefinger…it used to drive her mad.
My mum made all our clothes and was an embroiderer, milliner, upholsterer etc so my sister and I were always surrounded by it.
When we were about thirteen she made us our own pattern block and said she would buy us fabric from the market but no more clothes and we had to make our own which was brilliant, mine were absolutely thrown together even sellotaping the seams and often the end of rolls so I would put the tape marks where the fabric had been stuck to the print table down the back…wouldn’t it be great to have that irreverence now!
I have a great studio and I love to be alone in it. My husband works next door so we give each other crits all the time (the promise of total honesty even when its unwelcome) Happiness when hand sewing is a good play on the radio or machining to music or story on my headphones
There is something so calming about it but I just am in awe at the breadth of the subject there is always something new to discover even after all the years I’ve been a it.
Probably Alexander McQueen and Galliano but I am inspired by so much, painters, artists, museums, shops, it changes every day, often just simple stuff. I photograph and carry a notebook for hasty little scribbles of everything visual that I like…
I am addicted to flea markets.
The next one…I’m always hoping
Are there any particular people or events that helped you find your way?
To be versatile, try to think out of the box, don’t price your work out of the market, keep your eyes open inspiration is all around you…and be irreverent about embroidery!
Do you have a 'greatest idol'?
No, changing continuously other than above
I would like to be taken seriously in what I’m doing and one day, after a lifetime of trying, I would like embroidery to lose its stigma and be recognized by people other than practitioners as a truly interesting and expansive way of working
5 comments:
Oh what superb skill.I would love to own one of Karen's works. If you like monkeys, have you come across the work of artist Fatima Ronquillo. Her painting titled "The Inconstant" is just divine. I have it as my screen saver.
I am an antique dealer who has a penchant for period textiles. I can see history reflected in Karen's work but with a contemporary twist. Love it!!!
HI
Great post Elvis. How are you?
Ros xx
Being a textiles student I love these works they are amazing and I really like the different techniques you have used.
sewthecity.blogspot.co.uk x
this woman is a precisionist. Thankyou for sharing.
I have been vaguely aware of Karen Nicol as a name for a while but this post has awakened me to the power and quality of her textile art pieces. Thank you very much for putting this interview together.
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