Meet the Maker: Louise Brainwood Textiles
Louise Brainwood is a textile designer known for her bold and beautiful Scandinavian style prints, but she didn’t begin her creative journey in textiles – two major events put her on this path. Originally trained as a jeweller, repetitive strain injury put a stop to that career. Very sadly, her daughter then became ill, and Louise gave up her job to look after her. Looking for a new creative channel and some extra income, Louise started making doorstops and cushions, first using vintage fabrics and then using her own original fabric designs. This grew into her very own homeware brand: Louise Brainwood Textiles. We talk to Louise to find out more…
Can you introduce yourself and describe what you do?
Hi, I’m Louise Brainwood. I’m a textile and surface pattern designer, and I make cushions, lampshades and small gifts from my digitally printed fabrics.
How would you describe your aesthetic?
My fabrics have a simple contemporary style but with a careful use of colour to add a bold statement to a room. They reflect the current trend for Scandinavian style and also reference ’60s and ’70s pattern designs.
I originally trained as a jeweller but had to give up due to RSI in my hands. It was heartbreaking to give up my passion and it took a number of years before I found another medium to express my creativity.
Have you always been a maker?
Yes, I originally trained as a jeweller and worked in that field for a long time before having to give up due to RSI in my hands. It was heartbreaking to give up my passion and it took a number of years before I found another medium to express my creativity. I’ve noticed recently though that a lot of the shapes and themes from my jewellery design sketchbooks are now appearing in my textile designs, so it feels like I haven’t left everything of my jewellery days behind – that makes me happy.
To me, craft is about creating. I’m happiest being described as a Maker, it’s a much clearer literal description of what I do.
How did you get to where you are now?
I was working part time with children in a preschool but my daughter was taken ill and I had to give up my job to stay home and care for her. To bring in extra money I started to sell doorstops I had made using bought-in and vintage fabrics. But as the popularity of vintage fabric rose, so did their scarcity, and I started to look for ways to print my own designs on to fabric. At first I printed all my textiles by hand, but then it got to the point where I couldn’t print enough to keep up with demand, so I decided to get my fabrics digitally printed instead. Digital printing also means I can offer a bigger range of colours and customers can order fabric by the metre to make curtains and blinds (it’s such a thrill to see my designs used on that scale!). By the time my daughter was fully recovered four years later, I had a proper business on my hands, so I decided to keep going and I haven’t stopped. I still make all my cushions and homewares myself.
I’m inspired by everyday things really, especially leaves and plants, vintage ’60s and ’70s design, Scandinavian design and Japanese art.
What inspires you?
Everyday things really, especially leaves and plants, vintage ’60s and ’70s design, Scandinavian design and Japanese art. Shapes and patterns are everywhere, and the colour palettes I use for my designs develop from photos I’ve taken. Cornwall inspires me and we visit regularly. I’m also lucky to be within easy reach of London, so I go there often too – there’s always an exhibition or museum with something of interest to inspire me.
Who are your design heroes?
My design heroes would have to be Barbara Hepworth – whose work has been an inspiration since I was working as a jeweller, and whose garden in St Ives is one of my favourite places to be – and Lucienne Day and Mary White – both pioneering textile designers from the 1950s. Another of my heroes is Heather Moore (aka Skinny laMinx) who is a South African textile designer. She’s one of those endlessly creative artists who also shares and gives back to the creative community while building a fantastic brand. She inspired me to start printing my own designs.
I sketch and take lots of photos of plants and places that interest me, especially on our trips to Cornwall. My Newlyn Fish print was inspired by the Cornish fishing port, and is very popular with hotels and holiday cottage owners in the West Country.
How do you come up with your textile designs and new product ideas?
I sketch and take lots of photos of plants and places that interest me, especially on our trips to Cornwall. For example, my Newlyn Fish print was inspired by the Cornish fishing port, and is very popular with hotels and holiday cottage owners in the West Country. Ideas for new products come from things that I myself would want. I’ve always had an interest in interior design, so naturally most of my products are home based. My mirrors and purses came about because I wanted to use up the scraps of fabric that were building up. I bought my own presses to make the mirrors. I love those machines – they satisfy my love for working with mechanical processes that I lost when I gave up jewellery.
While I often think I would like to have a big studio away from home, I actually really like working from home – it means I can come and work when the mood takes me and it makes my time much more flexible.
Can you describe your workspace? Where is it and what is in it?
I’m lucky to have a separate workroom at home, but space is very limited so I have one large table and then lots of storage around me, which means I can change the workspace depending on the days jobs. I redecorated recently to make it a nicer space to be in and have adapted some Ikea shelving to create some small storage and space for my printer. It’s pretty well organised – as my space is so small I have to keep it tidy or I can’t move! I have my sewing machines, fabrics, most of my stock and a few shelves with reference books and sketchbooks. I overflow into my daughter’s room while she’s away at uni, packing materials are stored in a shed, and I have crates of lampshade parts hidden behind furniture in our bedroom. While I often think I would like to have a big studio away from home, I actually really like working from home – it means I can come and work when the mood takes me and it makes my time much more flexible.
I’m a great believer in enjoying the creative process and taking real pleasure in the tools you use.
Is there anything in your studio that you couldn’t live without?
I couldn’t live without the art pen – I’ve had it since uni and it’s still going strong (no I’m not going to tell you how long that is!) Obviously things like my laptop, sewing machine and scissors are vital too, but I’m a romantic at heart and that pen has connected me to my work for so long I think I would be pretty heartbroken to be without it.
What’s the best thing about being creative for a living?
I think if you’re being creative, you’re doing something that’s truly you. You’re using all your skills as a human being to create something that brings pleasure both to you and others. I’m a great believer in enjoying the creative process and taking real pleasure in the tools you use.
To bring in extra money I started to sell doorstops I had made using bought-in and vintage fabrics. But as the popularity of vintage fabric rose, so did their scarcity, and I started to look for ways to print my own designs on to fabric.
How does it feel to be part of the UK craft scene?
I’ve always loved it – it’s a very supportive family to be part of. It has changed massively since I first started out. The internet has made a big difference, enabling makers to connect with each other and reach customers through websites like Folksy. The isolation of working from home is long gone!
What would you say to someone thinking about selling their work?
I’d say do it. It can be quite a scary thing to put your work out there, but you have to remember that there will always be more people loving your work than not. Folksy is a great place to start selling. The forums provide help and advice and the Folksy blog is stuffed full of useful information and articles to help you get your shop set up and looking good.
When you’re being creative, you’re doing something that’s truly you. You’re using all your skills as a human being to create something that brings pleasure both to you and others.
What does craft mean to you?
Whenever anyone asks me this question it takes me right back to university. I went to West Surrey College of Art in Farnham (now UCA) and we had some very heated discussions about the perception and definition of craft. We never came to a proper conclusion. Then when I left, I worked at the Crafts Council for a time, and obviously the same question was always being asked. Many of the makers whose work we showed walked a fine line between what might be considered art and craft. To me, craft is about creating, either physically with my hands or designing on paper or on the computer. I’m happiest being described as a Maker, it’s a much clearer literal description of what I do.
It can be quite a scary thing to put your work out there, but you have to remember that there will always be more people loving your work than not. Folksy is a great place to start selling. The forums provide help and advice and the Folksy blog is stuffed full of useful information and articles to help you get your shop set up and looking good.
If you had to choose a favourite piece that you’ve made, what would it be and why?
I don’t think I have one favourite piece or design, but I do really love seeing my fabrics made into curtains and blinds. When people choose to have my designs as a major feature in their home it’s a massive compliment. I’ve had my lampshades and fabrics used in a number of hotels and holiday homes too, which is really exciting.
See more Louise Brainwood textiles in her Folksy shop >
Use the discount code PATTERN20 for 20% off all Louise Brainwood textiles and accessories until the end of March 2016
