Meet the Maker: Betsy Badge
The delights of Betsy Badge stem from Caroline Field’s love of print, textiles and knits. Although you are just as likely to find a chunky scarf as a string of hand-printed bunting in Caroline’s collections, they are all connected by her own style and love of printmaking. Betsy Badge is part textile, part print and part stitch – and it makes for a comforting, tactile patchwork of craft.
After initially studying fashion, Caroline took a detour into science before going back to design when her children needed her less. “I wish I’d found my way back sooner. I love working for myself, designing, creating, touching fabrics, ink and paint. It’s a real pleasure and honour to be able to make things that people buy and actually love.” In this edition of our Meet the Maker series, Caroline talks to fellow textile artist and Folksy designer Jane V Shorten about her printmaking technique, her inspirations and the evolution of Betsy Badge…
I’ve always been a maker. My fingers itch to make something and my brain searches for a reason to make it.
How would you describe Betsy Badge?
I’d say Betsy Badge is still a work in progress, evolving all the time. It’s primarily a printmaking business but with many other mediums thrown in… all linked together with some form of print. I love creating, sewing, knitting and painting and if I can bring these all together in the shop with a unified look then I’m happy.
Hand-printed Dog Bunting by Betsy Badge – shop Betsy Badge hand-printed bunting here
I have a sketchbook with every single design that appears in my shops. It’s a great reference point for me – especially if I lose a block or linocut design. And I have to admit a couple of linoblocks have been eaten by my dog!
How did you start crafting and how did you decide what to make?
My business began organically. I was playing about with lino and ink and just fell in love with the medium. The crafting followed as I’ve always been a maker and my fingers itch to make something and my brain searches for a way to have a reason to make it. Selling it online or at fairs made complete sense – otherwise my house would’ve been overloaded with stuff!
Hand-knitted long chunky scarf with hand-printed illustrations by Betsy Badge – available here
I love creating, sewing, knitting and painting and if I can bring these all together in the shop with a unified look then I’m happy.
Where do you look for your inspiration?
My inspiration comes from a tiny seed, a nugget of an idea, be that at night, walking through fields or sitting in front of an empty sketchpad. Sometimes magazines, a film or a daydream help form the idea. I’ll begin with a shape and it spirals from there.
Selling at boot sales gave me a thick skin for criticism and bargaining. The outlay was minimal and I got a huge amount of experience.
Did your interest in textiles start at the London College of Fashion or before? Were you creative as a child?
I was always interested in colour, fabric, texture and art as a child. I loved playing with fabric. My dad was a reupholsterer and we always had fabric lying around the house. My mother was the seamstress with this amazing industrial sewing machine that I loved – I learnt to use it at a stupidly young age, no health and safety rules back then!
Hand-printed Christmas Stockings with Stags by Betsy Badge – available here
I learnt to use a sewing machine at a stupidly young age – no health and safety rules back then!
I made all sorts of clothes with completely unsuitable fabrics but it was the most fun ever! I then went on to make shorts and print on t shirts and sell them at boot sales – a crazy platform for selling as people at these places want something for nothing but it gave me a thick skin for criticism and bargaining. The outlay was minimal and I got a huge amount of experience.
I was playing about with lino and ink and just fell in love with the medium.
What is your printing method?
I use soft cut lino as it’s the nicest lino to cut on and it prints on fabric very well. I do have a Speedball Printing Press but I rarely use it. I prefer the hands-on approach much more. I like to feel the lino and know where I’ve pressed the image on to the fabric or paper or vice versa. Maybe that’s a bit of the control freak in me?!
Do you keep sketch books or notebooks to record your ideas?
I have a sketchbook with every single design that appears in my shops. It’s a great reference point for me. Especially if I lose a block or linocut design. And I have to admit a couple of blocks have been eaten by my dog! So it’s definitely a good idea to have the design ready to recreate… plus it’s great to be able to look back and see how much I’ve evolved as a designer.
Hand-printed cards by Betsy Badge – shop Caroline’s hand-printed cards, tags and wrapping here
Every designer absorbs influences from all over. I’ve been told my work has a Scandi style or a touch of the William Morris about it.
What influences your work?
I’ve been told my work has a Scandi style or a touch of the William Morris about it. This is definitely not a conscious thing, but every designer absorbs influences from all over.
I do tend to spread out and love my stuff around me. Especially fabrics, books and magazines – I have piles of Vogue magazines from the ’80s.
Tell us about your workspace…
My studio is a converted garage. I’m very lucky to have this space but unfortunately it’s far too small and my stuff has spread throughout the conservatory too. Not sure my dogs are too happy about that!
My studio is chock-a with pieces I’ve picked up from antique stores or junk shops. Note to self, no more stools are needed!
I do tend to spread out and love my stuff around me. Especially fabrics, books and magazines – I have Vogue magazines from the ’80s. I print on small pieces of furniture too and the studio is chock-a with pieces I’ve picked up from antique stores or junk shops. Note to self, no more stools are needed!
Hand-printed Hare Tea Towel by Betsy Badge – see more of Caroline’s hand-printed tea towels here
I like to feel the lino and know where I’ve pressed the image on to the fabric or paper.
What’s your favourite possession?
Easy… My Roberts radio. Best company ever!! But my lino cutting tools come a close second.
Hand-printed fabric advent calendar with pockets by Betsy Badge – find it here
Shop Betsy Badge on Folksy
Meet the Interviewer
The maker asking the questions is fellow Folksy seller and textile artist Jane V Shorten.
Read our interview with Jane V Shorten>
Shop Jane V Shorten on Folksy >
