In the Studio with Emma Louise Originals

I’ve been making things for as long as I can remember – my mum, before she retired, was an art and textiles teacher so she was always giving me projects to do at weekends and during the school holidays. So I’ve had a go at everything from batik and weaving to knitting and rag-rug making (a traditional technique for making rugs out of old clothes). However I didn’t study art at college or university and it wasn’t until I took some night classes about five years ago that I got back into designing and making.

I started by taking some courses in printmaking and became a member of a local studio where I now produce etchings and monoprints. I also studied silversmithing for two years.

I am lucky to have a spare bedroom in my flat which is where I do most of my work. It houses my sewing machine, supplies and a small table which is always covered in half-made items. It’s always a bit of a mess but I can’t work and be tidy at the same time and I envy people who can! Even when I’m in the print studio, I always end up with ink all over my hands and face.

I have a regular 9 to 5 job as well, so I work mainly during evenings and at weekends. I usually put the radio on but sometimes I do end up working in front of the TV which is never good as I get easily distracted! I tend to work in bursts as I suddenly feel inspired and then work on something for hours and hours, sometimes through the night.

At the moment I am mainly making my postage stamp pendants as they’ve been going down really well at local craft fairs and I need to get my stock levels up. I am also trying to make time to develop a new range of textiles which I am keeping under wraps at the moment! Most of my work is influenced by memories from childhood so I use a lot of things like buttons, glass marbles, paper snowflakes etc. This wasn’t intentional when I started out, it’s just what happened!

I have recently launched my own website which I love because it is all mine! I do still sell on etsy though, under the username RussianDollDesigns, as I love the opportunities etsy gives to meet other makers from around the world. I like the whole ethos of buying handmade – you can own something unique and sustainable. Nearly all of the things I make are one-offs because I like the idea of having something which no one else will have.