Vendor Spotlight: Juniper & Fir
What sort of things inspire you? Where do you look for inspiration?
Mid century modern furniture was a big first inspiration. A friend would hunt down and buy Eames furniture and I became mildly obsessed with their design work From there I moved to architecture and was amazed by how simple clean lines could create in an amazing environment, which is not unlike some of the formal results of my patterns and weavings. Home décor, my focus now, pulls from all these disciplines (architecture, furniture design, graphic design) in an effort to really convey an experience in a space.
What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?
I worked as a visual merchandiser for over 10 years and the best creative tip that I have ever received is:
“If you feel like something is not quite right with what you’re working on, like you’ve over-worked it or can’t find the solution to a piece - walk away and come back with fresh eyes”
I know it may seem like an obvious one, but this has been the most helpful.
What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?
As a designer who practices shibori, even though I employ techniques traditional to creating dye patterns, each has a distinctive fingerprint. This identity of this fingerprint comes from a shibori dyer's method, how we tend to our vat, and the different touches we put in our hand-dyed process. Every piece is different from the last.
Since everything I produce is handmade, I like to imagine the finished work is a personal art piece made for a new friend or a colleague's home, and if it’s in their home – that’s a pretty intimate thing. And what’s more personal than sharing something you've made with your hands?
When do you feel the most creative?
When I'm not under a deadline! I think I make my most exciting work when I'm playing, and you need that freedom to play to really push outside of habit and routine. Anything to shake up expectations. Before I know it, the projects I work on without creative or time constraints end up being some of the most satisfying.