I am obsessed with textiles.
I have been an artist for as long as I can remember; textiles have always been a big part of my creative life. When I was 18, I learned how to screenprint on fabric and I’ve been consumed by patterns and surface design ever since.
I got my BFA at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Canada, where I learned weaving, printing and dyeing. I also did some drawing, painting, printmaking, bookbinding and photography along the way. I found inspiration in textile design history- marimekko, William Morris, Liberty of London, the Weiner Werkstatte, Sonia Delaunay, traditional Japanese patterns, Eugene Alain Seguy- and many more!
After NSCAD, I moved to Toronto and, with a friend, I set up a fabric design and screen printing studio called ruckus designs. For ten wonderful years we made clothing, bags, home decor and even designed a hotel room! (http://www.gladstonehotel.com/hotel/rooms/artist-designed/303-red-room/) Running through all our work was a passion for colour and bold, graphic imagery. Nature was and continues to be an endless source of inspiration and fascination. We brought whimsy and humour to everything we made.
During the ruckus years we had a lively knitting club every week at home; this grew into another textile business: a yarn store and cafe, which is still a going concern and a fabulous place to be: www.theknitcafetoronto.com. For a while we happily (though exhaustingly) ran both ventures, but after I had my first child, we decided to put ruckus on hiatus.
As much as I ADORE yarn, knitting and all things bright & fuzzy, I really missed designing textiles. I missed drawing, painting and printing. I missed thinking about patterns and repeats and fabric.
So, two years ago I embarked on a new adventure- I started designing patterns again in my spare time. I have slowly been building a new portfolio, taking time out to have another baby. During naptimes and evenings I have been creating work and planning for a future in pattern design!
Town Halifax
Blocks Tibet
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Hi Kate,
Wow! I LOVE your passion for pattern and textiles! Your business ventures are so thrilling! What a dream to do what you love! The Red Room that you did with Ruckus is so bold and gorgeous! I really adore you style…very whimsical. I can’t wait to see more of your work!
Holly
Kate
so much on your experience luggage… AWESOME!
Your knitting shop and school looks great… I wish I lived in Toronto to visit it… hehehe
Next time I visit (hopefully soon), I’ll be sure to go
Love your designs: so bright! Town Halifax reminds me of happy fairy tales.
I purchased two squirrel printed skirts back in the day! I bought one in orange/purple linen and one in orange/orange silk. Still love them