AileenClarkeCrafts

Hello and thank you for taking a little time to read a bit about me and my work.
Having always been a creative person, it's hard to know where to start. I went to art college in Aberdeen to learn ceramics and jewellery then worked as a florist for many years. I have always made and sold my art and craft over the years but set about making my living from it about ten years ago.
I got into textiles when we moved to our cottage in rural Fife and I found I had more space to work. We also got the internet at that time which widened my creative horizons and as demand for my work has grown, I have expanded my range and I am constantly learning new techniques and developing my ideas.

Having always loved ceramics, my passion for shimmering and shining glazes is fulfilled by my textile and resin jewellery. I also like to get a bit of sparkle into my felt making and often use iridescent beads to compliment the felt and lots of shimmering silks to add a sumptuous sheen to the finished pieces. I love colour and texture and try to get lots of it into my work. There is also a spontaneity and sense of adventure with felt making in that you don't know exactly how things will turn out until the process is finished and often the tiniest corner of felt can be a masterpiece in itself so by framing it in a pendant tray these mini art works become wearable and these creative 'moments in time' are captured forever.

Over the years I have traveled extensively around Scotland and Ireland. The natural colours in the landscape never cease to amaze me and the relationship between natural dyed fibres and the land fascinates me. I use hand dyed fibre from the Orkney and Shetland Isles and hand spun yarn from all over the country in some of my work. I also adore Harris Tweed and include it quite often in my trinket boxes and brooches.

I sell my work through a few specialist gift shops here in Scotland and love taking my wares to fairs and makers markets and yarn festivals throughout the year.