dash. I was given a beautiful Vicki Fowler basket and her use of fabric
and colour really spoke to me. At that time, Harvest Workroom in
Melbourne was hosting basket-weaving classes by Maryann Talia Pau.
I started Googling, reading and sampling, and it grew from there.
Could you tell us about your production process? My baskets are
made using an electric sewing machine and cotton rope. Some of
my first pieces were very floppy and not at all practical. I started
working with harder, neutral rope, which made the vessels more
durable. I experimented with watercolours and noticed the cotton
rope absorbed the paints wonderfully and created the efect you see
in the pieces now. I’ve moved into using more vibrant acrylic paints.
Does your home reflect the style of your work? My husband
Duncan and I are in the process of renovating our new home in
Melbourne. Think polished floorboards and terrazzo tiles: our style
is a mixture of things found in op shops and items we’ve had
custom-made for the space. We have a few luxury items, such as
art and a solid table that we can dance on, but largely we don’t own
anything too precious. There’s nothing in our house that we don’t
enjoy so, in that way, our home is an honest reflection of our style.
You released a book last year, Roped In. What’s the best project
for a beginner to tackle? If you can sew a straight line, I would
recommend starting with the rope placemats or coasters. If sewing
isn’t your thing, then I would suggest starting with the knots, and
making a set of friendship knot earrings.
What’s in the pipeline for the rest of the year? The first thing I need
to do is set up my new studio. Then I plan on really investing a lot
of time in making my own rope – hand-dyeing fibres and creating
unique rope to make a new, totally diferent range.Gemma Patford
DESIGN PROFILE
Follow Gemma on Instagram: @gemmapatford.Inside Out / 33