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Insights from Shannon
Q. Where did you learn to sew?
I probably shouldn’t admit this considering a bulk of my product is sewn – but I never actually learnt to sew. I was shown by a friend on how to thread a machine and I kind of took it from there…
My partner bought me a sewing machine for mothers day about 3 years ago and I just started playing about on it. Sewing bits of fabric to my kids clothes, a few basic cushions and so on. I still can’t read a sewing pattern, I’m too impatient – I’m more of a look at it, think ‘yeah I can totally copy that’ and sew it. The more I sew, the better I get. I think…
Q. What kind of craft do you love most to produce?
I love making my quilts. They are just a fun and easy thing to put together, I don’t worry about a pattern I just make strips and stripes with chunks of mismatched patterns and sew away.
Q. What is the first thing you remember creating? Have you always loved drawing?
I have always drawn. I remember it as the only thing I was happy doing all through school. The first thing that was semi decent I remember drawing was a charcoal picture of the Madonna Record ‘True Blue’ I even contacted (laminated) it . I was very proud of it, all shaded!! Many years later I went on to major in drawing at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne. And for the three years of my degree I hardly drew – I made installations and took a zillion pictures. I’ve come back to drawing in the past five years after a big long break.
Q. Do you make artwork as well as sewn objects and fabric?
I do, but it’s only for myself or family. It’s really only for decorative purposes, not because I have a need to create art.
Q. What lead you to printing your own fabrics?
It’s fantastic, there is nothing better than sewing with your own fabrics. When designing I try hard to stick to my own aesthetic and design with me as the consumer in mind. Although when it’s a product that you want to sell its hard to just revolve around your own taste. There are a lot of things to consider when designing a pattern because as much as I love making things with it - ultimately I want it to sell.
Q. Ok, we all want to know. Why is it called Aunty Cookie?
Cookie is my mother’s nickname. And I always thought it was cute – it could be childlike as well as a sort of sweet and matronly. I also took it thinking it would annoy her, its certainly not a homage. She spends a lot of time telling me she’ll take it back and sue me for copyright. Jokingly, I think….
Q. Where did the inspiration come from for your Cookies?
I just call all the characters Cookies. I was drawing some pictures for my daughter’s friend’s birthdays and came up with a drawing of each of the girls, and thought they looked a bit boring, so I added ears. So no real a-ha moment, just a quick add on that I liked and went with. Same went with dressing them in fabric, I looked at the pictures and thought ‘that’s a bit dull’, cut and paste - voila! Since those drawings I have a few little catagories that I work within – there the crafty cookie, the hipster cookie, the totally organic cookie….
Q. What do you enjoy about running your own business?
Working from home, being able to hang with my kids and work at the same time. Not that happens everyday but some days when it does – its great! Knowing that when a product sells well, gets some promotion, is bought and liked its because my hard work made that happen. Its hard working alone, but also very satisfying.
Q. What fabrics/ designers/ authors/ blogs are influencing you at the moment? Why?
I don’t so much follow any particular blogs or designers for their design influence but mainly for their knowledge and ability to continue being creative, to stay motivated and productive. My favourite bloggers are ones who get on with it, who make and make and take advantage of opportunity. And many of them are crafters, shop keepers and pretty much most of them are also mums. Nothing better than the struggling-to-stay-awake mum who kicks out some super craftin’!
Q. What are you working on at the moment?
I’ve just brought out my flocked Braille panels which I love! They are a nice extension of the eye chart and ampersand panels, I see the three designs as a little typography lovin’ set. I am also enjoying playing with the flocking technique so the Braille to me is a perfect use of this method. I love how it can just look like a piece of black line but to touch you can read a secret message.
I seem to work month by month on fabrics, reprinting old in new colours and making some new panels along the way. I am hoping to focus my designs a little more and develop a cohesive range, but I’ve got plenty of time for that!
 
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