The Making
Of...
Like a Bull in a China Shop
The Story...
“Like a bull in a china shop”, refers to someone who is behaving clumsily in a situation where one must be gentle, as a bull might do surrounded by delicate antique china. Incidents like these may cause things to break but they can also be mended. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pieces of china with gold, leaving stunning gold rivulets along each crack in the china. This is a delicate act of love and care towards a broken object which would have been thrown away. Inspired by Kintsugi art, I incorporated two golden strips along the border of the scarf with the knowledge that these broken pieces of china can be fixed, to make do and mend!
I love the imagery that Kintsugi art and the term, a bull in a china shop creates. It invokes a strength of character who in life may encounter obstacles that can shatter their plans but never their courage. This design will make a perfect accessory for a strong-willed heart, depicting themes of fragility, love and revival, where every broken piece has a story to tell.
Illustration Process...
Taking inspiration from my grandmother's antique china sets and ornaments, I painted a variety of blue and white ceramic pieces. I loved seeing all the different styles of pottery, from Cornish stripes to ditzy florals. But don't worry - no beautiful ceramic was broken in the making of this design! It's safe to say they are hidden from the clumsy bulls in our family.
Illustrations were made using watercolours and inks, then digitally scanned and edited to be made into the final scarf design.
Manufacture...
Once the final artwork is completed, the design is sent for printing. The scarves are digitally printed onto lovely silk or gorgette fabric in the UK with sustainable water based inks, with an OEKO-Tex Standard 100 certification - in other words, no harmful inks are used.
To finish them off, I hem the edges and they can now be worn all year round as scarves!
