Necessity breeds invention. You want something and you learn to make it. That is how I began. Textile design began as a way for me to bring color and imagery into my home, in the form of pillows, curtains, and blankets-to turn ordinary blank fabric into pieces I couldn’t find anywhere else. As I printed I found I wanted to cover every blank surface with pattern: leaves, flowers, and branches. I had to start coming up with purposes for all of this printed fabric. Then I started appetite, it’s a split line of personal accessories and housewares, they don’t necessarily go hand in hand, but they can. Their common thread is the handprinted fabric I use in each piece. The variety of pieces allows my line to be accessible to many, and keeps me from getting bored of the repetition of production.

For this chaboo, it was important to combine both the technique of screenprinting as well as the texture and color of fabric. So we decided to add a cushion. Ken designed the cushion base to be easily removable, so the chaboo retains it’s multitude of functions. I chose the chestnut leaf to print because I thought the lines would compliment the lines in the bamboo of the chaboo. I like the way the open areas of the print allow the more of the surface to show. The fabric is vintage wool, a great upholstery fabric in a favorite color of mine. I think the addition of the cushion should encourage use of the bench, I hope that fabric and printing adds to the great design of the chaboo.