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Returning to her childhood fondness for interiors, soft furnishings and textiles, Carolyn of Molly and Bobby Designs, took on the challenge of making her own lampshade in lockdown, after attending a workshop and hasn't looked back since!
Initially creating her striking organic, abstract designs using paints and dyes, Carolyn has grown her business, to include professional lampshade ranges and digitally printed fabrics, to allow customers to bring her unique designs into their homes. We catch up with Carolyn in this month's Meet the Maker, to find out more about her business.
Hi there!
Hello!
How are you today and what’s on your workbench?
I am well. Nicely rested after the Christmas period. On my workbench is my laptop, fabric a 45cm drum kit ready for a commission.
How do you start the design process for your lampshades and fabrics, and where do you get your design inspiration?
I went on a lampshade making day workshop about seven years ago, then during the COVID-19 lockdown and with more time, I wanted to get creative again. I needed a lampshade for my living room and my husband said 'make your own!' I had lots of paint, and some calico cotton fabric, so I started to experiment with different styles and dying my own fabric. This is where Molly & Bobby Designs started, getting back to my love of fabrics and textiles which has been with me since my childhood.
How would you describe your style?
Fun, organic, contemporary, colourful and abstract.
How did designing your abstract fabrics come about?
As described above, it was firstly about playing about with paint and then moving on to hand painting each lampshade individually. I now get my designs printed on metres of fabric.
What’s your favourite part of the lampshade making process?
The finished product! I love seeing the lampshade ready to be put on the lamp base.
What proportion of your lampshade making is ready to buy versus commission work?
Mainly ready to buy and I have my lampshades in shops which are doing well, but I do get commissions from the shops and any markets I do.
What styles and shapes of lampshade do you feel work well with your designs?
I feel the classic drum shaped lampshades suit my designs perfectly as my designs are quite busy, the simple the shape of shade works well. I have also been making a few table lamps and they seem popular too.
Where can we buy your work?
I have a website mollyandbobbydesigns.co.uk plus shop stockists in Devon - Barkin and Hatt and Artenax.
What other products are available in your striking fabrics?
As well as lampshades, I also sell my fabrics by the metre and I'm currently looking into making cushion available again on the website in my fabric too.
Any tips for new lampshade makers in business?
Do what makes you happy, don’t follow what anyone else is doing, be your own creative and have fun with it.
How has your business grown and developed since you started it during lockdown?
Molly and Bobby has grown at lot, from starting hand painting my designs on fabric to now getting my designs digitally printed. I've also sold my lampshades at many markets, and it's great to have been stocked in local shops.
When are you at your most productive?
In the morning!
And your favourite sustenance when you’re working?
Chocolate!
Where would you like to be in 10 years’ time?
I would really like to be a fabric house with fabric books, and see my fabric designs as curtains, blinds and upholstery.
What have you learned that’s been invaluable to your creative process?
It’s a constant learning process, you will have ups and downs, doubts and imposters syndrome. But being creative is good for the soul, it’s an outlet and you lose yourself in what ever you create. Its fun too, always evolving.
Shop Carolyn's painterly, free flow designs at Molly and Bobby, to bring an organic yet colourful lampshade into your home at Molly and Bobby. Show Carolyn some love by following her on her socials below.
Instagram: @mollyandbobbydesigns
Facebook: @mollyandbobbydesigns
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