Crafting A Top Career Amid Credit Crunch
4 July 2008
Karen Taylor's 'bacteria inspired' work at her final year Degree Show at the University.
With the current economic situation there has been a surge of interest from people keen to come in and make their own clothes and other items rather than buying something in the shops.
”Karen Taylor
The credit crunch is hitting hard – but it is also providing an opportunity for businesses to show people how to ‘cut their cloth’ and save cash.
Karen Taylor has just opened up her second textiles workshop education centre in Nottingham – and says that the opportunity for people to come in and make their own clothes, jewellery and other crafts is proving popular in the current financial squeeze.
The University of Derby graduate opened her second textiles shop in Mansfield Road, Sherwood, last Saturday night with more than 100 people flocking to the event. The shop will offer crafts workshop sessions for adults and children.
Karen, who already runs The Textile Workshop, in Mansfield Road, in Nottingham, said: “Giving people the opportunity to get involved in textiles workshops is helping them tap into their creative side.
“With the current economic situation there has been a surge of interest from people keen to come in and make their own clothes and other items rather than buying something in the shops.
"In one night alone, in the first week, we had almost 20 people enrolled on a machine skills course, so the public appetite is out there.
"My sessions are fun-based, aimed at helping people enjoy their artistic talents and have the freedom to explore different creative ideas in a relaxed setting.
“I enjoyed working on my final year project at Derby and we had a recent Degree Show at the University which gave me the opportunity to show examples of my work to hundreds of people visiting the event.”
Karen, 34, worked as a retail store manager before embarking on a change of career a few years ago.
She studied for her teacher training qualification at South Nottinghamshire College, and then set up her first shop, making and selling handmade crafts and wools and other textiles.
Achieving her teacher training qualification and her degree now means Karen is in a position to run education workshops for all ages at her second shop.
She offers activities in arts and crafts such as felt-making, embroidery and knitting and has a five-year licence to run education sessions which are already attracting people of all ages to take part.
For her final year degree project at the University, Karen literally had a ‘germ’ of an idea which developed into a colourful and eye-catching theme – she was inspired by large-scale shapes of bacteria for her designs taken from her son’s science books!
The unusual but absorbing designs adorn a selection of fabrics and canvasses in The Street, at the University’s Markeaton Street site. Karen says the theme could help create a unique set of fashion accessories or wall art.
Her tutor, John Angus, Director of Textile Studies at the University, said: “Karen has real drive and is a great role model. She has shown that an enterprising student can hit the ground running if they combine their own creative talents with a strong business idea.”
Find out more about The Textile Workshop by visiting www.thetextileworkshop.co.uk.
For more information about this news release, contact Deputy Head of Press and PR Simon Redfern on 01332 591942 or 07748 920038.
