Where do I start?
I’ve been sewing since I was about eight, and by the time I was about fourteen I’d inherited a very old sewing machine and was customising my own clothes. I’ve always worn second-hand clothes, especially while I was a student, and I’m interested in modifying and refashioning to give old garments a whole new lease of life.
I have a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, and a BA (Hons) in Typography & Graphic Communication. When I finished my degree course in 1997 my parents gave me a shiny new sewing machine as a gift, and I started making dresses from scratch as well as modifying existing clothing. Since then I’ve worked in a bridal store doing alterations and fittings, worked in a fabric store, and spent several years running my own dressmaking business.
I started my first business, GothStuff, in 2000. I made a very eclectic mixture of things – hairpieces, painted leather jackets, glow-in-the-dark jewellery – and eventually things settled down into a range of skirts and dresses, and hand-printed t-shirts designed by my partner Paul. GothStuff, along with its companion site, GothKids, finally closed in 2007.
Design By Claire began in 2004, as a means of taking a step away from the gothic imagery, but still being able to work on unusual creations. I enjoy making custom garments from unusual fabrics – the more surreal the better! I like to make things which cause people to do a double-take, when they see the details they haven’t noticed at first. So what if your corset used to be a pair of trousers, or your skirt was formerly a duvet cover? It’s one way of ensuring that you’ll never see anybody else in the same outfit!
I’ve been studying Aromatherapy for several years, and in 2006 I qualified with an ITEC Diploma as a professional masseuse. I’m learning to use essential oils in my daily life, mostly to help with my endometriosis and IBS.
Eternal Magpie is where I consolidate all of my favourite things into one place, and talk about them.
If you’d like to get in touch, please leave a comment, or send an email to claire@eternalmagpie.com
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