+ LOCAL TALENT // WHITE CHALK STUDIO +

"Whilst I admire clean lines and minimalist spaces...anyone who sees my home will realise that I adore colour and pattern!"

Lisa Dodds of WHITE CHALK STUDIO re-opened her order book last month, after a nine month break away to have her third daughter, and I was super excited to see what she had in store for her relaunch.  Always offering a delightful mix of clean, colourful wares she describes her range as "handmade loveliness for you, your home and you little people" and her brand new product range is just that.

A beautiful mixture of hand printed textiles, tactile homewares, personalised illustrations and childrenswear, every item in her range appears to ecstatically sing out in celebration of a deeply felt connection to people, time and place, and are joyful reminders of our most treasured memories.

In anticipation of her return to The Fine & Dandy Market this weekend I asked her a few questions about her background, inspirations and plans for the future...

+SO LISA, WHERE DOES YOU INSPIRATION COME FROM?

"Lots of things. Things I read, pictures I see, places I go!  I love how iconic buildings can be so individual to a place, and so full of history, (I LOVE visiting historic places and seeing how people used to live!)  

"I'm an interior designer by trade and love the drawing aspect of it - being able to represent a space or place on paper. I love how a place can evoke memories, from my very first illustration of Narrow Water Castle where I got married to my grandparents house which holds so many happy memories. A home is more than just a building, it is the everyday, the laughter and the tears, and its a real privilege to be asked to draw somewhere that means something to someone."

+ HOME MUST BE IMPORTANT TO YOU?  IS THAT WHERE YOU WORK?

"Yes, I have a little space in my garage, which is my studio. It is tiny but it works and after trying to work in my dining room for 6 months it definitely helps being able to leave unfinished work and close the door! My mum once bought me a little painted sign saying 'clutter is creative' and that's a good way to sum up my work space. To the naked eye it is a jumble of fabric, pens,   a sewing machine and printer but I know exactly where everything is. 

"Saying that, I mostly draw at my kitchen or dining room table, wherever I get the chance with three little ladies running about! I also have been to known to do some quick sketches whilst cooking dinner.   I grab snippets of time wherever I can get them; life is busy and hectic and pink but drawing and being creative helps to keep me grounded and my five and three year olds often keep me company and draw pictures 'just like mummy'!"  

+ SO WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU BEAUTIFUL WARES?

"For now, I am looking forward to some fairs in the run up to Christmas, I'm just returning after having taken a break to have my third baby girl, who is now nearly nine months old - it will be great to get back to it! Look out for lots of new illustrations! 

"I also plan on developing my Etsy shop to make products and prints a little more easily available! And I have some new stockists lined up which I am so excited to share with everyone soon."

You can follow Lisa and White Chalk Studio on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or see her face to face at this weekend's Fine & Dandy Market at The Crescent Arts Centre Belfast 27th September 2015).