Q+A Amongst Jill Bent

Today we're interviewing Jill Bent, a designer as well as seamstress located inwards Cambridge, MA, where she industrial plant from her habitation studio. Jill's been making beautiful lineament handmade goods for the habitation for quite a few years as well as thus we're thrilled she agreed to answer a few questions nigh her work.


Tell us a piddling combat nigh you. Where did y'all prepare or report as well as what led y'all to the path y'all currently are on?
Growing up, both my parents were craftspeople, thus it feels natural for me to create handmade things.  I've ever been drawn to vintage fabrics as well as a unproblematic aesthetic, that's were my inspiration comes from.  I learned to run upwards every bit a kid from the women inwards my pocket-size town, as well as every bit an adult, I renewed my skills taking lessons from a friend who is a master copy seamstress.  I left a career inwards library scientific discipline when I had my 2nd kid as well as started my ain line of piece of job organization sewing as well as designing because it was something I genuinely loved, amongst the added practice goodness that I could function from habitation patch my children were growing up.

What's your top dog focus currently and/or how would y'all line your electrical flow pattern aesthetic?
Creating simple, useful, as well as beautiful things is my focus. In the yesteryear I convey worked to a greater extent than ofttimes than non amongst antique as well as vintage fabrics, as well as at nowadays I am moving away from that a bit, due to availibilty.  It's getting harder to origin vintage fabric, but when I notice it, I experience rattling lucky as well as inspired to brand something special.  

Love your function - tin y'all explicate that pattern process?
My pattern procedure is rattling fluid.  Usually I pattern simply about a slice of fabric.  I allow the texture, color, as well as weight of the stuff create upwards one's hear what the object volition become.  I brand my ain patterns as well as ofttimes allow things evolve pattern wise every bit I give-up the ghost along.

For me, designing an object is similar solving a geometry problem: figuring out the measurements as well as the construction as well as the agency the angles as well as lines volition function to create a sturdy frame that volition grip upwards to daily use.  I don't convey a background inwards structural design, thus this business office of my function is alone self taught, as well as ofttimes lawsuit as well as error. 

When I'm sourcing fabric, I'm looking for color, texture, pattern as well as quality, as well as if it's right, I know it immediately.  An thought of how to purpose it volition surface afterward on, but it's the immediacy of the look, experience as well as history of a item stuff that draws me inwards as well as makes me desire to create or transform something.

What designers/makers/architects, etc practice y'all await upwards to, are influenced yesteryear or inspire you?

I am most inspired yesteryear the seamstresses who convey come upwards earlier me, the countless women who made habiliment as well as identify objects every bit a agency of life.  I honey to inspect an former slice of habiliment or quilt from the within out, to run into how the maker constructed the object, the seams as well as the mitt stitching.  Often, my function involves taking an older object apart to create a novel one, thus I acquire to run into how people were doing things inwards the yesteryear as well as the help they took amongst their work. 

Any electrical flow designers as well as artists that y'all admire?
Ann Wood http://www.annwoodhandmade.com/
Pip Squeak Chapeau http://www.pip-squeakchapeau.com/
J. Morgan Puett http://www.finearts.utah.edu/newsandupdates/j-morgan-puett/
Makie http://www.makieclothier.com/home.php
Fog Linen http://www.shop-foglinen.com

Where else practice y'all push clit inspiration from?
Museums.  Since I alive nigh Boston in that location are lots to visit: the Museum of Fine Arts inwards Boston, the Peabody Essex Museum inwards Salem, MA, or whatever set out of New England's historic museum similar Sturbridge Village as well as Strawberry Banke.  Travel.  I've been lucky to move to some places similar Mexico, Republic of Indonesia as well as Turkey to run into outset mitt how craftspeople brand textiles.  Movies.  I'm ever thus inspired yesteryear costume as well as ready pattern inwards movies.  Films similar Jane Eyre, Brightstar, Seraphine.  This yesteryear winter, it was Downton Abbey.  I unremarkably scout it outset for the plot, as well as thus give-up the ghost dorsum ane time to a greater extent than as well as scout it for the costume as well as ready design.

Any sneak peeks or plans y'all tin portion of novel or time to come things on the go?
I simply finished making a line of bags as well as pillows for saltation inwards linens as well as cottons, as well as to go honest, I haven't started to intend nigh autumn yet.  But again, I intend it volition go color as well as texture that serve every bit my top dog inspirations: yellows, deep rose, greens, browns, courderoys as well as wools as well as handknit things...things to wear, carry, or warm upwards your habitation for autumn as well as winter...stay tuned...it volition evolve. 

Follow Jill online:

Shop : http:// www.jillbent.etsy.com
Blog : http://www.36shea.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jilltbent
Handmade http://marketplace.poppytalk.com/author/jill-bent/