We catch up with Alice Thomas, a local artist who is based in Aberystwyth. Alice leads our workshops in Macrame, and enjoys sharing her love of the creative process to help others create their own plant hangers and dream catchers.
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How did you get into Macrame?
I have always been interested in textiles and started making Macramé jewellery which soon grew into larger projects. A florist friend asked if I made plant hangers that she could stock in her shop and my business grew from there. I now stock my Macramé in Machynlleth, Aberystwyth and Cardigan and have been teaching Macramé for the past five years.
Has your work been shown at an exhibition before?
My work has been featured in the wool and willow festival in Llanidloes and I have exhibited locally in the Cletwr café.
Why do you enjoy it so much / what do you think makes this art form a great way to relax?
I love Macramé because it is deceptively simple. You can use almost anything to create with and when you are knotting it is very calm, almost hypnotic. I particularly enjoy the challenge of making large scale pieces, working out how much cord to use and planning out the piece is a lot of fun!
What is the biggest hurdle for beginners to start with this art form and how can they overcome that?
I think a lot of people think that it is really complicated and that there is a lot to learn when actually most macramé is based on two knot forms which once mastered allow you to create almost anything. The key is patience and good tension on your knots!
Why do you love to teach?
I love to teach Macramé, I find it so rewarding to guide people through the process of learning the techniques and creating something from scratch. It’s such a joy to see what people make and help them find their Macramé passion.
Has there been a time when someone at a workshop in the past has surprised you?
I enjoy teaching at events and have found been amazed at the patience and creativity of young learners, I love it when someone takes the design and adds their own style and personality to it.
Do you have a favourite quote around creativity / art / general?!
‘The world always seems brighter when you’ve made something that wasn’t there before’ Neil Gaimon
What does creativity mean to you?
Peace, joy and personal space
Why do you want to work with Radiate Arts?
I am pleased to be working with Radiate Arts because I value the work they are doing in creating opportunities for people to discover arts as a form of therapy, personal practise and retreat. I believe that creativity and wellness go hand in hand and providing the space for that is so valuable,
Alice is running a Macrame workshop at our Creative Hub, for the next available dates please visit: https://bit.ly/3uLPfou