What
is the name and background behind your company?
My company is Flaming Lily Glass. I've been fascinated by glass for a long time
and after experimenting with it for a number of years, I finally took the
plunge and set up my own design business.
The name itself comes from a trip into the bush with my mother in
Botswana, where she is from. We were driving through a muted landscape of browns and yellows when we came to a clearing where a stunning red lily was in full bloom. The light made it look as if the flower was on fire and the image has never left me.
Where
are you based?
Southeast London. I live in Brockley and my studio is in
neighbouring Nunhead.
How
long have you been in business for?
Four or five years now. In many ways it feels like I've been doing it
forever (in a good way!) as I feel I’m doing what I was meant to be doing.
What
do you love most about living in London?
I love the fact that the world comes to
London. I find the mix of people and
cultures (including British!) exciting.
I had terrible wanderlust when I was younger and now that I can no
longer just take off to another country for a few months here or there, I love
the fact that I can still discover something or somewhere new in the city where
I live.
Who
or what inspires you?
This can quite a difficult question to
answer as I find inspiration all over the place and it’s hard to narrow it
down. First and foremost though, I’m
probably inspired by colour. I’m also very
drawn to Japanese art and design, patterns in architecture, 20s and 30s design,
as well as old books, and sometimes even just words and phrases that resonate
with me.
What
advice would you give designers starting out?
It’s rather a cliché but I think the best
thing you can do is stick at it and stay true to yourself. Also try not to overload yourself with
information if you’re starting something completely new to you, such as running
a business. That’s definitely a mistake
I made: I took courses, read hundreds of blogs, listened to anyone willing to
talk to me about it. I followed so much
conflicting advice, without really considering whether it was good for me and
my business, I ended up getting knocked off course more than once. I’m not saying you don’t need advice and
information, you definitely do, but just remember it’s okay to pick and choose.
What
is new for your company?
Lanterns! I've been wanting to do some for ages, light and glass are natural
companions after all, and after some trial and error and a lot of experimenting
with adhesives I’ve come up with a design that I’m really happy with. I’ve started making some and hope to have
them for sale on my website before Christmas.
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