Joëlle Paulson*
Joëlle Paulson | Textiles | Gloucestershire
As a contemporary designer/maker Joëlle aims to reinterpret the traditional craft of lacemaking and make it relevant to our modern lives.
Joëlle has always loved lace and lace-making. The intricate patterns made of one, two, or many threads create beautifully complex fabrics that fascinate her. Lacemaking is a slow process - though hands may move speedily - and for her is a reflective, contemplative activity; in a fast-paced world, she values those crafts that require time and patience, and which link her spiritually to those who have shared the same craft through the centuries.
Her practice explores new ways to use lace in design, bridging traditional and modern. Challenging notions of lace as delicate and fragile, Joëlle used the opportunity of her recent MA in Design to combine lace-making with metalwork and digital technologies to create furniture and furnishings. The resulting pieces remain intricate, casting dramatic shadows in their environments.
Joëlle strives to be sustainable, favouring natural fibres and recycled/recyclable materials. She creates her own patterns but also likes breathing new life into vintage ones, re-imagining lace beyond the traditional adornment into objects designed to be used, enjoyed and cherished in everyday living.