01 December 2011

A Conversation with Alex of Adventures of Alex O and Co


I am always struck by the beautiful finishing of Adventures of Alex O and Co's products - so intricate and detailed.  With a love of making beautiful things from recycled blankets and materials and by buying and dyeing her own felt, it's clear Alex puts a whole lot of love and time into each and every creation from recycled blanket hot water bottles with appliqued bambis, scottie dogs, whales and more, to Bendy Steiner Dolls.   Here, Alex shares more about her creative life ...

Who is Adventures of Alex O and Co?

Alex O’Connell

What’s your “handmade groove ?”

I love to make beautiful things from recycled blanket and natural fabrics.
I especially love working with Felt. I use both 100% wool felt and wool blend felt which I dye myself
It is always a joy to see what colours you can create.

What’s on your bedside table right now? (hey, no tidying up or censoring)

I am an avid reader I always have a number of books by my bedside table. The library is almost my second home.
*Tea recipes for Health and Wellbeing and Taste by Margaret Roberts
*Food for Friends by Jane and Ramn Mostowfi
*Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride
*Australian Vogue
*Dwell Magazine
* Covet by JR Ward

Who are your creative role models? What music, books, images, poetry spark your creative fire?

I studied art history at Auckland University and the two biggest artists that have influenced me are Gustav Klimt and Frida Kahlo.
Both loved colour. I am drawn to colour especially green and red.
Right now I love listening to Paolo Conte
My creative fire is sparked by a number of things but mostly I would say nature, beautiful things, friends, family, other crafters………. life.

What could you talk late into the night about with like minded people?

At the moment it seems to be food. In my 30s it was houses now in my 40’s it is food. I have been doing vegan and raw food courses for the last year. Trying to cut out meat, wheat, diary and processed sugars. It seems to be the burning topic of conversation with my friends right now.

If you could go to three free workshops/creative events this year which ones would they be? What are they about?

Oh this is hard and there are so many things I want to learn.
If I had the money and the time I would love to go to America and do some Sqam Art Workshops
http://www.squamartworkshops.com/
In this coming year I need to learn to crochet as my son will be learning it in school and I have never done it.

How do you balance your creative life with your family, life commitments?

It’s a juggle. I work part time from home for a travel company in a support role. I have my computer and sewing tables side by side. So I can swap from one to the other as need be. I can hand sew and play board games, sew and have Friday night drinks or cups of tea or watch TV or have a conversation with my husband. I must confess I am still working on the balance but often times I have to put all the sewing down and spend time with the ones I love as you only get to enjoy your 8 year old for 365 days. So I would say balance is an ongoing thing.

What is your favorite creative screw-up?

I bought a load of felt and tried to dye it black. It came out a beautiful dusty pink.
It was an amazing colour and I have never been able to make it again.

Kitchen table or studio?

I stress in the kitchen and relax in the studio. So studio wins hands down every time.

Do you have a wish list? Can you tell us what’s on it?

I don’t have a written down wish list. But an ongoing wish list in my head.
Although sometimes you spend so much time wishing for things that you forget to appreciate what you have right now.
One of my biggest wishes is that I can always work at what I love.
You are truly blessed if you get this wish.





You can find Adventures of Alex O and Co’s products … here
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2 comments:

  1. Ooo what lovely piccies! Very pleased to have found you :-) I couldn't find you on Twitter, but please pop by and say hello!

    www.poppyloves.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  2. I just love those Steiner Bendy dolls, and I kept warm this winter with one of Alex's wool hottie covers, cheers Marie

    ReplyDelete

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