New Zealand Handmade: A Conversation with Emma Hall of Dotty Bits...

04 May 2014

A Conversation with Emma Hall of Dotty Bits...

Dotty Bits feature original dotted designs by Emma Hall, from sweet little dishes to jugs and napkins all hand-painted with fun motifs in distinctive dotty style! Here, Emma shares an insight into her creative world ...

Who is Dotty Bits?

Emma Hall aka Dotty Bits

What’s your “handmade groove?”

I paint designs on to ceramic pieces using dots – Dotty Bits!

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

Nothing exciting!! A lamp, a wooden box for all sorts (currently filled with my children’s treasures) and the book I’m currently reading ‘An Echo in the Bone’ by Diana Gabaldon – love a book that takes me back in time and on a journey!!

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

In relation to Dotty Bits my inspiration is just the world around me and my imagination – I see a picture in a book, or an ad on TV and I store that idea away for the future.

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

MANY subjects! I love a good philosophical discussion or pulling apart conspiracy theories (after a wine or two!) but then again I love to chat about celebs and their (amazing/garish) lives!!

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

What are they about? Anything!! I’m not fussy! However, I’ve always wanted to do a bakery class – decorate cakes, bake Parisian style!

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

With my 2 boys at home with me during the day, it’s not as hard as I thought it would be to balance ‘Dotty Bits’ with everything else. If I have ten minutes, then I paint. After the kids are in bed, I paint – I can paint, watch TV and chat with my hubby at the same time!!

What is your favourite creative screw-up?

I don’t really have a favourite screw up – but I do have a couple of really good ‘accidents’ - designs that have just floated into my head without much thinking and I’ve given them a go and voila! The latest example of this is my ‘creeper’ design, my Facebook friends loved it!!

Kitchen table or studio?

Definitely kitchen table, love the accessibility of it.

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

In my life in general…my wishes change constantly, except for the health and well being of my family, I wish that always. In relation to Dotty Bits, I’d love to design my own original ceramic pieces and then paint them. That’s something I’m researching and working towards. Also expand into other fields but keeping my Dotty Designs as the link between them all.