Q&A with Amy Dolan of Ziggy Sawdust

 Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Amy and I am the creator and maker of Ziggy Sawdust furniture.

 What is your main inspiration?  

      Seeing the potential in the furniture of yester-year and saving it from landfill.

      Where do you work from?

      I am very lucky in that I am able to work from my garage at home. There is enough space to work and store furniture and it means that I can literally crawl into bed after working late. It can get a bit chilly, but wearing at least 3 woolly jumpers solves that problem!

      What do you do to relax?

      My friends and family are really important to me and so any spare time I have is spent with them. I have also recently become addicted to watching Breaking Bad (a few years later than the rest of the world!) so that has become quite a time consuming past-time!

     Tell us something surprising about your studio space/education/life experiences.

     I gave an elephant a bath once.

     Where did you study?

     I studied at The Glasgow School of Art. I loved my time there and would do it all again if I could!

     What’s the best advice you can give to other makers or have received?

     You have as many hours in a day as Beyonce. 

     Where do you see your creative practice going?

      I would like to get more involved with interior design and I would also love for Ziggy Sawdust to grow, to teach and encourage others how to 'Ziggy-fy' their furniture. 

     Who would you like to have over for dinner?

     David Bowie. No question about it.

     What is the best thing about being an independent maker?

     Working for yourself and doing what you love. Also being able to liaise directly with your customers and build a personal rapport with them. 

New in this week are a range of scarves and jewellery by Glasgow based Olive Pearson. Her scarves are available as either a long cowl style, or as a generous length. Pearson's designs are classic and subtle. Applying unisex colour combinations and a soft, luxurious handle, Pearson mixes the best of cashmere with merino wool, to create these ever so wearable pieces.

Olive Pearson's jewellery range includes these gorgeous 'It's a Wrap' brooches, and a range of leather bracelets.

New in from Fife based printmaker Claire McVinnie, comes a range of wooden laser-cut dove clocks. Beautifully shaped and covered in traditional Japanese origami papers, these fun clocks will make a great gift, if you can bear to give them away. Boxed, price £24 each.

P.S. Scroll down to see a great pic of Concrete Wardrobe's very own Michael, looking dapper with his new 'glove' handkerchief, on our recent staff night out!

New work in Concrete Wardrobe this month includes some lovely petite mugs and colourful coasters by Edinburgh based Jenni Douglas from 'A Pair of Blue Eyes'.

Both feature her lino-cut illustrations of either woodland trees or wild cornflowers. The coasters can be mixed or matched as they are helpfully sold individually. The mug comes in a box, perfectly giftable!

Happy New Year! 

Welcome to 2014 at Concrete Wardrobe. With a new window display and even more independent makers' work in store, Concrete Wardrobe have some great treats lined up for you this year. 
The Maker of the Month calendar is currently being compiled, so watch this space for further info on who'll be featuring this year...  I'll let you in to a secret, Ziggy Sawdust will be back in March. Get it in your diary!