Embroidered Beauty – Tara Badcock

At a recent workshop I was introduced to the beautiful embroidery work of Tasmanian based Tara Badcock (Paris + Tasmania).  And as I frantically jot down her name in search for finding out a bit more about her work, I see that I was a little behind in my discovery, but as they say better late than never.

Originally trained as a print maker, after completing a Fine Arts degree at the University of Tasmania, unable to afford to set up her own lithography printing studio, Tara set up a base at home adapting.  Tara adapted her technique, applying imagery onto textiles and then embellishing with beautiful self taught embroidery techniques.

Tara’s work really shows much of the influence that her Tasmanian heritage and her experiences of living and working in France for nearly three years.

“Living in France really opened my eyes and I felt like I had arrived, that I was finally home,” she says. “Creatively, all I was looking for was there in Paris at my fingertips and I spent a lot of time in my favourite museums and art collections, researching and drawing. The sketchbooks I made in France are still feeding my designs and artworks and inspiring new collections.” (source giftguideonline.com.au).

It is not hard to see the influence of France in Tara’s work, from the more obvious French phrases to the feeling of the “Les Misarables” style interpretation of the French Revolution.

From the influences of Paris back to the native homeland of Tasmania which holds her family history and a rich   tapestry (excuse the pun) of flora and fauna.

But one of my favourites has to be the darker collection which are based on Tara’s research of Victorian-era mourning jewellery, art & design which she used to create two ‘mourning cushions’;  one with freehand machine embroidered text quoted from Shakespeare’s Richard II. A little macabre maybe,…… but I cannot help but like.

And being a little partial to a nice cuppa I cannot go past the amazing tea cosy’s which form a basis for Tara’s Blog The Tea Cosy Revolution

I will leave you with a quote from Tara…

“There’s a wonderful quote from Mark Twain,” she says. “You might be on the right track but you will get run over if you just sit there.”….. I just might have to get down to Tasmania again soon

 On with the colourful journey…..

#AustralianDesigners #Tasmania #TaraBadcock #upcycle #Travel #BirdcageDesign #StyleFile #InteriorDesign #trends