Sarah Charmain graduated from the University of Cumbria, Carlisle in 2010 with a BA(Hons) in Contemporary Applied Arts. Since graduating Sarah has continued to create beautiful embroidered, and hand woven textile accessories and homewares inspired by her home in the beautiful Lake District. The process of transforming a woollen yarn into a woven piece of fabric, or turning a single embroidery thre
ad into a beautiful fashion article has always fascinated Sarah and seemed magical. Through the years this magical process has developed and grown and she now draws her inspiration from fragments in the natural world and vintage and found objects. Her current work is based upon natural containers and storage vessels and the stories that are contained within them. Natural charms such as roses, nests and mushrooms which are portrayed throughout her work as the jewels and charms of nature. With a timeless vintage feel, Sarah creates pieces using old buttons, fabric, pearls, lace and woven felted lambs wool. Creating work through embroidery and woven textiles Sarah often combines and explores both these areas so they compliment one another. Sarah has a sensitive approach to the way she works and considers that every stitch and woven yarn adds to the final product. Within her woven textiles she mainly works with lambswool as it creates a luxurious soft fabric when felted. Sarah's woven pieces combine both traditional and innovative techniques. Within her embroidery she produces items that express a delicate and fragile form but the appearance of a textile quality. All of the yarns, wools and threads are gently woven or embroidered to create natural and organic forms that reflect the natural influence on her work. Since graduating Sarah has exhibited at various places including Woolfest, and as part of a group with YAC (Young artists of Cumbria) at the world famous Kurt Schwitters Merz Barn. In the final year of her degree Sarah was fortunate enough to gain sponsorship with Maderia Threads UK, as a result of that sponsorship she went on to be selected by Madeira as one of only four students in the UK to exhibit at Birmingham's NEC 'Fashion, Stitch & Embroidery show' in March 2011. Sarah was chosen by Living Crafts, being selected as one of only ten emerging designers in the UK to exhibit at Blenheim Palace, in addition Sarah's work was featured in an issue Craft & Design Magazine.
