Interview with Gather and Spill

Coming to the shop soon is Gather and Spill.  I was fortunate enough to sit with Julienne English the creator and brain child of this beautiful line made of  leather pieces and jewelry.  I met Julienne on a Tuesday morning at a local coffee shop, the first thing I noticed when she walked in was this large and lovely bag that she had draped over her shoulder.  I had to comment and paw the bag for a bit.  It was a prototype that she'd been working on with her new sewing machine.  I knew right then that she was my people.  Based in California Julienne works with vintage linens, repurposed leather and various metals.  She shared with me of what inspires her and her creative process.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Los Angeles.  Came to Santa Cruz in 2003.

What did you have for breakfast?
Scramble eggs and Kale with avocado.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
My inspiration comes from everything, everywhere......all the time, traveling and things I see on a daily basis.  And I love old things.

When did you start and what sparked you to make your leather pieces?
The first time I went to Thailand I met this ex-patriate who made these beautiful leather work bags.  I had him show me how to make something that I wanted to make and made this leather hip bag with turquoise on it.

Did you continue your education? 
 My continued education mostly is self taught.   Ross who owns Leather Wise helps me all the time.

Who is/are your inspiration?
That changes on a weekly basis.  Right now my friend Judith is my inspiration.  She is the Queen of positivity and yesology.

Where do you want to go with Gather and Spill.  Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years from now?
I was just talking with a group of woman last night and I feel like I really would love to work in a collective and create and share and not keep everything to myself but to share, collaborate and teach and inspire.  I know this old African proverb:  "If you teach a boy, you teach one, if you teach a girl, you teach a whole Village."

What is favorite thing to create with?  
Leather or anything really.

Describe your style?
I like the juxtaposition of old classic rustic things combined with new classic sleek things.

What's your favorite thing to do?
This is a hard one.......I love sharing a bottle of wine with someone and talking.

If you could live anywhere, where would that be?
I've been all over the world but I'm where I want to be.

Where is the one place that you would like to travel to that you haven't yet been? 
 I really want to go to Ireland and Scotland.

What is your creative process? 
 I guess I like to blend textures together and sometimes I feel like certain historic people will fuel my pieces.  Also I feel like the colors and textures of things make it all happen on its own.