Sara

Can you introduce yourself and describe what you do?
Hey! I am Sara and I run Lil & co. I’m a natural dyer and launched the collective as a way of bringing together expertise and creative thinking to build eco-conscious and mindful alternatives to those products which are currently on the market. Collaborative working is at the heart of Lil & co and I love the items that we have curated and created so far, the community we are fostering and the collaborations that are in the pipeline.

Have you always been a maker?
No I haven’t. It’s been a bit of a journey! I had a professional career for a long time. However, I always struggled with the traditional desk-based model of work and I found myself regularly reaching the point of exhaustion. A few years ago I decided to take a step back from this negative cycle - my own personal intervention! I started to incorporate more of what I loved into my life like getting outdoors, being creative and generally looking for ways that I could take better care of myself and others. This journey led me to taking on an allotment and growing a cut flower garden. I loved the abundance of flowers and veggies but it felt wasteful. After a little research I discovered natural dyeing and started my own dye garden. This allowed me to enjoy the blooms before using them to dye fabrics - best of both worlds! When the pandemic hit, there was a need for face masks. I started to create my own naturally dyed silk masks as a healthy alternative and this was the seed that sprouted Lil & co (pun definitely intended). Working with natural dyes helps me to reduce my carbon footprint, minimise the amount of toxins that my body comes into contact with and provides a creative outlet.

What draws you towards your craft?
There is something so wonderful about cutting flowers from your garden, adding them to your dye pot and wearing those colours for years to come. Natural dyeing cannot be rushed and I enjoy being forced to slow down and be more mindful and intentional with my time.

Where does your inspiration come from?
Nature! I love foraging for new potential dyes in my local area. It gets me outdoors and teaches me about the ecosystem in which I live. I am also heavily influenced and inspired by those in our community. I love the idea of creating with the community in mind so that I am not responsible for creating more waste in this world. I want our community to know that the products have been created for them, in small batches which makes them as unique as they are. I like to think of it as our own little Welsh rebellion against mass production and uniformity.

How long does it take to make a piece and what’s involved?
Natural dyeing can take anywhere between 5 hours and 6 months to complete! There are quite a number of stages involved depending on the technique used. Sometimes I like to stray from the ‘traditional’ methods of applying heat and use cold dye instead. This is more environmentally friendly and really embraces the slow nature of the craft. If I’m feeling reeeally adventurous and the weather is on my side then I use heat from the sun.

Can you describe your workspace? Where is it and what is in it?
I have a dye studio in the Sustainable Studio in Cardiff. It’s a small unit within a large redeveloped factory building. My studio is stuffed full of bark, flowers, pots, tongs, spoons…. and everything is covered in dye splatters. Just how I like it!

Is there anything in your workspace that you couldn’t live without?
I couldn’t live without my buckets. The other makers at the studio laugh as I’m always carrying a bucket of something with me. They are useful to transport wet fibres and store dye baths for future use. I would be lost without them!

What’s the best thing about living a creative life?
Being in ‘flow’. Flow feels like absolute freedom.

What would you say to someone thinking about selling their work?
Your work has value. Believe in yourself and put your work out there into the world! It’s not as hard to people make it seem. If you want a leg up, just reach out and we can discuss using Lil as a platform for you.