This is Sarah.
My name is Sarah Foot. I’m a textile artist from South East London. I work from my studio at home, mostly on bespoke embroidered pieces and turning reclaimed fabrics into new things. I go by the name Thread the Word, but it isn’t just words: I’ve made cushions from a client’s grandmother’s linen napkins, baby blankets appliquéd with shrunken cashmere, and done visible mending on much loved moth-eaten knitwear.
See Inside Sarah’s Home
My Home
Lockdown aside, given that I work from home, it needs to be a real sanctuary. Homes are extensions of the people we are, and for me that means lots of colour and joyful art to make it a happy place to be. I have a lovely calm, but also quite vibrant blue in my living room, and a pink studio. I’ve always wanted to have a pink room and I couldn’t really think of a better place than the room I spend most of my time in. It’s quite a small space, but I wanted to make sure it was fun rather than sterile and purely functional. And hopefully if my surroundings are inspiring, then the things that I turn out of my studio will inspire other people. That’s the hope, anyway!
I love having a real mix of stuff in each room. This is what makes my home a home. I love layering texture, colour and pattern, and I’ve always believed that you don’t have to have lots of money to have a really interesting, eclectic home. I’m always digging around in antique shops, auctions and second-hand markets for things I can give a new life to. It’s also more sustainable, and helps avoid the consumerist culture that so many people are starting to feel a bit ick about!
I absolutely love my home. There’s nothing like it! It’s my favourite place to be, even after being stuck here for months on end with nothing else to do. I am just so happy here.
My Kalinko
I have loved Kalinko from the very beginning. I came across them at their very first Christmas Fair back in 2016 and have been following them ever since. As a maker myself, I have always had a real affinity with the way that they respect all the different crafts from all over Burma. They really are working so hard to preserve Burmese craftsmanship that might otherwise be lost. I love that they cut out the middle man, and the fact that you know that every time you buy, the maximum amount possible is going back to the maker. I love everything they do! And I just want it all.
I have bought more presents from Kalinko than I care to count. But the pieces that I actually have in my own home are all from their annual Wonky Sale. These are pieces which aren’t 100% perfect; the edging might not be straight, or there might be something a tiny bit off about it. I actually love my pieces all the more for this; it reminds me that they were made with somebody’s hands and I really treasure that.
I’ve got large cushion covers in my living room and three large rattan lampshades, two in my living room and one in my studio. I love the really warm glow light that they give off when they’re on in the evening. They create a really lovely calm atmosphere and also add some really beautiful texture to the room. All of these things have little quirks making them different from the rest. I love the feeling that I have something that nobody else does!
Shop Sarah’s Home
Pendant Lampshade
Empire Lampshade
Cushions
