Ellen Macomber
Artist, designer Ellen Macomber was raised in New Orleans and Abbeville, and always had a penchant for art and design. She requested a sewing machine as a graduation present and devised inventive ways to finance life as an artist after college. She attended music festivals across the country and sold clothing she designed. The money she earned helped her travel to places such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, where she collected textiles for future designs. Macomber says the day-to-day demands of being a store owner motivate her to push herself harder than ever. In addition to selling New Orleans-centric home goods, clothes, purses and paintings featuring local imagery, she offers creative workshops and paints custom commissions. “It’s not just about creating the work,” she says, “but also about constantly getting it organized and coming up with new ideas.”
Why textiles?
Before (Hurricane) Katrina I had a small clothing line. … I also worked as a costume designer for local theater [groups] and made Mardi Gras costumes for clients. … (After the storm,) I didn’t touch a sewing machine for years. Instead, I began painting on glass as therapy. That led to painting maps and architecture, which then led me back to textiles. Fabric design allows me to connect my interests in maps, architecture, painting and fashion.
Tell us about the creative workshops you offer.
I offer a few different workshops, but the most popular is the headdress workshop. Everyone gets a head, a base, and tons of gorgeous materials. Oh, and Champagne. I also host succulent driftwood workshops [arranging succulent plants on driftwood] and succulent wreath workshops. If you have a green thumb or are interested in living art, these are great workshops to attend.
How do you pick the creative projects for your workshops?
People throw amazing craft parties here, gathering together and helping one another make costumes, especially during Mardi Gras. I decided to offer a place where you can come create, drink Champagne and leave a mess.
A lot of your work shares the same visual theme — maps of New Orleans. What about them inspires you?
Maps are part of my family’s heritage. My grandfather was a shrimper and my mother was [raised on the water]. Maritime charts of coastal Louisiana [cover] the walls of my mother’s fishing camp. I first had the idea to print maps on fabric for the baby blankets sometime in 2011. … Now I have everything from baby clothes to men’s neckties to upholstery fabric.
What are your personal style essentials?
My hair, my costume jewelry and my 3-year- old. AUGUST. 2 0 1 7 <<<
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