When I was young, a visit to my grandparents' house often-meant time spent visiting in the kitchen. Whether it was helping my grandmother prep for dinner or making malts with my grandfather, it's a time I associate with youth and family and one particular pattern.
My grandparents' kitchen was decked out in floor to ceiling mushroom decor. A mushroom print along with the quintessential greens and golds of the Sixties came to life on dishes, tablecloths, towels, placemats, saltshakers and even the clock. I see the dishes from time to time while meandering the aisles at antique stores, and I was even able to save a few token dishes after my grandparents passed away. It makes me smile every time I see the print, as the pattern elicits very fond memories of summers with my grandparents.
Amanda Basich explores the connection between patterns and memory in her aptly named Etsy store Pattern and Memory. Believing that "patterns can be linked to the sentimental value of objects," her aim is to evoke a sense of familiarity and comfort in her prints.
It is likely these feelings that attracted me to her "Oranges" print. A sense of home is what I feel the most, a reminder of what many people describe as the heart of the home, the kitchen. It's a place where families come together to reconnect at the end of a long day, a place where I remember making malts with my grandfather. In many of Basich's prints, she uses inspiration from her own family and past in the patterns she utilizes. It's a wonderful display of the power of memories and their importance in our lives.
Basich answered a few questions over email about her work and art.
The Daily Page: How do you motivate your creativity? (e.g. do you listen to music while you create and if so what?)
Basich: I am constantly collecting images and information to give me inspiration. I take notes and photos from things I experience in everyday life. I also like to go to the library, read magazines, and look at what other people are making or finding online. From what inspires me, I make lists of possible projects or ideas I would like to try out. I love learning new skills. I have so many things that I want to make! My biggest motivation is that I want to be successful with my artwork, so I always want to work hard and keep trying my best.
Describe your workspace. Are you at the kitchen table or in a dedicated work area?
My workspace is my dining room/kitchen. I love these rooms because the way I decorated them is like my prints and drawings, but in real life. There are lots of bright colors and pretty dishes around me, and it is a comforting space to work.
What is your favorite piece and why?
My favorite piece is my "Leftovers" print. The dishes are filled with images I cut out from old cookbooks where the colors are all bright and off and not very appetizing. The colors and pattern are very joyful, and I found the most interesting parts of food to cut out and put into each print. The pattern in the background is from a quilt that my great-grandma made, and the dish is one of the ones in my collection.
What advice do you have for people interested in starting an online store? How do you make the separation between your store and your day job/personal life?
It was easy to start an online store because the website gave a lot of prompting. I think it is really important to be organized with your files so that you can run the store efficiently. I also have noticed that the more items that you put up for sale, the more likely you are to make sales. When your page is updated, your new items are featured at the top of search lists, and get more views. I want to continue to add new items to my store.
I am really lucky that right now I do not have to make a significant distinction between my work and my personal life. I have always been interested in art and music, and I am fortunate to be able to work with both of these skills right now. I do display work in retail where I get to be creative and make things every day, and I also teach harp lessons. The only distinction that I need to make is with the subjects I deal with; at my job I am making things for a company, but at home I am making things based on my personal experiences and interests.
What is your favorite local shop in Madison?
I'm always inspired to make things after a visit to hoping to score new dishes for my Pyrex dish collection. I also love going to
