Meet the Mafia – Merulapie
This week’s interview is with Catherine, one half of the Merulapie duo.
Why did you start in business/crafting?
I’ve always been creative and Lee (the other half of Merulapie) is perhaps the most creative person I know. Merulapie grew out of the frustration at paying very high commission to art dealers and galleries. Initially, the shop was going to stock Lee’s paintings only, but after more thought we decided to bring in work from artists around the world.
How did you come up with your crafty name?
Merulapie comes from a bizarre mix…The Latin word ‘merula’ translates as blackbird and I love the sound of the word. Merulapie roughly translates as blackbird pie! Interestingly, my favourite nursery rhyme Sing a Song of Sixpence (which has the phrase ‘Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie’) was used in the 1700′s as a coded message around ports to recruit crew for pirate ships. This really interested me as family legend has it we are descended from a famous pirate! So Merulapie is a mixture of birds and pirates.
Is your glass half full or half empty?
I’d like to think half full – where’s that bottle of wine?
What is your favourite thing that costs nothing?
Being able to look out onto a garden with birds, trees, flowers and watch the world go by.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Inspiration can pop up at any moment and anywhere. I love typography in all shapes and forms, novels that feature magical realism and photographs. I’ve also inherited Lee’s obsession with straight lines.
Anything that gets my brain working can inspire me. I like to be around creative people and find my friends and family always inspire (and push) me to create.
Top 5 desert-island essentials?
Harmonica, good books, beautiful notebook, pen and Lee. He would bring a Swiss army knife and manage to build me a fully functioning house with a kitchen and garden.
What is the ugliest most pitiful thing you’ve ever made?
It’s got to be the Easter card I made at primary school. It kept falling over no matter what way I stood it up. I also missed out the ‘s’ in Easter, so it read HAPPY EATER! It’s left me anxious about card making.
What have you made that you’re most proud of?
I embroidered material and made it into a ring cushion for our wedding.
What’s so great about Glasgow?
I can never put my finger on it. Perhaps I feel most at home here? I love the history of the city and the historic grandeur that can be found if you look hard enough.
Favourite biscuit?
Bourbon. Mmmm.
What crafts do you still want to learn?
I always have a long list of crafts I want to learn. I’d love to learn some jewellery making techniques as it’s been over 10 years since I did any jewellery work. Screenprinting, lino printing and drawing techniques are also high on my list. I still can’t crochet after years of trying.
What is your idea of a perfect day?
A long lie in bed. A long, hot shower. An outing to a beautiful park/wood/beach/loch with a picnic. The sun is shining and just a few clouds in the sky. A sleep in late afternoon…Then get together with my friends and family – cook, eat, drink and have a giggle.
What is your favourite crafting tool?
Initially I thought my embroidery needles and threads, but after careful consideration, I’d truthfully say my tape measure with spirit level on top. It gets used all the time. Did I mention Merulapie’s obsession with straight lines? This magical tape measure also helps to prevent squinty pictures.
What are your plans for the future?
I’d like to add more of my own work to the online shop as I have lots of ideas for creative projects. Over the next few months I’d like expand and develop my blog. Generally, I don’t like to think too far ahead because life is too short…you never know what’s around the corner. At the moment, if I can finally learn to crochet then I’ll be a very happy bunny.
Fly on over to Merulapie now for a great selection of art, accessories and homeware.
Thanks Catherine!
