Rainbow Flower BroachesI first saw AeFondKis's work on Flickr.  The photo sharing site offered the perfect introduction.  Gorgeous creations in bold colors drew me.  The saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" came to mind.  Inspirational, whimsical and fun, she captures many moods with one image. 

Linda's work is truly unique.  Blending decorative arts with folk sensibilities, she creates pieces that can be worn or displayed.  Each one catches the eye with its simple charm, upon further inspection you notice the texture, brushwork, embroidery, color gradients - creating a story.  Somehow bold and delicate at the same time, her work has beauty and maintains a sense of levity.

I came to find that her whimsy and spirit are part of her personality.  Linda has an eye for beauty, seeing color and inspiration in the world around her.  Her blog, full of her thoughts and inspiration show this world through her eyes.  There is beauty in everyday items, and this beauty translates into her work. Seeing her work, I want to know what she sees and perhaps glimpse the world through her eyes.

Best of British Tuck BookmarksHave you always known you wanted to be an artist?

Since I was twelve years of age I have been aware that I was born an artist. I loved textures, and fabrics and have always been drawn to vivid colours. I was brought up around the world, Trinidad, Canada, and Bahrain is were I spent my childhood.
I came back to live in Scotland at the age of 14. Since I was 18 months old I had lived abroad. This has had a major influence on my work in so many different ways. I am very drawn to cultures of different peoples and countries. Folk art and it's simplicity has influenced the content of my work. Each piece evolves and forms a story from my observations of life.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

I am very Scottish and proud of it yet I have a pride in being British too. My bookmarks are telling little stories about our culture and it's characteristics, the 'Tuck' Bookmarks describe the things I love to eat and remind me of being a child.
The 'Sentiment' Bookmarks remind me of songs Scottish and English that celebrate British life ... I like quirky things and also like to inject humour wherever the notion takes me.

Do you have a favorite medium to work with?

My favourite mediums are watercolours, gouache, and felt, threads, beads and canvas. I flit between all of these and sometimes have them all present in the one artwork.

Best of British Sentiments BookmarksHow would you describe your work?

I am an eternal romantic and always look on the bright side of love ... hence my flower brooches are an expression of my desires to brighten up and lighten up life with things that make people smile. My red red rose brooch is inspired by the Scottish Poet Rabbie Burns who comes from the village of Alloway near the town of Ayr where I live in the West Coast of Scotland.

You have such a wonderful sense of color, how to you choose the color schemes in your pieces?

My colour sense is innate, I was born with it and am very aware how precious it is to me. I like to wear
bright scarves and cardigans against a palette of black. And in my work I like to bounce colours off each other! The more unusual combinations the better!

You can see more AeFondKis on Etsy, and the works as they are completed by following her on Flickr.  To start the new year right, keep up with her daily inspirations on her blog.