Meet the Maker - Amanda Jane Ogden
Company overview
I am an artist designer and maker living near the sea in Kent. I work from a studio next to my home. I design fabrics and quilts, make quilts to commission and teach.
How did it all start?
From being a Cambridge languages graduate working in publishing, I went off to art college in my late thirties to study Textiles and loved it! After teaching in schools for some years, I decided to ‘do’ instead of ‘teach’ and in September 2014 started Amanda Jane Textiles.
The story behind the name…
My real name is in fact Amanda Jane, but I never really used my middle name until the moment came to choose the title of my small business. My logo has a market stall awning above the name to suggest a variety of (textiles) products on offer.
Where are you based?
Ramsgate, Kent
What inspires you?
The natural world, especially flowers, leaves, animals and sea creatures; also the work of artists I admire, for example Chagall, Matisse, Klee.
What is your creation process?
If I am designing fabrics, I always begin by drawing on paper in pencil or fineliner and then painting. The artwork is scanned and then put into repeat. When designing a quilt, I do plenty of visual research and make several fabric selections before making design decisions.
What makes you, your brand or products unique?
The ‘hand-painted’ look of my fabric designs; clarity of my instructions when I write quilt patterns for magazines or for sale online; use of colour in commissioned quilts – I am listed in the Crafts Council Directory of Makers.
What is your next project?
Designing and making the second in a series of six quilts for an American client.
What are your plans for the next 12 months?
Continuing to teach my one-to-one ‘Quilt in a Day’ course; making more of my fabric designs (on Spoonflower) into collections; carrying out private commissions; writing for quilt magazines; producing more of my own patterns for sale in the Amanda Jane Textiles Etsy shop and giving talks to groups.
What is your biggest achievement?
It is fun to see one of my quilts featured on a magazine cover, like my red and cream ‘Winter Roses’ quilt, for example. I just love that particular quilt and don’t think I could ever part with it!
What is your best-selling product/line?
My best-sellers are the ‘Christmas Tree Skirt’ pattern on Etsy and ‘Quilt Labels’ fabric design on Spoonflower.
Your experience of your first Knitting & Stitching Show (year, exhibiting or visiting).
I used to live in the North of England, first in Newcastle, next Leeds, then Durham, so for many years I went to the Harrogate show. In 2021, I moved to Kent and went to Ally Pally for the first time.
What do you love about the Knitting & Stitching Shows?
I love the mix! I began my training in Textiles with embroidery before going on to quilting, plus I have knitted and crocheted since I was a youngster. I have always found so much to enjoy and to inspire me at the shows.
Your three top tips for crafters and makers…
- Making is pleasurable and restorative: take time to enjoy what you are doing
- Find others who share the same interests if you can
- Always be willing to learn something new
Any advice for fledgling businesses…
It’s harder than it looks to set up and run a small business, so make sure you have the patience, determination and resilience to keep going over the longer term.
Website: https://www.amandajanetextiles.com
Instagram: @amanda_jane_textiles
Youtube: Amanda Jane Textiles