Plush You! Interview with Pilli Pilli

Plush You! is an annual exhibit in October that showcases plush creations from artists all over the globe - there are 5 venues throughout Seattle participating in this years event. We are excited to be one of those venues!!


So to get everyone familiar we are posting interviews and doing special giveaways with participating Bluebottle Plush You! artists.


What is your name and where are you located?
Hello! I’m Pilli Pilli, (after the red, rather small, yet fiercely hot African Chillipeppers) because I like life spicy and full of colour! (My real name is Katrien though…)

I’m Belgian, but last year I moved to a tiny village, hidden in the Northern Italian Hills…



What are your favorite materials and why?

Wool! Most definitely! It’s so natural, soft and cosy, not to mention versatile! I can’t think of any other material that offers so many possibilities; the raw fiber, yarn, fabric, felt,… I’m using it all!

My current favourite is an incredibly beautiful (yet machine washable) Merino yarn that I found here in Italy. It comes in really sweet candy-cane colours that are just perfect for the rather dreamy softies I’m making lately!


How long does it usually take for you to complete a piece?

It usually takes me up to three days to finish one of my crocheted softies… that is if I don’t get distracted, of course. The countryside can be devilishly alluring at times… There is always something new to discover out there… some new birds to watch, a new cloud drifting by or some new kind of fruit waiting to be picked.





What are you excited about lately?
Summer!!! Being born in July I’m a real child of summer, and I don’t know if that has anything to do with it, but summer just happens to be the season that I feel best. I especially love the early summer mornings when the air is still crisp and the birds chirp and twitter and peep about their nocturnal adventures and their plans for the day. I already feel the change coming on when spring sets off to give colour to the sky and to make the flowers bloom… Love it Love it Love it!


Which super power would you prefer to have and why: the ability to fly or to be invisible?
That one is easy: I would love the be able to fly! I’m a real traveller, you see. I just cannot imagine living my life without seeing new places, smelling new perfumes and tasting new flavours! It’s really like a sort of medicine to me… On those days that I feel a little blue or restless, I just love to get in the car and go for a drive. Sometimes that really is all it takes: a change of panorama to spice things up again! So being able to take off for the wild blue yonder certainly sounds appealing!


What's your dream project?
Mmmmmmmmmm, a difficult one, since I have so many projects swimming in my head at the moment… But if I had to pick one: I have been thinking of making a series of soft sculptures portraying Indian gods and goddesses that have won my heart during my travels to India. First of all, because they’re so colourful and fun. But that’s not all: the fact that they have so many intricate and meaningful details seems like a real challenge for a little perfectionista like me!


What did you do last Saturday afternoon?
Well, crochet of course !




www.abitofpillipilli.blogspot.com

www.pillipillihandmade.etsy.com

CHECK BACK HERE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN A LOVELY HANDMADE ITEM FROM PILLI PILLI


More info about the event on our: site