This week's featured artist is Marilou Prokopiou of Lilly's Papillon. She makes these beautiful butterflies you can wear as a brooch. So grab a coffee, and let's learn more about Lilly's Papillon! :)
• • • •
My name is
Marilou and my very close friends call me Lilly! I do love anything with
butterflies, bows and with polka dot on! I am a full time
graphic designer in the morning and at nights I do create jewellery.
Q & A
Tell us more about what you make!
I create lovely
and very colourful brooches in the shape of butterflies, moths, dragonflies,
bees, and lately I am trying to experiment with other insects as well. Each piece is
created by me in a smoke free, loving environment. They are all out of metal,
most of the time out of copper. I cut it, give the shape I want, file it and
then add a safety pin at the back. I sand and polish very well each one and
then the magic of painting begins. Each piece is very carefully painted. The
process for each piece can take sometimes a bit longer than I thought, as each
dot should have the right size and shape. If not, I have to start all over
again. I use acrylic colors and only fine and very thin brushes to get the
right shape of a dot. All patterns are made out of dots. I try to make each one
of the brooches unique and each one to have its own pattern. No brooch is the
same as with any other. I love the idea of a customer having a unique piece.
Most brooches have my signature at the back so the customer will know it is an
original.
How did your crafty business come about?
What made you want to start it?
Few years ago, I
was thinking of taking a jewellery course, I loved the idea of making statement
necklaces for myself. So I intended a class and then another and then another
and completed two years of courses. In the meantime I was experimenting with
all kind of materials till I was introduced in the world of metal; it was love
at first sight! I did play with different shapes, up to one day that I thought
why don’t I combine my love of butterflies, colour and polka dot! I started
making brooches for my family and some friends and without realising, there
were some custom orders coming in. This summer I
did exhibit twice and it all went really well. More exhibitions are coming this
autumn and hopefully I will have lots done by then.
What inspires you to create? What
supplies do you use?
I do get
inspired by anything I see! I mainly use
copper and it fascinates me how you can change the shape of it. From a sheet of
metal you can just make anything, in my case butterflies. My work is a
combination of using and working with metals and acrylics.
What is your favorite project or most
memorable thing you’ve created?
I think it would
be the first butterfly I created. Everytime I see it I remember how anxious I
was to show my family what I made and my concept and idea at the time which is
what I am doing now.
Aside from crafting, what do you do for
fun?
Well, if there
is any time, which is quite rare lately, I like reading, see my friends but
most I love travelling!!!
What are your favorite blogs or websites that everyone should check out?
I
have spent hours and hours reading the posts on the site, watching the videos
or listening the podcasts.
I absolutely
love her photography! So inspiring!!!
I always check
out the new artists on the site. Sometimes when you work alone from home you
can get lost in your own ideas and is good to finding out what other creatives
do.
And of course…
Even though I
haven’t been on lately as much as I would like, its heaven. I see it as a big
sketchbook; when I was at uni (MANY MANY years ago) I had to cut and paste
images from mags on my sketchbook. Well is similar, instead of cutting and
pasting you just click on the image you like! Love it!!!!
I have to ask a totally random question,
so here goes. If you won millions of dollars tomorrow, would you do with your
little business?
I think I would
go 'full time' freelancing and try to dedicate all my time to my little craft
business and I would try to explore new materials and new techniques.
