I hope everyone has had a wonderful week and have some wonderful plans for the weekend ahead. Is it me or does it seem this week has been VERY long?

Anyway folks it's time for another Feature Friday and I have a very special guest today.

Her name is Dotti Mathers and she is the designer and artists behind Paloma Le Sage.

This lady is a true master of her art. She creates original hand printed & handmade clutches, cushions, bags, hand printed cards and journals just to name a few of the many items she creates. Amazing women is all I can say. Let's meet Dotti and see what she has to say.

Hi Dotti Thanks for popping in to The Whimsical Wife and being a guest today. Tell us a bit about what you do and being a designer?.

I create original limited edition hand printed fabrics in my studio in Mangerton on the south east coast of Australia. I am pleased to say I create all the original designs

I am fascinated by & passionate about the hand printing process. Majoring in etching as a student my current work practices involve block relief and screen printing. The spontaneity and experimental possibilities of hand printing continue to excite and motivate me. I hand print all the fabrics myself. I also create the patterns and sew the cushions, bags, totes, clutches, waistcoats, pants and skirts. I am also the marketing and sales personnel for my business and love to meet my customers at various events. I enjoy being so closely involved with all the various aspects of my business and it is very important to me to be a part of this.

What types of materials do you like to use & what is your favourite thing about working at home?

I print on linen felt silk and cottons with aqua inks. I am also passionate about reusing and re purposing. I love to work in my home studio which can be opened up to allow the breeze and the bird songs to keep me company….. along with my assistants Miss Dolly and Mr Toby the wire fox terriers

What was your first art experience that you can remember?

One of my first memory's would be digging up beautiful different coloured clays at the edge of our house when i was young and ‘painting’ with them under the shade of a flight of old wooden steps.

What are you currently working on & your inspiration?

I do like working on semi abstract line drawings of the botanical world. At present I am working on a series of collagraph prints featuring the ‘natural carpet’ created by fallen leaves seeds and fruits.

Last year I was lucky enough to visit The Museum National in Rome. There you can walk into a room and be completely surrounded by the illusionistic Frescoes from the Villa of Livia from 100BC. They depict a luscious garden featuring lifelike birds ornamental flowers trees and medicinal plants. Scholars have identified species roses strawberry trees, oleander, Italian cypresses, date palms, and English oak.

The British Museum and The Victoria and Albert Museum of Decorative Arts in London is also favourite places to spend time exploring.

How did you come up with your business name?

Le Sage is my family name ( they were French Huguenot silk weavers ) and there is no one left to carry on the family name so I was inspired to keep it.

How did you come about to opening a store on Madeit

I made my own website & a madeit store was a perfect partner. I am thrilled when I make a sale and humbled knowing my designs are now in Singapore, Finland, Canada, France, UK and some remote areas of our wide country.

What other interests do you have apart from this business?

I admire all plant forms. Their varied sculptural shapes their beautiful textural surfaces and their colours ranging from pale subtle tones through to pastel, vibrant and even fluorescents.

Thanks so much dotti for being a part of today's Feature Friday. You are a true artist and designer and a inspiration to the humble blogger. Dotti has kindly donated a gorgeous phone pouch for a giveaway this week. It is hand printed and created by Dotti herself.

You have three chances to enter this giveaway.

To enter simply visit Dotti's Website or Made It Store and pop back in here and leave a comment saying what creation of Dotti's you love best.

For a second chance to enter become of follower of The Whimsical Wife blog & leave a comment saying that you have done so.

For a third chance to enter visit me on Facebook and become a follower and leave a comment back here that you have done so.

Entries close Thursday 8th September 2011

* You must leave a comment on this post to enter*

________________________________________________________________

*WINNER*

Now to annouce the winner of last weeks giveaway for these two gorgeous cushions from Coco & Milo.

Drum roll......

Belinda if you can email me your address to: diaryofwhimsicalwife@gmail.com and I will post out the cushions to you. Thanks to everyone who commented and make sure you enter this weeks giveaway to be in the chance to win!

Got all of that? Phew anyway have a AWESOME weekend everyone and will catch you next week for Tasty Tuesday.....!