Last month we welcomed Chloe Edwards to Lincoln Street Warehouse. Chloe recently moved to Bristol. She took out studio space in Bristol to work on her furniture upcycling business, Made Anew. We thought we would call by to wish her a welcome and check out what she’s working on.
For the last ten years, Chloe has been living a fast-paced London lifestyle. She moved to Bristol a little over a month ago to buy a house with her partner, and to be closer to her family.
“London shaped Made Anew. You’d walk past abandoned furniture on the street and want to make something of it. I got into the habit of upcycling street treasure to make the house feel homelier and it spiralled from there.”
From this Made Anew was born. Today, Chloe spends the majority of her time reinventing familiar objects to give them new functions. These ottomans are Chloe’s most popular product. The ottomans are crafted from upcycled wine crates and adorned with hand screen printed fabrics. They are strong enough to be used as seats or footstools, and large enough to be used as storage.
“Living in London usually means you’re both pushed for money and space. It’s taught me to craft from salvaged materials, and to give the crafts more than one use.”
From bookshelves to tables, ottomans to cushions. If you can think of it, Chloe can make it.
When she’s not working on Made Anew, Chloe is working on her photography business – Chloe Edwards Photography. With both photography and woodworking, Chloe finds a creative balance that keeps her inspired.
“There’s something very cathartic about working with your hands. But, if I’m away from my camera for too long, I start to wish I was taking photos.”
Chloe enjoys photographing a number of subjects, though prefers them to have a personal or human element. She has just finished a project documenting local artisans in London, and is currently working on a portrait series for a Bristol-based cabinet maker.
“There is no such thing as a typical day for me. I am a morning person, so I start the day at 7:30am. I spend the morning making things and doing hands-on work, though it depends on the kinds of projects that I have. Coffee also helps.”
We loved meeting Chloe and taking a being the scenes look at Made Anew. Why not take a look at her latest work on her website? You can also keep up to date with the latest Meanwhile Creative happenings on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
If you are a freelancer, creative, or small studio business, business rates can feel confusing…
Ever found the perfect client – but realised your spare bedroom isn’t quite cutting it…
Creative block is one of those unwelcome visitors that shows up unannounced, usually when you’re…
Freelancing can feel like the ultimate dream: total flexibility, your own schedule, and the freedom…
Working alongside other creatives has its perks – the energy, the inspiration, the occasional spontaneous…
Image courtesy Andy Crouch The gates are open, the containers are buzzing, and St Saviours…
