Sticking to a mosaic mission brings joy for all
newly divorced and I was looking for something to pour my creative energy into. I loved doing mosaics and at the time it was quite a new craft in the country.
“It didn’t feel like work because I enjoyed it so much. It also helps me express my creative side which was great. People started to ask me to show them how to do it and then I realised that was the one missing ingredient – as I really enjoy helping people make their own masterpieces.”
Kember’s style is eclectic and she has managed to mosaic many objects ranging from a broken kettle to a mannequin torso. She loves vibrant colours and she also likes to incorporate 3D elements into her work.
In 2016 Kember decided to close her shop in Hillcrest due to ongoing roadworks in the area which was disrupting customers. She decided to take a drive into the country and find a new place to set up shop.
She initially chose Nottingham Road and has recently relocated to the fabulous Tweedie Junction near Howick which promotes many local crafters. Inky’s shop has also become a part of the Midlands Meander’s attractions.
She offers mosaic lessons to the residents of Sunfield – a home for the mentally impaired. This work has been very fulfilling for her and she has made a huge difference to the quality and appeal of their work, which they sell to raise funds for their home.
She said: “They have a pottery workshop and they make ceramic tiles which are very useful in mosaic work. It was such a thrill when one of the residents won the first prize for mosaic art at the Royal Show this year. It is therapeutic and it is a skill anyone can learn.”
Mosaic can be more forgiving than other crafts because the medium offers so many options. Kember is also passionate about recycling and she uses more and more used ceramic objects in her work. Broken crockery – teacups and plates – are perfect for using in mosaic work.
She is always busy at weekends and during school holidays when she hosts classes for children. “It teaches them how to compose a picture and they learn which colours complement others. It is also about eye-hand co-ordination.”
Her shop offers all the equipment needed to create mosaic decorative items from the tile glue, grouting, laser-cut designs and all the tiles you could need. Visiting her shop is like a creative injection for the senses.
Kember laughs and says that if something is not glued down she will mosaic it. She also hosts a monthly mosaic class with the residents from the Ambers (a huge retirement village).
“If you start a business with the intention to make money then you will not be happy. It is the passion that makes the difference. Some weeks business is quiet and you have to keep busy creating.”
For her the success of her business is her hands-on classes and advice. She said: “People come here because they know me or they have heard about my work. I’m not just offering things to buy or stock, I am offering my advice and that makes the difference. In a way you have to live up to your reputation and that means always being the best you can.”
Kember believes that to run a successful business you have to put the customer first and you have to go the extra mile. She also gets commissioned to do murals and pictures for various homes and you will often find her at her workshop busy creating with her two dogs Annie and Lulu – a dachshund and a Jack Russell, sitting at her feet.
Visit her shop if you are going to meander in the Midlands. Or you can book a class with a group of friends and learn her winning mosaic techniques. To contact her you can e-mail her Ingrid@inkys. co.za