Growing up in Sydney and the Blue Mountains, Carla Dawes was always surrounded by creativity. Her parents were always creating from music to sewing, gardening to cooking and she was privy to a wonderful Steiner education, where she was first introduced to a myriad of artistic pursuits. At age 11 she learnt embroidery, a passion she continued until her early twenties, before shifting her focus to wearable art, theatre costume and designing fabric. Carla has always been making – even her subsequent career as a caterer – so opening a textile studio was a natural step after eventual visual art study, majoring in printmaking at Southern Cross University.

Drawn to learn more about textile design, she knew there was no looking back after her first screen printing lesson. Lifting the screen up and seeing her artwork immediately printed on fabric is something that continues to delight her. Watching the ink seep into fabric on the Ink Object tables is her favourite part of the process. Carla loves being able to control and test the image at each stage of the screen printing process: from initial design to colour choices to fabric testing and selection.

Inspired by travel, history, culture, nature and the beauty of simple moments, her bold and hand drawn designs also echo with her passion for timeless designs. She does not make for the sake of making, wanting objects to be purposeful and long lasting.

Generous in spirit and nature, Carla loves bringing people together. She is proud that Ink Object employs local craftspeople, mentors young designers, is environmentally and sustainably conscience and continues to create every item by hand. She wouldn’t have it any other way.