KAREN THORNE has a God-given talent and she is not afraid to use it.
All you have to do is take one look around her Orange Hill, St James home and the evidence is crystal clear – exquisitely decorated tables and chairs, elaborate curtains and most of all, the lady of the house herself, who said she loved to dress up and made sure she looked on point when the NATION arrived.
Thorne also showed off shoes covered in colourful fabric and proudly displayed her latest passion – making jewellery out of shiny fabric.
“I buy the material from Steve Austin’s store in Warrens [St Michael]. I make earrings, bracelets and necklaces – he has four different colours but most people request black although the silver goes fast too as it goes with everything. I put them in boxes and bags to make it look like it’s from a store,” she said, adding nothing she sold cost more than $20.
Thorne said she had no formal training in craft but had a talent and wanted to share it. As such, she said she wanted to one day go to schools, in particular The Learning Centre, where she has a bond.
In the meantime, she explained how it all started. She said there was no fanfare, just a feeling she had.
“About ten years ago I went to work one day and I saw an ice cream bucket and it just came to me. I thought ‘I could do something with that’. At first, I only placed fabric on the lids but as I went along, more ideas came to me and I started to decorate more of it.
“Now, people come to me to get their old bags and shoes redecorated. I even do house and wedding decorations and baby showers,” she said.
It is not only furniture and buckets that can be transformed but shoes and bags as well. The only limit is the imagination.
Thorne said she started making jewellery a month ago after going to Austin’s store for something else. The proprietor showed her the fabric and said he thought she could work with it and so she did.
“I started making earrings, then I realised I could do more so I started making bracelets and necklaces as well. I like this type of jewellery because it is beautiful and it is not going to rust,” she said.
Thorne’s work has appeared at the Barbados Music Awards, at which she sponsors gift baskets, and in the Miss Holetown Pageant, another event she supports as a sponsor. She has also entered NIFCA and went as far as the finals.
As for her next step, Thorne said it is to officially open her own business. She said she realised it would not be easy but she felt determined and confident she could succeed.
“Next is to expand and start my own business. I have a full-time job already so to do both takes up a lot of time as it is but I like to use my hands and see the fruits of my labour. When people appreciate it, that keeps me going – it is proof you don’t need to buy something expensive to look good,” she said.
Thorne has three daughters. The youngest, 15-year-old Tiffany Lowe, said she was impressed by her mother’s talent and wanted to follow suit.
“I think it’s amazing how she can think up these things and do them. I watch her sometimes and learn so one day, who knows? I might get into it too,” the young woman said.
Despite this adoration, Thorne was quick to add her daughter had already surpassed her when it came to another form of decoration – make-up.
“Her make-up is always more flawless than mine,” she said with a smile.
