:obsessive compulsive
Compulsive
Repeating patterns are synergistic to this particular creative
IN A BUSINESS WHERE TRADITION can squelch creativity, it is often difficult to
introduce fresh ideas. But for Wellington-based textile designer-maker, craft enthusiast and
educator, Genevieve Packer, surrounding herself with what inspires her is the key to her creative
license.
A year ago, Genevieve who is best known for her distinctive wallpaper designs, and her art
director husband who works for a local video game development company, traded inner-city
apartment life for a home across the harbour in the bush haven of Eastbourne.
Thanks to her artistic husband, not to mention a large collection of around 500 different
wallpapers that have been collected over the years from auctions and Trade Me, Genevieve is
never short of creative stimulation.
Originally hailing from the Hawke���s Bay, Genevieve holds a Bachelor of Design majoring in
textiles as well as a Masters in Design from Massey University.
In her height of the creative hub, she taught at the Wellington Massey University campus in
the textile design department. For eight years she held this ���luxurious��� position ��� so described
due to the constant flow of stimulation her students provided. However, teaching with all its
benefits, was never something the imaginative fully intended to do and she made the choice to
leave in order to pursue other openings that were presenting themselves to her. Opportunities
that have included her recent two year stint designing textiles for costumes for The Hobbit: An
Unexpected Journey film.
���The all-consuming project was a completely different discipline to teaching,��� she explains.
���It was an amazing industry filled with creative people that were so inspiring. I���ve always been
reasonably clued-up on the textile industry in New Zealand so I was amazed to find all these
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