1) Tell us a little bit about your label (art) and what you do?
My label is called YOYOMO. YoYo, is from one of my nicknames and, being both Swedish and Australian I travel or YoYo around (in reality and in my imagination) between these two fabulous countries. The MO, comes from my married name Morrison. I LOVE textiles and I sew, embroider, and screen print all sorts of things. I also LOVE paper.
2) What inspires your work?
Almost everything, anything and anybody!
3) What jobs have you done other than being an artist?
I have worked as a cleaner at the Sheraton Hotel Stockholm and in a shampoo factory ( I’ve been young too and you do what you can get ). Later I worked in retail in Germany and Sweden and as a buyer/designer for the Swedish fashion retailer H&M. As I love factories and manufacturing I have also worked as a a designer for a clothes manufacturer here in Australia. I’m quite handy and love fixing things and love painting & building (done a lot of that). I’ve also been President of The Swedish School in Sydney. My longest lasting job is mothering ( paid in appreciation and a hug now and then ) – I have 2 boys.
4) What memorable responses have you had to your work?
Laughter, smiles and ‘I know exactly who to give/send that to!’ and ‘You know those beautiful ‘xxx’ that I was going to give away, well I couldn’t part with them, so I need to find something else’ . My stuff seems to make people smile. What can be better?
5) One thing you can’t live without?
My loved ones … they make all the difference!
6) What gets you up in the morning?
A new day! Something fun or exciting might happen …
7) How would your best friend describe you in 3 words?
Loyal, inspiring and Tiggerish … I asked and blushed. I find praise very easy to give and extremely hard to receive.
8) What is the next skill you want to learn?
Photoshop to develop my printing possibilities (but sadly I lack patience with electronic things) and how to cut long reels of bias binding and finally, stop motion filming.
9) What is your dream project?
Currently … to get my stuff into The Workshop Makery on Tuesday (Yippi).
10) Favourite or most inspirational place in Sydney?
Everywhere … and my Studio (previously known as the garage), there is so much fun stuff to ‘play’ with there.
11) What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Just do it, Be You … and follow your heart.
12) What advice would you give to new, aspiring Makers?
Same as my answer above … Develop what you love!
13) And most importantly, what would your ultimate karaoke song be?
Gosh, I can’t sing. So, wouldn’t put anyone through it. But if there was a gun to my head I’d opt for From St.Kilda to Kings Cross by my national treasure Paul Kelly. I arrived in Australia 1987 and had never heard a sound like it, never mind some of the words. Being Swedish as well as Australian my second choice would of course have be Dancing Queen by ABBA.
Want more YOYOMO?
http://www.countryculture.com.au/yoyomo-stockholm-sydney-pty-ltd/
Instagram: yoyomo_sthlm_syd