From Karoo Star to Canvas: My Insider SA Story

Years ago, I had the honour of appearing on Insider SA, a prestigious TV program on SABC3, where I was featured multiple times, showcasing both my botanical art and handwoven mohair interior collection.

Growing up on a Karoo farm, I was surrounded by some of the world's finest mohair. This sustainable, locally produced fibre became the foundation of my interior design company, Karroostar.com, where I created floor cushions, scatters, ottomans, and rugs featuring bold colours and striking patterns.

My mohair collection celebrated vibrant colour palettes – deep crimsons and purples, warm ochres and russets, silvery greens, and bold striped patterns. Each piece was

handwoven with attention to how colours and textures could transform a living space. The striped cushions in warm caramels, crisp whites, and rich reds became particularly popular, showcasing the lustrous quality of Karoo mohair.

Insider SA featured both my interior work and my botanical art – delicate studies of indigenous flowers rendered with the precision and attention to detail that botanical art demands.

While I no longer create interior pieces – focusing exclusively on botanical art these days – those years of working with mohair taught me so much about colour, texture, and how art functions within living spaces. Being a designer gave me invaluable insight into understanding scale, how colours work in different environments, and how pieces need to complement their surroundings.

That understanding still informs my work today, especially when collaborating with interior designers on botanical commissions. I can speak their language, understand their spatial concerns, and envision how my art will live in a client's home. My background in interior design bridges the gap between creating beautiful art and ensuring it works perfectly within a designed space.

The Karoo's mohair heritage remains close to my heart, and those appearances on Insider SA were wonderful opportunities to share both sustainable, beautifully crafted South African design and the intricate beauty of botanical art with a wider audience.

You can read more and see these images in full on my press and media page, click here.

Sally Arnold www.sallyarnold.com