Moving house last year really made me think a lot about Minimalism. Its something I think lots of is are considering – particularly at this time of year. It’s easy to see and think about the physical clutter. Of having too much ‘stuff’, and I think lots of us are trying to adopt a more considered approach to this; Of objects ‘sparking joy’, of the footprint we leave behind us, of buying once and buying well.
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We are all on our own journeys, doing what we are meant to do, when we are meant to do it. Comparison leads us to insecurity and insecurity really does lead us nowhere.
So try your hardest to ignore the splash of other people, because really all you need to focus on is breathing and not sinking. Keep swimming and stay in your own lane, because what is meant for you will not pass you by.
#stainyourownlane #travelyourownjourney #ignorethesplash #freehandmachinebroidery #youdoyou #threadcounts #creativitywithmeaning #ihavethisthingwithsewing #makersmovement… Read More
As I’m sure know, food pictures are one of my absolute favourites to make, and I’m lucky enough to have been working on a flurry of food-based commissions this past few weeks. A packet of crisps has been on my to-make list for a while. In fact the only reason I haven’t already made any, is that I love them all and didn’t know which to choose first, so I was delighted to be asked to make some hula hoops! Personalised doesn’t always have to be about adding names to things, and I love the gorgeous story!that this thoughtful gift tells.
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Believe in yourself … it’s simple really; you’re brilliant!
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This was not the post I’d planned for this #threewordthursday phrase, but time has not been my friend this week. As I sat at my machine wondering how on earth I was going to get everything done, I realised that the scene that was facing straight back at me would do the job nicely. Believing in yourself sounds simple, but sometimes it’s really quite difficult; planning, positivity and persistence all help, but so does reflecting on all of the things you’ve already accomplished – which is why it’s so important to have a tin of brilliant in the cupboard (or in your wall ?)
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Have you ever had to swim against the tide, or even worse, found yourself caught in a slip stream? There’s something quite terrifying – especially for a rubbish swimmer like me – about swimming as hard as you can and not getting anywhere (to be fair I can manage that with no tide at all!) I love the sentiment of the expression ‘just keep swimming’, but as you know I don’t like the word just (in hindsight, it was perhaps an odd #threewordthursday phrase to have picked for that very reason!!) ‘Just’ makes things sound easy and effortless. Sometimes to keep going, to keep swimming, is the hardest thing of all – especially when you are putting in a lot of hard work with seemingly not very much output.
Which is why, when I sat down to make this weeks picture, I decided that I wasn’t going to make a fish to ‘just’keep swimming (sorry Dory), or a duck or even a swan. My swimmer had to be a glorious synchronised swimmer, seemingly working effortlessly all the while doing so with huge strength, control and poise. Remember that next time you feel like you’re staying still, because I’ll bet you’re not xx
#ThreeWordThursday is a weekly hashtag challenge. Each week a different three word phrase can be presented or discussed in any way that inspires you. Be sure to use the hashtag so that I can find you and please feel free to share it with anyone who might like to join in! The prompt for next week is; create your future.
#justkeepswimming #youcandoit #keepongoing #calledtobecreative #designalifeyoulove #freehandmachineembroidery #freemotionembroidery #everystitchcounts #threewordthursday
#ihavethisthingwithsewing ##communityovercompetition… Read More
Oh I do like to be beside the sea
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Except I’m not at the seaside, I’m at home trying to do everything and not getting very far with anything!
If you’re currently trying to juggle your way through the holidays too, I hope you’re surviving. It’s easy to talk to other people, to look on social media and compare all the amazing, involved, expensive things that other people are doing to make their kids summer holidays amazing and feel a bit lacking. And then that 18 f***ing summers post does the rounds and kicks you while you’re down. So I just want to say that if you’re struggling to sort out childcare and just get to the end of the day, there are other people doing that too. It might not make for such glorious photos, but we’re out there too. We’re all just doing our best, and if you care enough to worry about it, the chances are you’re probably doing okay. We’ve got this!
#wednesdaywisdom #wednesdaywords #strugglewiththejuggle #spinningplates #youvegotthis #dontcompare #youvegotthis #freehandmachineembroidery #creativitywithmeaning #stitchingsmiles #westonsupermare #westonpier #grandpier… Read More
Walking in to Monday with passion, purpose, and the right shoes! Have a great week – you’ve got this!
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I’ve found this holiday that hand sewing is allowing work to be a bit more portable, which means that I’ve been able to list some shoes that I’ve been working on – there’s a link in my bio
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#giveagirltherightshoes #giveagirltherightshoesandshecanconquertheworld #marilynmonroe #handembroidery #stitchingsmiles #threadcounts #careinstructions… Read More
When Oscar was in preschool, he brought this picture of me home. Because he was only interested in playing with Lego, he didn’t ever do any drawings or paintings. Not so much as a cereal box sculpture came our way. So delighted was I to have finally been presented with a piece of artwork, I could almost entirely overlook the the fact that he had drawn me with a bottom that seemed to be its own state floating independent of my body ? I had to find a way of saving it forever… big bottom and all and so a product was born. I hadn’t been sewing for all that long when I made this – time hop reminded me this week that it was six years ago in fact – I didn’t plan to make it as a product to sell, it was just a way to catch a moment. A stitch in time.
I’ve had quite a few messages lately asking for business advice; how to get started, what I would recommend doing, how I did it. It feels quite strange to be presented with questions like this, as I don’t really I have any answers myself, let alone in a position to answer of their people’s question, or hand out advice. But six years after this big-bummed masterpiece made its way home to me, all I can tell you, is if you find something you love to do, find a way to keep on doing it. Just keep on going
#ThreeWordThursday is a weekly hashtag challenge. Each week a different three word phrase can be presented or discussed in any way that inspires you. Be sure to use the hashtag so that I can find you and please feel free to share it with anyone who might like to join in! The prompt for next week is; just keep swimming
#keepongoing
#throwbackthursday #tbt #childrensartwork #childrensdrawing #calledtobecreative #designalifeyoulove #freehandmachineembroidery #freemotionembroidery #everystitchcounts #threewordthursday
#ihavethisthingwithsewing #britishstitchers #communityovercompetition… Read More
I was recently asked if it would be possible to make a rosette with a custom message in a different colour. The answer was … of course! My rosettes are completely handmade, so they can say whatever you like and look however you like… so they’re the perfect way to celebrate just about anything!! I’ve popped a link in my bio for the listing. –
Happy Sunday! –
#rosette #youdeserveamedal #freehandmachineembroidery #stitchingsmiles #careinstructions… Read More
Always be yourself… part two. .
I spoke earlier about the importance of being yourself in a personal capacity and now I am going to be a little bit self indulgent and talk about he it’s also important for your work and creativity. Around a year ago, I came to a bit of a crossroads. I’d always struggled with being self taught; I felt like a fraud calling myself a textile artist, but I did anyway, because I didn’t know what else to call myself. I’m not going to make this post a debate about art elitism, because .. I don’t want to, but I don’t think it is unfair to say that it was not a world that I felt very welcomed in to. I am sure the subject of my work is too commercial and too safe and positive words aren’t for everyone, and I’m fine with that. I didn’t doubt my skill or ability (actually, that’s a blatant lie!) but the question was, did I try and make pieces with greater artistic intent so that the people who decided they could say whether or not you were worthy of the title would let me in? It all felt a lot like trying to be cool. I never have or never will be cool ? and I decided I wasn’t going to be a textile artist either. I decided to stop trying to be part of a group that didn’t really seem to want to include me, so I decided to embrace the idea of being a maker, which might sound like exactly the same thing, but in my experience are a much friendlier bunch. And friendly people are my kind of people. .
The crux of that decision was all about being myself. The reason that I’m telling you this story and seemingly unrelated photo is that I found out that this product had been nominated for a NOTHS make award. I didn’t make the shortlist, but to even have been considered makes me feel not only incredibly honoured, but also bloody proud of myself and glad that I decided to stick with just being me. .
So there you have it. Always be yourself. .
Ps there’s a link in the bio for the listing ?. .
#alwaysbeyourself #threewordthursday #noths #notonthehighstreet #makeawards #wearenoths… Read More
