New Design in Marks and Spencer!

I unexpectedly came across one of my designs in Marks and Spencer today, it is so nice when that happens! They have turned one of my artworks in to tea towels for their new season kitchen collection.

I am so pleased to see this design in-store as it was one of my favourites and Marks and Spencer have been very true to the original artwork. It is a great example of how nicely embroidered and appliquéd designs can be translated in to print.

The Textile Directory Craft Focus Newsletter

Today I was featured in the Textile Directory Craft Focus Newsletter. They were concentrating on Embroidery for this (their first) edition of the Craft Focus Newsletter and spoke to me about what it was like to be an embroidery designer and asked for my advice on how best to make a living from it.

I also provided them with a tutorial on how to make one of my greetings cards. If you fancy a go then click here and take a look. If you do not have the time to make your own cards but like the design then take a look at my shop for similar cards.

New Design - Fairy Garden

Today I finally completed a design that I started working on a while back. It is an appliquéd and embroidered artwork for the children's market. This design would be suitable for both interior textiles and stationery products. It is a bright and cheery design with lots of nice fabric textures from suedette for the flower pots to glittering sheer polyester on the fairies' skirts.

Customer Feedback

As I am currently spending a lot of my time adding items to my Folksy shop I thought it was a perfect time to post some of the feedback I have received for a couple of my Christmas and New Year private commissions. It is so encouraging to receive positive feedback and really gives me a boost. I love hand-making cards and accessories, particularly when they are being designed for someone personally. It is such a delight to hear that what I have made is being used and enjoyed.

The recipient of this handmade Fairy Bag was a very happy little girl when she opened her Christmas present. The feedback that I have had is that she 'absolutley loves it' and has to be stopped from taking it to school and in to the bath with her! That made me smile, I am really glad she is enjoying it.


This image shows my new year Greetings Card commission all wrapped and ready to go. The customer that commissioned these cards wrote me such a lovely letter thanking me for them, it was really touching and a wonderful confidence boost. She described my work as 'beautifully made' and noted that 'such an excellent product and excellent service is worth every penny'.

So, todays post is a thank you to the lovely customers that I have had so far, many thanks for your orders.

A Gift For My Niece

Now that I have passed this gift on to my brother it is safe to post this image without spoiling the surprise.
I created this personalised appliqué and embroidery artwork to co-ordinate with a set of beautiful hot air balloon fairy lights destined for the nursery. The balloons are made from bright and glossy polyester fabrics with co-ordinating machine embroidery detail on top. The clouds are a really soft brushed cotton secured with satin stitch embroidery. The text and the birds are hand-embroidered using regular sewing thread to give a fine finish.

Welcome to the world Franchesca!