Red and yellow and pink and green…not so much singing a rainbow as stitching one in today’s ‘Exploring Etsy’ with a fantastic explosion of glorious colour brought to you by the talents of Margaret Dier. Her stunning shop ‘Marg Dier Embroidery’ is a joy to behold and her use of colour really is mouth watering.
Graduating from The Royal School of Needlework after being accepted on their three year hand embroidery apprenticeship, Marg. was lucky enough to be offered a job in their communal studio and on their teaching staff, personally I think it was her raw talent that made them snap her up! A truly amazing place to work she’s had the opportunity to work on a stunning array of A-list embroidery projects including shoes for a pop star, a Paul Smith suit covered in tiny insects and none other that the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress designed by Sarah Burton. After working as the manager of the Royal School’s commercial studio for a few years Marg. decided she wanted to get back to embroidering her own work, so two years ago she went freelance. While still doing work at the school she set up her Etsy shop last year to sell her exquisite hand embroidered jewellery.
What is your earliest stitching memory?
I remember my grandmother making a green satin (!) waistcoat for me and trying to teach me a very complex double feather stitch down the front. I have to say sadly she failed. It did not put me off though… happy to say I can now do feather stitch.
What fires your imagination?
Lots of things, my students as they get so excited starting a new project – you get caught up in their enthusiasm. Nature definitely. Changing seasons always seems to appear in my work. But especially Pinterest. It is a constantly changing curated gallery of visual feasts that just sparks off ideas. I love it. Probably need to spend less time on it if I am honest.
Thankfully for us Marg. loves stitching her jewellery as the process is relatively speedy when compared to larger embroideries that gobble up the hours. This means a constant, gorgeous supply of stitched goodies for us to ogle and buy! So make sure you pop on over to Etsy and check out her shop.
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Jessica Taylor aka Loadofolbobbins is a Textile Artist and Illustrator based by the sea in Portsmouth. At her happiest with a needle and thread, with a passion for genealogy she often explores old photographs in her Textile art. With her fingers in many creative pies she loves to experiment with new techniques, creating illustrated and stitched goodies for her new Etsy shop.