Bonjour! After what, I’ll hope you’ll agree, has been a lovely bit of crafty globe trotting of late here at ‘Exploring Etsy’ it’s time for another creative staycation. So it is with great honour I share with you, the work of UK based designer Jane Smallcombe whose Etsy shop ‘Applique Originals‘ is bursting with colourful creations to delight you all.
After a lifetime of making gifts and commissions for friends Jane launched ‘Applique Originals‘ in 2006 with a range of brooches, going from strength to strength ever since. Continuing to flourish, expanding her design range to include stunning collections of jewellery, homewares and children’s toys, lovingly crafted by hand in England, each item is truly a unique work of art. As well the shop, ‘Applique Originals’ has also exhibited in galleries and is currently working on a forthcoming joint exhibition with a fellow textile designer.
What is your earliest stitching memory?
Making a felt elephant at junior school with sequin and hand stitched embellishment – I still have it!
What fires your imagination?
I believe inspiration can emerge through a variety of forms. Many of my pieces and colour schemes are derived from nature but I am also a huge fan of pinterest.
I always have a frustrating backlog of ideas that I long to fulfil but in such a busy world it is hard to find the time to initiate new pieces. I am not a planner – I am instinctive. I tend to sit down with a palette of felt and embroidery cottons and begin to cut and sew without a drawing to hand.
I find Jane’s exquisite use of colour utterly captivating, my eyes can’t help but delight in all of her exquisite combinations. The pieces featured in this post barely scratch the surface of all the goodies out there in her shop for all to enjoy, so why not head over there now, fair warning you may get sucked into a time vortex, I’ve found time seems to travel quicker there!
What Technique Is This?
This is appliqué, one of the most popular way of using fabric to create textile art. There are a few types of appliqué that you can try, and if you need help starting we recommend the Royal School of Needlework’s book.
Appliqué is different to patchwork, in case you were wondering, and if you want some appliqué inspiration, here are some posts to check out!
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.
