Stitch City | Mr X Stitch

Hello all and welcome back to 'Exploring Etsy', hope you've all been keeping well and stitching up a storm the last few weeks. Today I have the pleasure of introducing you all to the fantastic work of Alex Hughes whose Etsy shop, 'Stitch City', is full of embroidered goodies for you all to delight in; I know I do. Millbank Penitentiary by Alex Hughes (Hand embroidery) Queensway Notebook by Alex Hughes ( Hand embroidery) One of the best bits about doing this column is being able to get to know a bit more about some of my favourite makers, I like to think this reflects my enquiring mind but it could be that I'm just a bit of a nosy parker! Studying Illustration at university Alex picked up embroidery by chance when she found herself struggling to find a medium she felt confident with and hasn't looked back since. Run from her home studio in Penarth, near Cardiff, 'Stitch City' is the perfect outlet for her stitching obsession. South Kensington Map Cushion by Alex Hughes (Hand and machine embroidery) Swan Badge by Alex Hughes (Hand embroidery) Now we come to the small Q + A section of the proceedings. In each post I'll be asking the makers I feature the same two questions to get to know them a little better and see what makes them tick. What is your earliest stitching memory? I think my first shot at embroidery was a tiny cross-stitched bookmark when I was about 6 or 7 years old. Clearly I must not have been fussed back then, because it was about 12 years before I tried again! Ceredigion Maps by Alex Hughes (Hand embroidery) What fires your imagination? I love to collect old maps, especially Wales (my home) and of London where I lived for 3 years. I found London a hugely inspiring place and a lot of my work still centred around the famous streets and landmarks and beautiful old architecture. Devils Bridge (detail) by Alex Hughes (Hand embroidery) Appealing to both the history and embroidery lover in me, her stitched maps are a particular favourite of mine – her elegantly simple designs are crammed full of wonderful detail. With a lovely range of cushions, badges, notebooks and hoop art there are plenty of treasures to choose from that will suit all wallet and purse sizes. ----- 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.