From First Sales to Colour: How My Passion Evolved
Quote: "Sometimes the stitch that changes everything is the one you didn’t plan." – Anonymous
From First Sales to Colour: How My Passion Evolved
When I look back over the years, certain moments stand out, the ones that shaped my journey and taught me what stitching could really become.
After completing my first big stitched piece, I wasn’t sure what would come next. A friend encouraged me to take a leap and create a chart to sell. I made an 8-part cross stitch chart and, while on holiday in Perpignan, I took it to a local haberdashery. They took 10 copies and even asked for my phone number. A week later, they called to order 20 more, everything had sold in just one week!
Seeing my designs in someone else’s hands for the first time was magical. It made me realise that this quiet passion, which had been part of my life for so long, could become more than just a hobby.
I wondered what I should do next. I created a Provence sampler, but it wasn’t as popular. Soon after, we moved to Amélie-les-Bains, the kids started school, and I began attending cross-stitch shows. I realised I needed to find my own style, something that would set me apart from other designers.
A friend then asked me to design some funky, colourful chickens. I created patterned, modern chickens full of bright colours. They were a hit and marked the beginning of a large range of playful, colourful animal designs. From that moment, I understood the power of standing out with colour, creativity, and a little fun.
As my designs evolved, I also realised that what motivated me most wasn’t just stitching itself, it was seeing my customers react. At more and more shows, their smiles, laughter, and delight became the highlight of my work. Bringing joy through design, with a touch of my British humour, became my signature.
My creations began to get noticed, and I was invited to design for cross-stitch magazines, which increased both my income and my reach. I continued this work for several years, until the rise of digital designs transformed the printed magazine industry forever.
Meanwhile, I began exploring colour in new ways. At the time, the trend was stitching on white or natural fabrics. Few people used colourful fabrics. Then a friend asked me for a bright pink piece of linen, she was, and still is, very “pink.” I bought some pink dye and created a custom piece for her. She loved it, and I loved creating it.That one piece sparked a new desire: a rainbow of colourful fabrics. It opened the door to experimenting with hand-dyeing and set me on a path to creating even more vibrant threads and materials for my designs.
Sometimes, a single custom order is all it takes to inspire a whole new creative direction. And for me, that’s exactly how my colourful journey truly began.
Happy Stitching!
