Back in 2007 my work as a Bridal dressmaker came to an end and I took this opportunity to learn to digitise. I had been using embroidery in my bridal work but I confess that I was not happy with the designs that were available. Being passionate about beautiful embroidery I was disappointed with the choice available. Although I had purchased some excellent sets they were limited to a few designs which did not always fit exactly on a bridal gown, bodice, corset or veil as I wanted them to. This was the time to develop my skills as a digitiser and create the designs which I had wanted to purchase in the past. My first attempts were not good but I keep them as a reminder of how much I have learnt since then. That learning process continues as I develop new collections and learn new digitising programmes. After a year or so I felt confident to launch my website Graceful Embroidery and my Embroidery group. It was amazing to meet so many machine embroiderers from all over the world and I am grateful for their friendship and support since then.
I made the decision to create mostly heirloom and bridal designs, as well as Celtic embroidery as I had done quite a few Celtic weddings and saw the need for more designs. The intricaties of this type of embroidery fascinates me, and so I set to learn all I could about Celtic work as well. One of my first collections was called Celtic Dreams and I subsquently developed Celtic designs with flowers which have been very popular!
The challenge to produce versatile designs continues and as Embroidery machines become capable of even more there is much for me to aspire to. I must confess that I have a life time of ideas in my head of future collections and enjoy every moment of creating them from selecting or creating the artwork to lauching the new designs. My plans are to develop lace designs but not necessarily free standing as well as larger designs that will fit the new mega hoops. During 2011 I started creating tutorials on Outline alignment stitches (OAS) which help with the placement of my designs and all my recent designs come with and without OAS.
Everybody is blogging now it would seem but I love the medium which allows me to share what I am embroidering in my studio with photos and videos so easily just on my iPhone! I hope your visits with me will inspire you to create something different on your machine and to attempt more complicated designs. Remember the most breathtakingly beautiful embroidery takes time and effort!
Happy Embroidering!
