About
Hello, my name’s Helen and I’m the designer behind the Bustle & Sew bunny!
I love hand embroidery and have been stitching for as long as I can remember. Both my mum and grandma were very talented embroiderers and I learned literally at my mother’s knee. Hand embroidery is great because it’s so easy to try for yourself – you don’t need any expensive tools and equipment, just a needle and thread, and possibly a hoop. It’s an easy hobby to take around with you too as it’s so portable, it’s so simple to just stuff your project into a bag and take it along when you’re on the move. I love that embroidery looks so pretty and yet is so hard wearing and practical. I’m still using household linens embroidered by my grandma before I was born! So when I’m working on a design I always try to think of how the finished project can be incorporated into a useful item – whether that’s a bag, cushion, quilt – or anything at all really. I like my work to be used and handled every day, to have a life of its own, and I don’t mind if it should become a little worn or tatty as that’s a good excuse to stitch some more!
I haven’t always been able to spend all my time designing and stitching though as I worked full-time in an office for 30 years, during which time I raised my daughter. All of this left very little time for sewing, just a few moments snatched from a busy schedule either late at night or weekends. Now, through Bustle & Sew, and the internet, I am able to spend all my time doing something I really love. So I guess you could say that 30 years’ worth of ideas are bursting out of me now! Also, I am the sort of person who can’t bear to sit and do nothing – I always have to have something to do with my hands. When my daughter Rosie was little, I used to knit and sew for her – I think her most demanding request was for a cardigan – featuring sparkly buttons and dancing mice! (I managed in the end). I still find myself sewing for her (and now my new little grandson) even now she’s all grown up!
I love hand embroidery and have been stitching for as long as I can remember. Both my mum and grandma were very talented embroiderers and I learned literally at my mother’s knee. Hand embroidery is great because it’s so easy to try for yourself – you don’t need any expensive tools and equipment, just a needle and thread, and possibly a hoop. It’s an easy hobby to take around with you too as it’s so portable, it’s so simple to just stuff your project into a bag and take it along when you’re on the move. I love that embroidery looks so pretty and yet is so hard wearing and practical. I’m still using household linens embroidered by my grandma before I was born! So when I’m working on a design I always try to think of how the finished project can be incorporated into a useful item – whether that’s a bag, cushion, quilt – or anything at all really. I like my work to be used and handled every day, to have a life of its own, and I don’t mind if it should become a little worn or tatty as that’s a good excuse to stitch some more!
I haven’t always been able to spend all my time designing and stitching though as I worked full-time in an office for 30 years, during which time I raised my daughter. All of this left very little time for sewing, just a few moments snatched from a busy schedule either late at night or weekends. Now, through Bustle & Sew, and the internet, I am able to spend all my time doing something I really love. So I guess you could say that 30 years’ worth of ideas are bursting out of me now! Also, I am the sort of person who can’t bear to sit and do nothing – I always have to have something to do with my hands. When my daughter Rosie was little, I used to knit and sew for her – I think her most demanding request was for a cardigan – featuring sparkly buttons and dancing mice! (I managed in the end). I still find myself sewing for her (and now my new little grandson) even now she’s all grown up!
