Wild Adornment: Textile Tales of the Animal Kingdom

My project reimagines animals through a playful lens, celebrating the connection between decorative design and the natural world. Drawing inspiration from the colour, patterns and textures of interiors and ceramics at Holmwood House and The Jackfield Tile Museum, I’ve developed a visual archive of motifs, which I have used to compose my unique animals, from research in Natural History exhibits at The National Museum of Scotland and Kelvingrove Art Gallery.

These influences are explored through characterful drawings that I’ve translated into embroidered textiles using techniques such as hand embroidery, applique, digital and Irish Machine embroidery. I have developed patterns which echo the details found in my drawings. The animals are then created through a layering of embroidery and making processes.

Each piece is a thoughtfully rendered composition, characterized by bold patterns and a curated collection of colours, designed for maximalist interiors, such as boutique hotels and restaurants. Emphasizing slow design principles and responsible material choices, my collection offers longevity.

Octopus

Orange Duchess satin, digital embroidery, machine embroidery, hand embroidery, Irish machine, trapunto quilting.
Visualisation.
Digital embroidery, tabletop tufter, machine embroidery, eyelets and patchworking.

Pair of parrots

Digital embroidery, machine embroidery, hand embroidery, Irish machine, applique, trapunto quilting.

Flamingo

Digital embroidery, free machine, applique, hand embroidery, feathers, Irish machine.
Visualisation.
Visualisation.
Digital embroidery, applique, machine embroidery, patchwork.

Blue parrot

Digital embroidery, applique, Irish machine, hand embroidery, machine embroidery.
Applique, digital machine, free machine, patchwork.

Tall bird

Digital embroidery, applique, Irish machine, tabletop tufter, hand embroidery, free machine.
Digital machine, applique, machine embroidery, patchwork.
Digital embroidery, applique, patchwork.
Digital embroidery, applique, patchwork.
Digital embroidery, tabletop tufter, applique, hand embroidery, patchwork.
Digital embroidery, applique, free machine, patchwork.

Lion

Digital embroidery, Irish machine, hand embroidery, trapunto quilting.

Blue seagull

Digital embroidery, applique, hand embroidery, free machine.

Brown Feathery Bird

Digital machine, applique, free machine, hand embroidery, trapunto quilting.

'In the Jungle'

Visualisation.

Textile Flamingo Sculpture

Laser cut MDF, digital embroidery, hand embroidery, free machine, bemis.
Visualisation.
Visualisation.
Visualisation.
Visualisation.

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Laser cut MDF, digital embroidery, Irish machine, hand embroidery, tabletop tufter, free machine.