Studio Journal

Inspiration is all around us if we take the time to notice it. In this week's blog, I explore how learning to see like an artist has changed the way I look at the Norfolk landscape and how those everyday moments become embroidered textile art.

Every embroidered artwork I create begins with a photograph, but somewhere along the journey it becomes something entirely different. Where does photography end and textile art begin? Join me behind the scenes as I explore the decisions, edits and thousands of stitches that transform a captured moment into an original piece of embroidered art.

The current hosepipe ban has made me rethink how I use water in the studio. From tea and coffee dyeing to finding creative alternatives, sometimes the simplest changes can inspire entirely new ways of making.

People often say, "It must be lovely working for yourself." And it is… just not in the way most people imagine. Behind every workshop, handmade item and social media post are long days, late nights, hidden exhaustion and a passion that keeps sole traders going. This week I'm sharing the reality of running a creative business – the myths, the truths and why I wouldn't change it for the world.

When the temperatures soar, even our needles and fabrics seem to feel the heat. From chasing shady corners in the garden to retreating to the cool of the studio, here's how to keep your creativity flowing during a summer heatwave.

Some days, staying positive feels easy. The studio is busy, the phone rings, workshop bookings arrive, customers pop in for a chat and perhaps leave with a bag full of fabric. Those are the days that remind us why we...

Creativity rarely happens in giant leaps. More often, it grows through small steps forward – a stitch sewn, a new skill learned, a project restarted or an idea shared over a cup of tea. This week's blog explores the power of creative communities, learning through experimentation and why every small step on your creative journey deserves to be celebrated.

There is something quite special that happens when creative people gather together. Ideas flow, inspiration grows, and projects take on a life of their own as makers share knowledge, solve problems, and encourage one another. Beyond the creativity itself, these moments offer something equally valuable – the chance to become completely absorbed in the process of making, leaving everyday worries behind for a while. In a world that often feels busy and demanding, a few hours spent creating can be both inspiring and restorative.

Has the recent warm weather changed your creative routine? Explore how the seasons affect creativity and why inspiration often appears when we least expect it.

Sometimes the best way to unblock creativity is to step away from the studio. A reflection on how taking a day off, gardening and reconnecting with nature can refresh inspiration for textile art and creative practice.

Creative work can leave us vulnerable to self-doubt, criticism, and setbacks,  but creativity also teaches us how to rebuild. A reflective piece on resilience, confidence, and piecing things back together through stitch and making.

Slow stitching is more than embroidery or hand sewing — it is about slowing down, becoming present in the moment and rediscovering the quiet joy of making with fabric and thread. In our latest blog, we explore why this mindful approach to textiles is becoming increasingly popular and how tutors such as Amanda Clayton use stitch, fabric and texture to create beautifully thoughtful work.

Learn how mending and altering clothes supports sustainable fashion, reduces waste and refreshes your wardrobe with simple sewing skills.

There are moments when stepping away from work feels almost uncomfortable. The to-do list is still there, ideas half-formed, projects waiting. But every now and then, taking that pause—really taking it—becomes exactly what’s needed. Time with family has a way...

Eau Brink Studio marks 10 years with a busy open weekend in West Norfolk, celebrating craft workshops, creative community, and the support that’s shaped the studio’s journey so far.

The creative process isn’t always neat or predictable. In this piece, I explore the quieter side of making—the uncertainty, the layering, and the small decisions that shape a piece long before it’s finished.

A material, a piece of work, a technique… something that makes you pause and think, I’d quite like to try that.

Developing your own textile style isn’t about following rules,  it’s about giving yourself space to explore, experiment, and create work that truly feels like yours.

Join me at the very first Farmers Market at Norfolk Lavender this Saturday. A relaxed morning of textiles, creativity, and local stalls in a beautiful setting.

Discover how working with a limited colour palette can transform your textile art. Using black, white and cream fabrics, explore how stitch and texture take centre stage.

A reflection on four inspiring days at the Creative Craft Show NEC and why Eau Brink Studio is embracing change, focusing on workshops, textile art, and new creative opportunities.