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At Eau Brink Studio, we’ve noticed a steady drop in workshop bookings during school holidays as families juggle childcare and changing term dates across the UK. Anita Rayfield shares her thoughts on adapting to this trend — including offering group bookings only during holiday periods — and invites readers to share their feedback on shaping future creative sessions.

When my mobile phone went in for repair, I didn’t expect to feel such unease. Backing up files, pressing “factory reset,” and hoping everything returns safely made me realise how much we rely on our phones — especially as small business owners and creatives. In this personal reflection from Eau Brink Studio, I explore our connection with technology and the balance between digital tools and handmade creativity.

The studio’s a whirl of thread, fabric and sparkle again — which can only mean one thing… the Creative Craft Show at the NEC is nearly here! ✨

An unfinished coastal embroidery — where the sea and mountains mysteriously vanished mid-stitch. A reminder that even mistakes have their own kind of beauty.

The trees are finally down around the pond at Eau Brink Studio, making way for fresh inspiration. After a fabulous 3 days at the Creative Craft Show in Exeter, we’re now preparing for the NEC in Birmingham this October. In between, join us for Social Day, Experimental Thursday, Chinese Brush Painting, and workshops with Angie Hill and Ruth Holmes.

Celebrate autumn with Eau Brink Studio as Anita prepares for the Creative Craft Show Exeter (25th–27th September). From glowing seasonal colours to the Luminescent Bauble Workshop, discover how fabric, threads, and sparkle capture the magic of autumn. Read the full story and join Anita in Exeter for inspiration, kits, and creativity.

Blustery weather hasn’t slowed things down at Eau Brink Studio! We’re busy planning new workshops for 2026 and updating the website with exciting creative opportunities. Plus, a heartfelt thank you for the wedding wishes we’ve received—it made our small celebration truly special.

We’ve just updated our website with Ruth Holmes’ brand-new workshops for 2026! From vibrant stitched fish to creative bookmaking and textile adventures, there’s something for every maker. Explore the full line-up today and book your place to start the new year inspired and stitching with us.

Anita shares her Farnborough highlights, a successful Lutradur workshop, and life’s big news – becoming Mrs Rayfield before Exeter Creative Craft Show.

✨ I’m getting  all packed and ready for The Creative Craft Show at Farnborough! You’ll find me on Stand K03 with creative kits, hand-dyed threads, embroidered denim bags (including my colourful fox design), Halloween bunting, and more.

I’ll also be teaching how to make a decorative bauble – not just for Christmas, but a year-round handmade decoration.

Come along, say hello, and discover something new at Eau Brink Studio’s stand – I can’t wait to see you there!

Catch up on all the latest at Eau Brink Studio! From Sew & Go kits and creative workshops to natural dyeing, exhibitions, and shows in Farnborough & Exeter – discover what’s coming up next.”

Working in summer heat can challenge creativity, but with short bursts of focus, plenty of hydration, and mindful breaks, I keep my textile work flowing — windows open, birds singing, and watermelon close by.

A blank canvas, over 130 colour changes, and a wild patch of my garden as inspiration—this new machine embroidery piece is a celebration of texture, colour, and patience. From digitising multiple photos to layering countless shades of green, I’m bringing my garden to life one stitch at a time. Join me behind the scenes of this slow, beautiful creative process.

Discover how I transformed three moody photographs from the Faroe Islands into a layered textile artwork using organza, cotton, free motion embroidery, and beading. Then, follow the journey as I digitised the finished piece—vectorising the image, converting it into a JEF file, and stitching it out with my embroidery machine through 199 thread changes. From handmade to machine-stitched, this creative process blends traditional textile art with modern embroidery technology for a truly unique result.

What began as three quiet photographs taken on a grey day by the Faroese sea turned into something far more layered—literally. Using cottons and organza, I recreated the moody landscape with free motion embroidery and beadwork to add depth and light. But I didn’t stop at the hand-stitched version. I photographed the final piece, turned it into a vector, and created a JEF file to stitch it out on my embroidery machine. The process is a blend of the old and the new—slow hands and digital tools—resulting in two versions of the same story, each beautiful in its own way.

Taking time to pause this summer? In this blog, I reflect on slowing down, reconnecting with my own textile practice, and preparing for the upcoming Dropped Stitch Artists exhibition at The Marriotts Warehouse Trust this August.

Discover how adding beads to textile art can elevate your work with extra depth, dimension, and texture. In this blog, I share how beading transforms my shoreline-inspired piece, bringing light, contrast, and life to the fabric landscape.

Discover the benefits of taking up a new hobby and why sewing is a powerful, creative outlet for wellbeing, mindfulness, and lifelong learning. Whether you're looking to reduce stress, spark creativity, or simply try something new, this post explores the value of hands-on hobbies in today's fast-paced world.

Discover how textile artists translated jazz into stitch at our Experimental Thursday workshop. Inspired by Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, this session explored sound through colour, texture, and thread.

After a creative journey through Iceland and the Faroe Islands, a textile artist returns home and reflects on settling back into daily life. From dog walks to studio time, this post explores how inspiration gathered on the road is transformed into textile art, workshops, and new ideas.

Reflect on a creative journey through Iceland and the Faroe Islands as a textile artist returns home. Explore how misty landscapes, textures, and atmosphere have shaped new ideas for stitched artwork, workshops, and wearable design.