From Idea to Object: The Work Behind What You Eventually See

There is a point in every making cycle where work becomes quieter but more demanding. It’s no longer about gathering inspiration or starting something new, but about making decisions — small, careful ones that shape how an object will eventually exist in the world.

That’s where the studio is right now.

The worktable holds several pieces at different stages. Some are nearly finished, others are still being questioned. Fabrics are being handled repeatedly, stitched sections unpicked and reworked, edges refined, proportions adjusted. This stage is slow, but it is essential. It’s where intention becomes tangible.

Much of what I’m working on at the moment is designed to be used rather than admired from a distance. Practical stitched pieces that need to feel right in the hand, sit comfortably in everyday spaces, and hold up to regular use. These aren’t quick makes. They require attention to balance — enough detail to be satisfying, without overwhelming their purpose.

Alongside this is another layer of work that is less visible. Testing combinations of materials, returning to earlier ideas with more experience behind them, and allowing the process itself to suggest what comes next. Some experiments succeed immediately; others quietly inform future decisions. Even the pieces that don’t make it to completion play their part.

This slower period of making also feeds directly into longer-term planning. As ideas develop on the table, they begin to shape what’s possible for the months ahead — finished work, workshop content, and larger stitched projects. The work being done now is already influencing how I’m thinking about 2026.

It’s tempting to rush through this stage, especially when there’s pressure to share or produce. But the character of the finished work depends on taking time here. The pause, the reassessment, the willingness to change direction when something isn’t quite right — all of that is stitched into the final piece.

Over the coming weeks, finished items will start to appear on the website as they are completed. Some will be made in very small numbers; others may evolve further. I’ll also begin sharing more glimpses of the longer-term work as it becomes ready to be seen.

For now, this feels like the right moment to acknowledge the work that happens before the reveal — the thinking, testing, and refining that turns an idea into something real.