For more information on Country Living Events for 2024, please contact Ellie Craig, Artisan Growth Manager at [email protected]
Charlotte Macey
If you’re in need of the perfect homewares to brighten up your space this Spring then look no further than the fabulous Charlotte Macey. We recently caught up with Charlotte, who has been running her business since 2010, to find out a bit more about what inspires her designs and how she has found running a small business since completing her degree in Textile Design.
Tell us a little bit about your work…
I have been hand making embroidered and printed homeware since 2010, making pieces that showcase my unique style of illustrative embroidery and love for pattern. I’m based in the Cotswold countryside where I grew up and my embroidered illustrations and fabric designs are inspired by the beauty of my home, capturing swathes of cow parsley swaying in the breeze and wildflowers poking up through grassy fields.
How did it all start?
I began with a background in embroidery and degree in Textile Design, then working for a textile magazine in London, but living in a big city quickly made me realise how much I missed the countryside and so I moved home and worked in a chocolate shop and cafe. It was during these chocolate and coffee-filled days that I embroidered my first tea towel, enjoying using the piece of fabric as a blank canvas to stitch on to! I also still have the very first egg cosies that I made then too.
What inspires you?
I find continual inspiration in my country surroundings and the changing seasons, if there’s a name for someone obsessed with seasons, then that would be me! I try to encapsulate these moments of nature’s beauty in my work and embroideries – bringing a little bit of nature into your home!
What is your creation process?
All of my work begins with embroidery, either stitching directly onto fabric, or developing my original embroideries into fabric prints. From the materials that I choose to the process of making, when I create it is to make beautiful products that will last.
What makes you, your brand or products unique?
I like to think that with each embroidery and piece that I make, that I’m bring nature into the home. Someone once described what I do as ‘bringing nature to life with thread’ and I think that sums it all up pretty well.
What is your next project?
At the moment I’m working on new homeware pieces and embroidered accessories for my Spring collection, launching at the beginning of March. There will be some new embroidered designs and patterns, as well as fresh Spring colours, and I can’t wait to see it all come together!
What is your biggest achievement?
I’ve worked with some really wonderful brands and companies over the last 13 years, but my favourite has to be collaborating and working on a design collection with Highgrove. It was a definite career highlight and the process of working to create a new floral design filled with honeybees was a great learning experience for me at the time.
What is your best-selling product?
My work is very floral-focused and the best selling design has always been the Blue Parsley collection. It’s a mix of flowers, cow parsley and leaves, in a range of blues and greens, and I think the soft colours and array of subtle patterns sits really well in peoples homes, hence it’s popularity.
What do you love about Country Living Fairs?
I have so many favourite things about Country Living Fairs – firstly, the people – they’re ‘my’ people, they appreciate and seek out handmade, and I always have the most wonderful conversations when I’m at shows. I also love how well my products fit with the Country Living brand, and the overall look of the shows is always beautiful.
Your three top tips for crafters and makers…
- Get out to shows to meet your customers if you can, putting a face to a name really helps people to connect with a brand.
- Create work that you love, something that you are wholeheartedly behind and you are proud of.
- And get chatting on your social media! It took me a long time to feel like it was okay to do talking stories on Instagram, but again it really helps to connect to people, and I haven’t looked back!