One of the nicer things about where I live is that there are quite a lot of creative folk who also live hereabouts.

I’ve met and got friendly with quite a few of them from attending fairs and events, and I have to say, it really does make a slow day go faster when you have nice folks to chat with.

Ever since the start of this year I’ve been meaning to start a little occasional bloggy series featuring local Nottingham makers.

Well finally, after meandering around the idea for months but being just a bit too rubbish to do much about it, I hereby present my first featured maker in the Nottingham Creatives series – Anna Treliving.

I noticed Anna’s lovely textile makes at fairs before I started selling myself, probably because we share a mutual interest in floral vintage fabrics.

Anna’s style is different from mine however, and unlike me she is a master (mistress?) of free machine embroidery, the technique of dropping the feed-dog teeth and “drawing on fabric” with your sewing machine.

Although I pride myself that I’ll have a go at anything, this particular skill has always eluded me, despite actually having undertaken a class in it. Some things are just not meant to be.

Probably just as well, since Anna makes framed pictures, commissions, beautiful handmade toys and a range of decorative items and framed pictures using the free machine technique – and I would certainly not wish to compete.

I asked Anna how she got into making.

She told me that it all started one sunny bank holiday afternoon, after making cushions for the lounge.

The discovery that faffing with fabric was fun led to a quest for local sewing courses and a spot of dressmaking and pattern cutting, before eventually finding her calling with textile decoration.

Anna’s newest product is her greetings cards.

These distinctive (and very cute!) stitched cards and other designs can be found for sale in A Room Full of Butterflies, The Textile Emporium, Locally Produced For You and Hopkinson (all in Nottingham).

And if – heaven forfend! – you are not local, you can still indulge yourself online in Anna’s Folksy shop.

Why not check her out – and give her a like / follow – on Facebook or Instagram too. ♥