Hello, and a warm welcome to my website, The Embroidered Garden. My name is Pat and I live in Dorset with my husband, Ian, and our 2 daughters, Maddy and Katie.  I’ve been sewing ever since I was little. I went to a very academic secondary school, which didn’t really encourage art, cookery or needlework.  I excelled in foreign languages, but I actually failed Art in Year 9, and my teacher said it was probably best if I chose Latin GCSE!! 

I went to Southampton University to study French, German and Dutch and then on to do a PGCE and teach in a secondary school but the whole time, I was always had little sewing projects on the go; cushions, bookmarks, coasters etc. My grandparents were from Belgium and I was particularly close to my Grandma, my “Meme”.  I spent most of my holidays with her and she used to do all the tapestry on old chairs, cushions and tablecloths.  She taught me how to sew, knit and crochet and it’s something I’ve always found very relaxing.  When our children were little, it took me a year to make a huge cross-stitch family tree.

During the Covid pandemic, I started stitching little landscapes to take my mind off what was happening in the world.  Then, when life started to slowly return to “normal”, I began selling my work at markets and fairs.  My husband’s hobby is beekeeping and as I was selling honey most weekends, I used to take some of my pictures along too and that’s how it all started.  I couldn’t believe it when someone bought the first piece and I’m always so happy when someone stops to appreciate my work!

All my pictures are hand painted, hand stitched, sometimes embellished with beads, felt, lace and whatever I can find that adds a special little touch. I have started doing some of the backgrounds with a sewing machine to save time.  I put my heart and soul into each piece and sometimes I love them so much, I don’t want to let them go!  Our daughters will soon have enough pictures to fill every room in their homes when they move out!!

All pictures come mounted and framed and are mostly in 2 sizes.  I do accept commissions, so if you see something you like on the website, but it’s sold, please feel free to contact me and I’ll do my best to replicate it.

How it all started!  One of my creations, aged 7.