Sewn By Susan
Susan is a maker of wonderfully colourful applique cards. Her use of free-motion sewing gives her cards a doodled hand-drawn look. Designs include tulips, tea & cake, beach huts, flowers, ice-creams and caravans etc all made with a fun eclectic range of fabrics so no two are ever exactly the same.
Website: www.sewnbysusan.world
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SewnBySusanUK
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sewn.by.susan/
Website: www.sewnbysusan.world
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SewnBySusanUK
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sewn.by.susan/
Interview With A Maker
Name/Business
Sue Julings – Sewn By Susan
Describe your art/craft?
I make fabric applique greeting cards on my sewing machine, using a darning foot attachment for free motion sewing. Whenever possible I use recycled materials.
How long have you been creating? How did you learn your craft or were you self-taught?
I’ve always loved sewing but I only started making fabric cards at the start of the pandemic, as the shops were shut and I couldn’t find something special for my mum. My first attempts weren’t brilliant, as I wasn’t aware that you could turn off the ‘feed dog’ on your sewing machine. I pleased to say that I’ve improved with practice and have made over 2500 cards in the last two years.
What are your favourite art/craft 'tools of the trade'?
I love my trusty Janome sewing machine and a sharp pair of left-handed fabric scissors. I buy some fabric and trim but most is donated from friends and family or purchased from the charity shop.
Where is your creative space?
Now that my son is settled into his own home, I have reorganised the furniture in the rest of our house and have taken over his bedroom. Its brilliant and I think the family are pleased that my fabric cotton chaos is now confined to one room.
What do you watch or listen to when you're creating?
I always listen to radio four when I’m in my sewing room.
What's your best selling product?
I’ve been selling fundraising ‘Tulips for Tracey’ cards since the start of the year, as I lost my friend to cancer. All profit from these cards is donated to The Sandra Chapman centre at The James Paget University Hospital. So far I’ve sold over 180 of them! I usually make cards in batches of around ten at a time, so I enlisted friends to help me cut out tulip petals so that I could keep up with orders.
Favourite thing you've ever created? Do you still have it, or did you sell/gift it?
I went through a phase of making pyjamas. One year all family members received a pair for Christmas made in fabric which I thought suited their personality!
Random fact about yourself?
I have terrible handwriting so free motion writing on the sewing machine can prove challenging at times.
What new craft would you love to try?
Working with clay looks appealing.
Where can customers buy your products?
I like to sell at local craft fairs but I also have a Facebook shop: sewn.by.susan
Or a website: www.sewnbysusan.world/
Give a shout-out to a fellow artist or crafter you admire!
Arthur Liberty, the creator of my favourite printed fabrics.
Name/Business
Sue Julings – Sewn By Susan
Describe your art/craft?
I make fabric applique greeting cards on my sewing machine, using a darning foot attachment for free motion sewing. Whenever possible I use recycled materials.
How long have you been creating? How did you learn your craft or were you self-taught?
I’ve always loved sewing but I only started making fabric cards at the start of the pandemic, as the shops were shut and I couldn’t find something special for my mum. My first attempts weren’t brilliant, as I wasn’t aware that you could turn off the ‘feed dog’ on your sewing machine. I pleased to say that I’ve improved with practice and have made over 2500 cards in the last two years.
What are your favourite art/craft 'tools of the trade'?
I love my trusty Janome sewing machine and a sharp pair of left-handed fabric scissors. I buy some fabric and trim but most is donated from friends and family or purchased from the charity shop.
Where is your creative space?
Now that my son is settled into his own home, I have reorganised the furniture in the rest of our house and have taken over his bedroom. Its brilliant and I think the family are pleased that my fabric cotton chaos is now confined to one room.
What do you watch or listen to when you're creating?
I always listen to radio four when I’m in my sewing room.
What's your best selling product?
I’ve been selling fundraising ‘Tulips for Tracey’ cards since the start of the year, as I lost my friend to cancer. All profit from these cards is donated to The Sandra Chapman centre at The James Paget University Hospital. So far I’ve sold over 180 of them! I usually make cards in batches of around ten at a time, so I enlisted friends to help me cut out tulip petals so that I could keep up with orders.
Favourite thing you've ever created? Do you still have it, or did you sell/gift it?
I went through a phase of making pyjamas. One year all family members received a pair for Christmas made in fabric which I thought suited their personality!
Random fact about yourself?
I have terrible handwriting so free motion writing on the sewing machine can prove challenging at times.
What new craft would you love to try?
Working with clay looks appealing.
Where can customers buy your products?
I like to sell at local craft fairs but I also have a Facebook shop: sewn.by.susan
Or a website: www.sewnbysusan.world/
Give a shout-out to a fellow artist or crafter you admire!
Arthur Liberty, the creator of my favourite printed fabrics.