We loved seeing the delightful stand of long-time Top Drawer exhibitor Elena Deshmukh at this year’s show, held at Kensington Olympia from September 11 – 13.
A talented embroiderer, artist and maker, Elena brings an exquisite illustrative style to her hand-embroidered cards, which are more painterly than than crafty in look and feel.
Elena says she has a “passion for paper, colour and texture”, making “cards to inspire personal messages, bring joy and keep. Handmade by myself in limited numbers, my illustrative designs are printed and decorated by hand with free-machine embroidery. All my designs are available to order from my design book”.
Speaking of her technique, she adds: “My embroidered paintings are also worked in freemachine embroidery, whereby fabric is stretched onto anembroidery hoop and guided by hand under a sewing machine to create a painterly and textured stitch.
“I’m currently making more embroidered paintings and also as a keen printmaker I’m enjoying working on new ideas for the future.”
The paper used is by GF Smith and from sustainable sources milled in the English Lake District.