Welcome to Anne Crafts & Designs

Welcome to Anne Crafts & Designs

As you might have guessed, my name is Anne, and I am the founder of Anne Crafts & Designs. Although I grew up in France, I have lived in the UK for the past 15 years, which has significantly influenced my artistic taste and all the arts & crafts I've tried over the years (more about that later).

Anne Crafts & Designs was established this year, from my lifelong passion for handmade creations. I have been making from the various corners of our home, from the kitchen table to the bathroom, with our bed often serving as the only space large enough to spread out pieces of fabric.

This year, as I approach the dreaded 40s, I made the decision to transform my long-held dream of running an Art & Crafts business into reality, and so, here I am!

Over the years, I've explored numerous mediums, and a diverse range of these explorations will find its way on the website and shop. My goal is to share not only the processes and successes but also the failures, as they have been instrumental in my learning. I am keen to contribute to the growth of the crafting community. In the future there will be workshops, I don't know where, how and when just yet... but I know it. I love teaching and sharing my enthusiasm for crafting.

Photography

I received my first camera at the age of 15 from my father, although I had already been experimenting with his 1960s black and white film cameras for several years. My passion for photography has not faded; I always carry a camera in my bag. During my university years, I acquired an enlarger from a closing university darkroom, transforming our bathroom into a darkroom every weekend. The magic of watching an image appear slowly in the dark, the trial and error, the tinkering to achieve the correct exposure and duration, I loved it all. Eventually, the enlarger disappeared to make room for more important pieces of furniture. I continue to practice black and white photography, developing my films and digitizing the images for later use.

Sewing

Eleven years ago, the Great British Sewing Bee debuted on BBC1, starting my passion for sewing. Clearly influenced by the Brits here... A few weeks in, I knew I had to give it a try. With my first proper paycheck, I purchased a basic sewing machine, fabric, thread, and the first book of the Great British Sewing Bee to embark on this journey. I've spent countless hours correcting mistakes, yet wearing my own creation at my best friend's wedding was a moment of immense pride. Over the years, I've crafted numerous dresses for work, home accessories, and giant bunnies for friends' new babies. With a mix of anxiety, and encouraged by my partner, I made my wedding dress eight years ago, determined to avoid a 'homemade' look. I aimed for a professional, polished appearance. I never understood why some cling to their wedding dresses, storing them away indefinitely until then —now, I'm one of them. That dress is mine alone to cherish.

Linocut & printing

During COVID, who didn't pick up a new hobby? While many turned to bread making, I received an art box with all the necessary tools for linocut and printing. Ever since, I've been passionate about it, and much of my craftwork now involves linocut. I enjoy the combination of drawing, the intricate carving, and the printing process. It's similar to the uncertainty of black and white photography printing, where the outcome is uncertain until the end. The potential of merging linoprint with fabric is huge, which I'm currently exploring by creating small lavender bags and zipped pouches. I have many more ideas, including printing on bags, scarves, and kitchen towels, but these will develop gradually. Over the next few months, I'll share the process, including the successes and the setbacks.

Digital Illustration

You might wonder what else is on my mind. I could be slightly hyperactive. Should I rationalize and concentrate on just a few things? Probably, but I'm enjoying everything so much that it's hard to choose. I also have a "serious" full-time job as a project manager, which involves regular travel, so I began doodling on my tablet at the airport. Travel mishaps are common for me, with delayed flights or broken-down trains being the norm, but now I'm prepared and I create drawings based on photos I've taken of the places I've visited. Most of my illustrations feature an architectural theme, inspired by the cities I travel to for work... It's hard to linoprint on the plane...

You'll likely be able to tell when I've been traveling for work as I upload new designs to the website.

What's coming?

Expect updates in the shop as I #add all the illustrations, linoprints and B&W photography. But for now, see you soon and have fun going through the website and the shop. Buy Now and Subscribe or follow me on Instagram & Pinterest for latest news..