Meet the maker: The Cornish Coaster Company

Living in Cornwall, Emma at The Cornish Coaster Company has an endless supply of inspiration on her doorstep. The influence of its beautiful beaches, quaint fishing villages, curious seagulls and seaside colours can all be found on her fabric coasters. But there is more to her making than cute and quirky designs. For Emma, craft has been a saviour: a therapeutic release from severe anxiety and post-natal depression. She talks to printmaker and fellow Folksy seller John Bloor about her designs and what craft means to her…

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Seagull Coasters by The Cornish Coaster Company – available to buy here

Free motion appliqué allows me to draw freehand with the needle and thread of my sewing machine, making each coaster truly unique.

Hi Emma! Can you tell us a bit about the making of a coaster? Does free motion sewing allow you to get creative with each piece?
For me free motion appliqué is a way of life. It allows me to draw freehand with the needle and thread of my sewing machine, making each coaster truly unique. And if I make a mistake I can just incorporate it into the quirkiness of the design.

Apple Coasters by The Cornish Coaster Company – available to buy here

Making a single coaster can be quite a lengthy process, so I tend to make batches of each step, but here a condensed guide:
Step 1. Pre-wash & dry fabrics
Step 2. Apply interfacing & Bondaweb to all fabrics.
Step 3. Mark out & cut fabrics
Step 4. Iron the appliqué pieces on to the main fabric.
Step 5. Stitch fabrics into place and add all the details.
Step 6. Sew on the back of the coaster, trim fabrics to size, turn through and press with a hot iron.
Step 7. Top stitch the edges of the coaster, give it a final press with the iron and then you have a finished coaster!

Sausage Dog Coaster by The Cornish Coaster Company – available to buy here

Making a single coaster can be quite a lengthy process so I tend to make batches of each step

You live and work in one of my most favourite places, Cornwall. Would you say you are inspired by your location?
Living in Cornwall is amazing. I have an endless supply of inspiration on my doorstep. From the beautiful beaches and harbours to the quaint fishing villages with their narrow streets and old buildings. For me though, I love finding the small and quirky family-run tea rooms – I could sit there all day thinking up new ideas and drinking endless cups of tea!

Every few weeks I go through my notebook, crossing out the silly ideas and highlighting the ones that make me think, ‘Wow, that’ll work’.

You seem to have got hand-embroidered coasters down to a fine art! Have you thought about extending your range into other homewares?
Yes, I have plans to extend the business. I do want to keep all of my products drink and kitchen related though. I have a head full of ideas but very little free time to them a reality.

Beach Huts Place Mat by The Cornish Coaster Company – available to buy here

I’d like to have some of my original textile art designs printed on melamine coasters and place mats.

Where would you like to take your designs next? Do you have anything you’d like to try?
One thing I have wanted to do for a while now is have some of my original textile art designs printed on melamine coasters and place mats – these are more intricate designs of harbour scenes and local moorland.

Father’s Day ‘Dad’ Coaster by The Cornish Coaster Company – available to buy here

I love finding the small and quirky family-run tea rooms – I could sit there all day thinking up new ideas and drinking endless cups of tea!

Why do you craft? What does it mean to you?
My craft journey began back in 2006 after the birth of my fourth child. I was diagnosed with post-natal depression and severe anxiety. I struggled with life for years before I was introduced to crafting. For me, crafting became a therapeutic release and I believe it saved me! Skip forward a few years and my son needed a Christmas jumper making for a school competition, so I thought, “I can do that!” I borrowed a sewing machine, taught myself to sew and my son won first place for his jumper!

My craft journey began back in 2006 when I diagnosed with post-natal depression and severe anxiety. I struggled with life for years before I was introduced to crafting. For me, crafting became a therapeutic release and I believe it saved me!

How do you develop your new designs? Can you tell us a bit about your process?
As with all new designs they start in my head. I always have a notebook to hand so I can jot down initial thoughts and new designs. Every few weeks I go through said notebook, crossing out the ‘silly ideas’ and highlighting the ones that make me think, “Wow, that’ll work”. I then explore those further and have a play around with designs.

Fishing Boat Coaster by The Cornish Coaster Company – available to buy here

Making my fishing boat coaster evokes happy memories and always puts a smile on my face.

What are your favourite things to make and why?
My favourite coasters to make are the fishing boats. Making them evokes happy memories and always puts a smile on my face.

We are currently having a room switch around to cater for my growing business – and fabric stash!

Could you tell us a bit about your day and your space where you create?
My workspace is a small corner of our home. We are currently having a room switch around to cater for my growing business (and fabric stash)! Once finished, I’m hoping it will be a calm relaxing environment for me to work in. As for my days, they can vary depending on orders and deadlines. This month has been chaos with several stockists placing top-up orders, so I have had to contend with 12 hours a day of sewing plus the demands of motherhood. It’s all worth it in the end though!

Whippet Coaster by The Cornish Coaster Company – available to buy here

One thing that is very close to my heart though is craft therapy for mental health. I’m a keen advocate for talking about and supporting mental health awareness.

Is there something you dream of doing with your work? Or with your life?
Now, I could talk about my dreams and ambitions for hours on end! One thing that is very close to my heart though is craft therapy for mental health. I’m a keen advocate for talking about and supporting mental health awareness. Ultimately I would like to run craft classes to help connect and support people suffering from depression and anxiety. The aim would be to provide craft therapy in a safe supportive environment. At the moment it’s just a pipe dream but one day I will make it happen.