Meet Abbey from Seen and Known - stitching soft sculptures by hand in Cumbria

Meet the Maker: Abbey Wright from Seen and Known

Everything in Abbey Wright’s Folksy shop, Seen and Known, is beautiful – just one look at her shop banner and we were ready to move up to Cumbria and spend our days making in the shadow of Scafell Pike. Abbey uses velvet, wool, lace and cotton to create soft sculpture animals, usually the woodland sort, with a few yarn-mane lions to keep them on their toes. Abbey talks to fellow Folksy seller Katie Sharpe from Ello Mello Handmade about her craft, how she learned to sew, and what she would say to someone thinking about starting their own creative business…

To celebrate being our featured maker, Abbey is offering a 10% discount on all the animal sculptures in her Folksy shop with the code FEBMAKER – valid until 4th March 2019 – click here to shop https://folksy.com/shops/SeenandKnown

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I’ve always been a creator, exploring art and making things that bring joy to people.

Hi Abbey! Please can you tell us about yourself?
Hi, I’m Abbey. I live in the beautiful county of Cumbria. I create from home making soft sculpture animals. I’ve always been a creator, exploring art and making things that bring joy to people. I drink large amounts of tea and coffee, pairing them with biscuits. If I could wear slippers 24/7, I would!

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When did you learn to sew?
I started sewing around my A Levels. Before that I hadn’t really done any textiles but I found I had a flare for it and have been sewing ever since.

What inspires your beautiful makes?
Well animals, obviously. I love colours, neutral, earthy, fun tones and various textures. Seeing other artists’ creations is always inspiring and browsing through Pinterest.

Can you describe your workspace for us?
I work from my room, which can get a bit cramped trying to keep my personal belongings and business/craft separate. I always have the textile animals lying around and drawers full of various fabrics.

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I hand sew the animals, stuff them, embroider their little faces and watch them come to life.

Your product photography is fantastic. Do you have any tips you could share with other sellers to improve their photos?
I keep my product photography very simple and consistent, so everything flows together. Good natural light is key. Keep your product the focus. Less is more, in my opinion.

How did you come up with your name ‘Seen and Known’?
I wanted something simple and memorable; a name that would work for whatever craft I chose. They are two things I want for myself and I’m sure other people want too: to be seen and known. It also relates to a charity I give 5% of the cost to, International China Concern, who love and care for the abandoned and disabled.

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I put my animals up on Folksy in the hope that they find their forever homes and I’m always thrilled when they do!

Are there any other creative skills that you would like to learn?
I love hand lettering. It’s an art that I’ve dabbled in, and that’s something I would always want to learn more about and grow better at. Painting is another skill I’d like to expand on.

Can you describe your process making a piece from design to listing?
I start by drawing out all my own patterns and from there it’s pretty straight forward. I don’t do anything too crazy. I hand sew the animals, stuff them, embroider their little faces and watch them come to life. I try to keep to a certain group of animals: woodland, forest types. I want all of my animals to have their own unique character.

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I keep my product photography very simple and consistent, so everything flows together. Keep your product the focus. Less is more, in my opinion.

I’ll be honest and say pricing is hard for me but I try to find a price that recognises their value while making them affordable. I put them up on Folksy in the hope that they find their forever homes and I’m always thrilled when they do!

If you could go back in time a couple of years to give yourself some business advice, what would it be?
Be clear on your vision. Begin with a foundation of how you want your business to be. Go easy on yourself – it takes time and it’s risky in a wonderful, adventure kind of way. Make the most of the creative contacts you have. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and stop underselling yourself!

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What was your highlight of 2018 and what are you looking forward to in 2019?
Last year I flew over to The Netherlands, which was amazing. It’s a beautiful country that I found inspiring from an artist’s point of view. I got to see more sales for my business too and that’s always encouraging for me. For this year I’m looking forward to more opportunities to grow in skills and confidence as a person. And a sunny holiday!