Peach Plot
Meet Peach Plot, a whimsical creative business inspired by nature, fairy tales, and folklore. Founded in 2013 with her mum, the maker designs hand-painted laser cut jewellery, cards, and decorations that bring a touch of joy and magic to everyday life.
Tell us a bit about your background and why you started your creative business.
Peach Plot began in 2013 as a creative adventure with my mum, Beverley. We had both shared a love of creating, Mum went back to Uni as a mature student to study Surface Pattern Design, and I went after my A Levels to study the same! We started out creating a mixture of things inspired by nature and storytelling.
She sadly passed away in 2016, and while I took a break from Peach Plot, I still kept creating in her memory. I picked it back up in earnest again at the start of 2020, and now every piece carries a little bit of both of us.
What do you make and how would you describe your style?
I create laser-cut jewellery, cards, and decorations inspired by nature, fairy tales, and folklore. I think my style would be described as unique and fun, hopefully bringing a little joy to the everyday!
What inspires your work?
I have always loved to read, and in particular, fairy tales, folklore, and fantasy have always been at the top of my to-be-read pile. I also love working with paper. Earlier in my making journey, I dabbled with making books.
I have lived rurally for most of my life, so it is no surprise that themes of nature run heavily through my work. Forests are a common setting for fairy tales and folklore, so it all fits together nicely. Although I do like to bring in inspiration from all over too!
Tell us about your creative process
My work usually starts off as sketches, occasionally paintings, that I then transfer to the computer to refine into either a print or a laser cut design. Turning a sketch into a laser cut ready image can sometimes be quite a challenge, working out how much of the image to add or take away, but the laser cutter can get to a beautiful level of detail. Once pieces are cut, I then hand-paint them. The most intricate pieces can take quite a while to paint as you have to be so accurate!
What’s your workspace or studio like?
In October, I moved into a new workshop space, including a little shop front! This was a huge step for me, and it has been such an exciting adventure to have a physical space that people can come in to see my work in person. I’ve worked really hard to make the shop look lovely and welcoming, even if the workshop behind it is a little more chaotic!
What’s your favourite thing to make – and why?
My favourite thing to make is probably the decorations, the single hanging decorations, and the bunting. I love making jewellery too, but seeing my designs in that slightly bigger format is so lovely!
What’s something people might not know about your craft or the skills involved?
That I hand-paint all my items! Even though I list it in the names, I think people are always surprised that I do all the painting myself. I love the individual quality it adds to every piece; no one item is exactly the same, so everything you buy is uniquely yours.
What does creativity mean to you?
It means the freedom to express yourself in a way that is personal to you. Everybody’s creativity looks different, and I think that is wonderful!
What does Christmas look like for you?
I worked in a corporate online retail job for about 10 years before taking Peach Plot on full-time in 2024, so it used to mean high stress for most of October to December! Now being self-employed and my son having just turned 2, I think I am excited to bring a little bit more joy back to the festive period. I am sure it will be a high-stress time, but with a son who is now aware of what Christmas is (almost), we can decorate the tree with the Christmas songs on, all together and have fun!
Do you have any festive products you’d like us to highlight?
Which three Folksy things are you buying for, or Folksy shops are you buying from, this Christmas – or would love to receive?
Even though I make jewellery, I still love to buy it too. These earrings by Helen Burgess Jewellery are simple but stunning. These hanging decorations by Iwona Koziel Glass look fantastic, I would love one of these for Christmas! My son loves his cuddly toys, and Born Again Bears has a wonderful selection of handmade bears and animals!
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone thinking about starting a creative business?
Don’t try to make too many different things at once! I love to try so many different things, and sometimes I need to remind myself to focus on just a couple of products at a time. I think we all just have so many ideas, we can’t wait to get them all started!
What is a quote you live by?
“What an unbelievable fairy tale the world is” – The Solitaire Mystery, Jostien Gaarder
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