I spent quite a few years living in rural France renovating an old farmhouse when my children were small enough to embrace the rural idyll of living ‘off-grid’ in the French countryside. We spent our Sundays exploring the brocantes and local charity shops where I revelled in picking up lovely vintage textiles while my children searched for rare Pokémon cards! I developed a habit of buying old French linen or ‘metis’ sheets whenever I saw them and was looking for a way to use some of the imperfect ones. When I started carving some of my wildflower sketches for block printing it seemed logical to test the blocks on the damaged sheets and that was how the block printed borders emerged. The long strips of pattern were perfect as decorative trims to apply onto curtains and cushions. (as you have so brilliantly demonstrated Natalie!)

When I started to work with the traditional weavers from my husband’s Nigerian heritage, it seemed logical to try printing the border designs onto them too and the Pink House collection of trims really started to take off. I love the rich colours and textures of printing on the hand weaving in contrast to the delicate feel of the antique linens, it gives a real breadth to the collection.