Botanical embroiderer Fleur Woods on living a ‘fake’ country life

Up to date textile artist Fleur Woods describes herself as “faux-rural”, however admits that being surrounded by nature evokes her vibrant botanical works.

She lives in Higher Moutere, Tasman together with her husband and two daughters.

FLEUR: We’re in a little bit cottage in rural Higher Moutere. That‘s me, my husband Cam, and our daughters: Lily, who’s 13 and Saffron, who’s 10.

We’re renting from some household mates – a beautiful previous home on their sheep, beef and hops farm. It was our pal’s grandmother’s place. They settled right here in 1948.

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We’re the primary non-Hyatts to dwell there, and it seems like a little bit of a privilege. It’s obtained beautiful previous gardens and the agricultural setting is one thing we love, however my favorite factor about it’s that the grandmother Helen was an embroidery fan as nicely.

She helped set up the Nelson Embroidery Guild. I prefer to suppose she’s comfortable that I sit and sew within the solar on the porch the place she used to sit down and sew.

I’m an newbie gardener. I simply love having lower flowers in my life, so I take pleasure in any house the place there’s a little bit of grime. Right here, there are wonderful magnolias and previous rhododendrons which is simply magic, as a result of I can borrow from what’s there.

I’ve a studio in the home simply off the kitchen, however I principally work from the kitchen desk.

I like working from house. I used to have exterior studios, however in our first lock down I simply introduced every thing house. As a mum, it makes the transition between parenting and work faster.

As a result of my course of is time-consuming, I don’t have set working hours. I used to be all the time ferrying one thing from the studio to house. I like having the ability to dip out and in as fits.

Most of my work is both created with a number of collaged textiles. Some is perhaps classic and retro designs, after which I sew again into them. Generally I hand paint the linens first.

I take a sure variety of commissions annually, however I principally attempt to create collections of labor. Most of my presence is online and I work with a small variety of galleries. As a result of my work takes so lengthy to make, I don’t usually have samples on present.

My beautiful pal Jo has the Previous Put up Workplace Retailer right here and I generally have items there. However I principally simply go there for espresso after college drop-off or after a canine stroll.

We’ve simply obtained such a cool little neighborhood out right here in Higher Moutere. The geographic space is definitely fairly massive, however there are solely 150 youngsters on the college.

It’s filled with artisans and other people making stuff – lots of kindred spirits.

I by no means work on one piece at one time. I’m usually engaged on three items plus.

As a result of it’s bodily so near you, it’s exhausting to get perspective. I work on one thing for an hour after which put it apart. It’s completed when it’s completed – generally that’s per week, and generally it’s two months.

Once I really feel prefer it’s completed, I’ve to divorce myself from it a little bit bit, let it go. I’m fairly comfortable at hand it on to the framers. The method is what brings me pleasure.

I personal hardly any of my very own work. Fortunately, my mum owns loads.

George the lab is my midlife disaster child. I turned 40 and realised I didn’t need any extra actual infants. My day died two years in the past, and he’d had a ravishing previous black lab who additionally died quickly after.

After I got here by way of that time period, I made a decision I wished a lab in my life.

He’s my sidekick. When the women are naughty, I remind them that he’s my favorite.

I educate workshops, usually round New Zealand and Australia, though Covid put a cease to that. I used to work in Australia loads – a few areas in Melbourne and one other spot in Sydney.

I’m hoping to be again there for the Fibre Arts Australia event I’ve been invited to show at in April in Ballarat, Victoria.

I’ve obtained some workshops at Auckland Artwork Gallery arising on the finish of November, however I don’t like my probabilities.

We moved to the Nelson area from Wellington in 2008. I like Wellington, however I don’t know what it will be prefer to dwell there with youngsters. We moved right here to start out a household.

I wasn’t positive if I wished to dwell so rurally, however my husband comes from a household of farmers, and he was eager.

I’m positively faux-rural. I am not the person who anybody calls to assist transfer sheep. They know me higher than that.