An invitation to meet our new sellers...
We’ve recently had several amazing sellers join our fab Cheerfully Given seller community so thought we’d take the time to introduce them and show off their inspiring products.
Today as we catch up with Karrie Metcalf, a Christian textile designer who recently opened Love and Joy Creative Studio, and creates bright and fun Bible verse art (and craft kits so you can make your own!)
Welcome to the family, Karrie. We can’t wait to hear a bit more about how Love and Joy Creative Studio came to be!
Have you been in textiles for long?
I have worked as a textile designer for the past twelve years, starting out as a children's clothing designer and had my own shop in Suffolk.
I opened my creative studio in September 2019 as an answer to prayer. I asked God what he wanted me to do for him and how I could spread his love and joy and from this Love & Joy Creative Studio was born.
That is stepping out in faith big time there! Has it continued to be an active part of the studio?
Absolutely! I live my faith in a real way in the everyday and God is at the very heart of my business. My textile work shares the word of God and the essence of Him.
My typography textile wall art is modern in style and I am inspired by worship songs that play out in my studio as I get creative. I pray into my stitch work too!
Epic. Next is a question I love asking: how do you find your inspiration?
I love textiles so textures and colour and I also have a passion for typography too. I love different fonts and hand cut all my lettering for my textile wall art by hand.
I then fix and hand stitch each letter with lots of tiny stitches which makes every piece I make as individual as the person it has been made for. It's a real labour of love!
You hand stitch EACH LETTER?! That’s some commitment! If each piece is a labour of love, are you able to pick a favourite or is that like asking whether you like chocolate or chocolate?!?
My absolute favourite banner that I have in my shop right now is my 'OH HAPPY DAY' banner. I have this one in my own home and it makes me smile everyday.
I have recently sold one on my Cheerfully Given shop which was purchased to be part of a happy couple’s special wedding day! This order was such a blessing to me and I Iove that my work will be part of someone’s special memories.
We love hearing stories of how people are blessed through gifts. Do you have another one?
I made a lovely banner for a daughter of one of the wonderful vicars at STN church in Norwich. I made it with a lovely Pom Pom trim at the bottom.
I love my work to form part of a child's space and hope that it inspires their personal journey with God and that it encourages them to get creative! She loved it!
Wow. That’s fantastic - and a huge part of our heart here at Cheerfully Given: to encourage and spark conversations through (good!) Christ-focused art and design. Thank you so much for sharing with us today, Karrie.
If you want to find out more about Karrie Metcalf and the cheery designs of Love and Joy Creative Studio, you can go to her Cheerfully Given shop here.
~ Becky