8 | LUXlife Magazine rior to launching Neate Crafts, Susan Neate worked as a designer at an Elizabethan manor house and artist-in-residence at a Cumbrian castle. Susan’s training is in Fine Art, but her love of crafting allows her to bring an artistic flair to every technique she employs. Susan Neate is an expert in several painting styles: watercolour, acrylic, pastel, and pencil. Her specialisms include scrumbling (freeform crochet), pyrography (a traditional folk art of wood burning), and verre eglomise (an ancient craft of etching gold leaf to glass). Neate Crafts currently offers a unique, faux gold-leaf pendant worked in verre eglomise. Any subject can be meticulously gilded onto the reserve side of glass to create a soft mirrored effect. The polished glass dome is then set into an antique, copper style mount. Teaching herself to knit has resulted in some of Susan’s favourite commissions, including two intricately crafted 3D monkey and sheep hats. The pieces feature a handsome, cheeky monkey wrapping its tail around a hand-knitted hat and ‘Shap the sheep’, a pull-on hat with striking face and tiny legs. The design can be created in various animal and colour combinations. Neate Crafts also offers a collection of jewellery in varied styles, from wooden beads to semi-precious stones, textured sea glass, and fossils. Its colourful range of fabric creations includes throws, pillows and hand sewn padded coat hangers. Susan’s favourite pattern to incorporate into her designs is Laura Ashley vintage fabric. Neate Crafts regularly experiments with mediums and designs, enjoying the challenge of mastering new techniques. Living in a Cumbrian village, near the scenic fells and sea, allows Susan to draw inspiration from the world around her. Through its organic processes and nature inspired art, Neate Crafts aims for its customers to rejoice in their shared appreciation of nature. Each charming piece is unique and designed to order. Neate Crafts provides a specialist service that encourages customers to involve themselves in the design process and seeks to fulfil its clients’ wishes for a perfect gift experience. Speaking on what a perfect gift means to her, Founder Susan Neate says, “It reflects the love or message customers want to convey from the buyer to the recipient. One that will last years, become an heirloom, and remind the owner of memories.” Neate Crafts will soon be unveiling a new Coastal collection that will include personalised napkin rings, egg cups, vibrant throws, bags, distinctive jewellery, and stunning paintings. The business is never short on inspiration and is constantly expanding to the delight of its growing Best Artisan Personalised Gifts 2023 - the Lake District Neate Crafts is a creator of bespoke, hand-made gifts and crafts inspired by the beauty of the Lake District in Cumbria. With an exemplary range of original artwork, hand-knitted treasures, unique jewellery, and fabric creations, Neate Crafts’ heartfelt designs are ideal for any special occasion. clientele. Spreading joy and inspiration with its beautiful, hand-made gifts and crafts, Neate Crafts continues to live up to its name as Best Artisan Personalised Gifts. Contact: Susan Neate Company: Neate Crafts Web Address: www.neatecrafts.co.uk P Verre eglomise work pyrography and some painted and pyrography creations
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