A tribute to nature's tiny wonders
- Pippa layers thread to create shading and dimension in her embroidery
- She advocates for slowness and intention in creation
- Her works are inspired by the flora and fauna around her
Before Pippa Haynes found her passion for embroidery, she was on a different creative journey as a set and window designer in London. A small nearby haberdashery sparked her curiosity for threads and needles, which quickly became her main focus. "In the gaps of busy days and on long commutes, embroidery offered me a soothing pause," Pippa says. Over time, she developed her own language through stumpwork and what she calls thread painting, her technique that combines texture and colour to capture fleeting impressions of the natural world. Today, Pippa works out of her atelier, Lemon Pepper Studio, based in a farm in South Wiltshire. She shares her passion for embroidery through workshops, commissions and a large social media community, where she encourages mindful making and creative connections.
INTERVIEW
My practice is less about perfection and more about presence. Embroidery gives me time to breathe, observe and process. Every stitch matters, not because it needs to be flawless, but because it is part of a whole. I think we all need more of that slowness and intention.
Thread painting is about layering colours slowly and precisely to shape light, shadow and form. I mainly use cotton thread in solid colours, as well as silk from time to time. The way I place and blend threads allows me to capture natural details and gives my embroidery a sculptural feel.
I never force new artwork just to keep up appearances. My creative work needs space and patience to unfold naturally, so I only post when it feels right. When I do not have new pieces, I share stories about my farm and garden life, which inspire me daily.
Nature is everything. Observing a leaf's structure, the shift of a petal's colours or the softness of moss make me want to capture them in my pieces. Through thread, I can pay tribute to these small wonders that might otherwise just fade.
