Today this sign is in pride of place in my kitchen, a daily reminder of my Mum and all that she achieved.
When my mother got in touch with Margaret Tempest, who lived locally in Ipswich, she not only graciously agreed to let her use the name and image of Fuzzypeg but created a wooden sign depicting the little hedgehog which hung outside the shop and became a local landmark.
Me circa 1980!
©The Estate of Margaret Tempest
MY STORY STARTS BACK IN THE 1960s
when my mother opened a children’s clothes shop in Woodbridge, Suffolk and called it Fuzzypeg.
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So who was Fuzzypeg?
He was a little hedgehog who featured in the Little Grey Rabbit books written by Alison Uttely and first published in 1929.
©The Estate of Margaret Tempest
These best-selling thirty or so stories were beautifully illustrated by Margaret Tempest and transport readers into an imaginary world of animals including Fuzzypeg the little hedgehog, Hare, Squirrel, Moldy Warp the Mole and Wise Owl.
©The Estate of Margaret Tempest
It was in that little shop that my love of colourful, folk art-inspired printed fabrics and designs was born. I especially loved the Clothkits collections that we sold as well as the Gallery Five stickers and cards designed by Polish illustrator Jan Pieńkowski.
© Jan Pieńkowski
THE BIRTH OF
FUZZYPEGFOLK
That love of vivid and colourful decoration has continued throughout my life and my home is now stuffed with handmade painted wooden toys, folk art and eccentric decorations, all in constant danger of being knocked over by my two enormous, hairy Norwegian Forest cats.
The shop closed in the early 80s and I went on to pursue a career in designer fashion but my dream has always been to have my own business and call it Fuzzypeg in memory of my extraordinary Mum.
Many years later I am finally free to pursue that dream and create FUZZYPEGFOLK
- a world of imaginative and colourful handmade, painted folk art to sell to all folk who love folk.
FUZZYPEGFOLK is an online store offering folk art products that I love sourced from all over Europe. My aim is to buy from artists who work with wood, textiles and paper, making toys, homeware, stationery and decorations that are handmade, hand-carved, hand-painted, hand-woven, in the old, traditional ways.
And I have exciting plans for next summer! I’ll be launching a pop-up shop in my FUZZYPEGFOLK wagon at artisan fairs and markets across Norfolk and Suffolk.
This project is a labour of love, as I take inspiration from the old Gypsy style vardos and transform the wagon into a madly colourful emporium full of fun and joyful things.
At
I’m passionate about celebrating the rich traditions and vibrant creativity of European folk art.
But what exactly is
folk art?
FUZZYPEGFOLK
Folk art is ART that is
Handmade
Crafted using traditional or recycled materials for decoration or function.
Culturally Significant
A reflection of a community's heritage and values, whether used in everyday life or special ceremonies
Passed Down Through Generations.
A tradition kept alive through time.
Art of, by, and for the people.
A celebration of the ordinary made extraordinary.
Stay updated on new folk art finds, artisan collaborations, and watch the transformation of my wagon unfold by following me on Instagram and subscribing to my newsletter.
As I bring Fuzzypegfolk
to life in my
colourful wagon.
Join me to have fun, dance away the boring and decorate your life.
As a single parent, with me as her only child, Mum involved me from an early age and I helped her with everything from selecting clothes and creating displays to managing sales and the end-of-year accounts.
WORK WITH ME
Let's Collaborate
I’m always on the lookout for new artists creating beautiful folk art. If you're interested in collaborating or just want to say hello, visit my Work With Me page.
