We got to chat with our incredble Francesca, who is known for her illustrations, wonderful blanket designs and for being a fabulous member of our Woolly Team ✨
Hi Francesca!! Thanks for sifting through these questions with us… Let’s get started! How did you make your way to Wool Warehouse? Can you tell us a little bit about your current role?
I landed at Wool Warehouse absolutely by accident 🙂 We moved from China to the UK because of my husband’s job and after we settled for a bit, I started to look for a job. Because English is not my first language, I had to exclude certain jobs: for example no spelling on the phone, I would make such a mess! But when I’ve read about an opening at WW, I started to imagine yarn balls and fabric rolls in infinite shades of colours and I thought that was a “language” I could handle 🙂 And here I am, still in awe for any new product that appears on WW shelves.
My role at WW varies: I’m fabric room assistant, Saturday supervisor, dispatch trainer and sometimes illustrator. The little bugs of Snug as a Bug range are “mine” 🐛
What was it like living in China, and how long did you live there for?
We lived in China for 15 years, and during that time we’d relocated around to different areas and different cities. Because it’s an enormous country, every move meant we were in a very different situation.
In the beginning the language was quite a big barrier. I didn’t speak any Mandarin or English, and at that time (in the early 2000’s), it was very difficult to find Chinese language lessons taught in Italian. So, I had to start to learn English first, then I tried to learn some basic level of Mandarin. It was a never-ending process… 🙂
Our life there was a challenge and an extremely fascinating experience at the same time. We never had a boring day, and I mean it in both ways: positive and negative.
China is a real beauty, full of contradictions and living there meant we needed to find a balance between all of that. Friendships were an incredible part of the whole experience. We had so much support along the way, by the local community and from the expat one. We definitely treasured that! Also, the other jewels we found there are… our three rescued cats, that moved with us to the UK 😺
Amazing! What makes you love your role here?
The first thing that, unexpectedly, I loved of this job were the customer messages during lockdown. Many of them used to send messages of encouragement and thanks for taking care their orders. We could read them on the invoices while we were preparing the order. It was so touching.
Of course, nothing to do with the incomparable effort of the medical staff, but in our little way, through those messages we felt we were being helpful. Every order we were picking, every parcel was ready to go, we were trying to imagine who was the person waiting for it and what the joy to receive it. Unforgettable.
Aside the “abnormality” of the first few months I still definitely love my job!
I like the variety of it. In all senses. There is always a new product, a new challenge, a new set up, a new opportunity. Never gets boring! And on top of it there is the team. Here is the place where “diversity and inclusion” is not only a vague slogan on the social media. It’s for real!
We ADORE the Snug as a Bug drawings; they really make the yarn come to life! How did you get into illustration and water colour painting?
I went to an Art Institute high school and after that I attended the Academy of fine Art in Italy in my hometown (Accademia Albertina of Turin). Then I continued through jobs more or less arty, depending on where the life was taking me. Let’s say that paying the bills usually came before passion 🙂
But art is a long process. It’s made of experiences, new interests, experiments, personal growth, practice, inspirations, support, encouragements, technique, encounters, collaborations… It’s like a building and you add bricks one by one.
Through the years, I kept studying, doing freelance jobs and meeting some fantastic and inspirational people who guided me to discover the world of illustrations.
While in China I started to investigate and study the traditional styles, like ink painting and a watercolour technique called Gombi.
In Shanghai I also met a new friend: a very passionate, inspirational and creative person, who is a children books writer. Funnily enough, we are the same age and we come from the same neighborhood in Turin, but we had never met there before. We had to go a long way far from home to then get to know each other. At that time, she was writing a new book and she asked me to illustrate it. I was very flattered, and I learned so much from her. Not to mention we had a lot of fun and she is still one of my best friends.
The book title is: “Sogni splendenti con il topino dei denti”, and it translates to “Bright dreams with the tooth mouse”. In Italy the tooth fairy’s “job” is usually done by an ant or from a little mouse, and the book was actually about his adventures.
I know you worked on illustrations for another book too, can you tell us more about this?
By another coincidence, a copy of the little mouse book was gifted and ended up in the hands of another very active and inspirational person.
A charitable association named “Api di carta” (Paper bees) was working on a project to sponsor a pediatric hospital department. A book of nursery rhymes was ready to be illustrated, and I was invited to do so.
The book is titled “Filastrocche in fattoria” (Nursery rhymes at the farm) and it will launch next month. Many farm animals will be soon be ready to amuse young readers.
What is your favourite craft?
I have to admit I go through phases (I’m not the only one, right?), sometimes they last very short time, other time a bit longer. Now I’m definitely into crochet, obsessed! 🙂
Can you tell us more about the Bee Blanket, and where did the inspiration come from behind this?
The Bee Blanket is a blend of all the above: the love for nature, the passion for illustration and the crochet “obsession”. It’s kind of… illustrating with crochet. Art has always been a powerful tool to spread messages and education, so why not use a baby blanket to encourage to protect and respect this fragile planet of ours, starting from little bees… and probably continuing with some other endangered species… 😉
What are three things you would love to learn/master/execute…
- I would like to learn quilting in the “proper” way. By working with fabric, I come across with scraps of any kind, and because I’m obsessed with mix & match, I do simple projects with stripes. I let the fabric “talk”. But I would love to go to the next level and being able to put together more articulated patterns.
- I wish I could have the dedication, the patience and the ability to make one of Janie Crow’s very intricated blanket.
- Definitely study more about watercolour.
And finally, give us a crafting TIP!
A tip that I absolutely agree with and I warmly encourage to do, but I strongly struggle to follow myself, so I’m the last person to be entitled to give, is to keep a journal of your projects. The main reason is to avoid doing the same mistake again and again, and as all journal is so much fun to read it after sometimes! My, much more personal, tip is to follow a pattern but make at list one change on it. Make your own unique version It’s like when you are cooking follow a recipe, but give your personal touch, add a tiny bit of your favourite spice, skip one ingredient that is not your favourite… or is simply not in your fridge.
