My name is Fiona McFarlane. I am an Australian born bead and embroidery artist.

After creating beaded jewelry for years as a hobby, from the age of 14 and up, I was toying with the idea of using my extensive collection of beads to create something new… Something extensive and intricate. I was scouring the internet for different forms of beadwork and how else I could create using the items that I had and I came across Tambour Embroidery!

In my home country of Australia, especially on the West Coast, the possibilities to learn something that is so niche are generally quite slim. We don’t have the demand and market for it, the numbers for creating schools and courses just aren’t there. The creative industry in this type of field or fashion/arts in general  are based predominantly on the east coast of Australia.

The very off chance that I found my tutor, Margot Merendino, was that I was placed on a hospitality shift with a lady that I wouldn’t normally work with, whose partner was a fashion designer. After speaking to her about my interest in picking up such a hobby, she mentioned that she may be able to help find someone that can teach me as she had seen a pamphlet brought home by her partner advertising private courses and tutoring.

Within weeks, I had been able to start my journey into creative embroidery and this was back in 2021. Fast forward to now, I have moved to the other side of the world, bringing my whole life (bead collection, embroidery supplies and my cat included!) to start fresh somewhere new and try my luck at creating a life out of an industry that I love so much.

I look forward to following this path and discovering where it will lead me to, but in the meantime, please have a browse of some of my creations here on my website or feel free to jump to my Instagram and follow me!

Each of my pieces are handmade in my home in London.

Upcoming exhibitions to be announced soon!