Try to keep up with Paula Milner! She is a fabric designer, quilter, wood block print designer, Brother Sewing ambassador, Cricut Ambassador, oh, and she is a dressmaker and makes home dec project. And, written two books.
When did you first realize you are a creative person?
I have always been encouraged to be creative, ever since I was very little. I was always painting, glueing, drawing, and making. I also used to dance (tap and ballet), sing (in choirs, a band, at school!), act (at drama lessons and a local brilliant Youth Theatre), and play musical instruments (Clarinet, Piano and Saxophone)! So I guess I didn’t ever ‘realise’ I was creative – this was just what I was always doing – expressing myself in lots of ways.
Crafting has always made me happy, so I am incredibly grateful that this is now my ‘job’!
Tell us more about how The Crafty Lass came to be.
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Whilst I have always been creative – I actually wasn’t sure what I wanted to ‘do’. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study at University, and even what that could lead to.
Originally I applied to University to study Musical Theatre… I had dreams of the West End stages! However, I withdrew my application at the last minute – switching to Textiles. Whilst I LOVED musical theatre, I wanted to be creative in a more hands on direction. This meant I had to adapt direction by studying for a further year at college getting a BTEC Foundation Art & Design first.
This was the best decision I could have ever made… I certainly wouldn’t be doing what I am now, without it! I went on to study Printed Textile Design at Loughborough University and was engulfed into a world of pattern, colour, design. I LOVED every minute of being in those print rooms. And, importantly, I also met my now husband there too!
I turned our wedding back in 2014 into a huge craft project and people said I should be doing ’this’ for my career. Whatever ’this’ was? At this point I was in a corporate 9-5 role, but I knew I should be doing something more creative. One day – I had enough… and with the support of my family, I simply quit my job on a Friday – and set up ‘The Crafty Lass’ over the weekend! I started writing a blog, holding small workshops, dreaming big. I just had a primary aim to inspire people – and to get adults being creative more in their busy lives.
It has certainly been a crafty rollercoaster ever since that decision, but I wouldn’t change a thing!
What is the most important takeaway you want readers to gain from your new book, Simple Paper Flowers: 25 Beautiful Projects to Make?
That the flowers really are SIMPLE to make! They may look complex, but when you break each one down into the tutorials, they really are achievable – I promise!
What different creative media and techniques do you use in your work?
Whilst paper flower making is such a rewarding craft – I enjoy crafting across a whole range of mediums!
I am a fabric designer and illustrate for these on paper using alcohol ink markers. I love machine sewing quilting, dressmaking and stuff for the home, and I am a Brother Sewing Brand Ambassador. And woodblock printing… I am block designer too with The Indian Block Print Co. Over the years I have taught air dry clay, wreath making, hand sewing, decoupage, needle felting, sketchbook clubs, origami (and many more). I guess I love the crafty variety. I am also a Cricut Ambassador, and my second book ‘Cricut Craft’ will be published in the UK May 2025, and US September 2025.
Do you have a favorite?
I go through phases! I think my favourite is having multiple projects on the go at once.
When it comes to creating, are you more of a planner or an improviser?
Definitely a bit of both. I like to plan in a whole load of projects. I have lists and lists of ideas! But once I get going, I definitely go with the creative flow. Writing Simple Paper Flowers was a great challenge for me – as I had to design each flower project, but then list the measurements and steps. A lovely balance between improvisation and planning!
Describe your creative space.
I am fortunate to have a lovely studio at home in an old outbuilding/barn in the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside. It has a large rustic wooden table, and shelves full of fabric and flowers and all sorts of crafty finds. However, my day to day work will be mainly in the kitchen.
I often have to work around my two young boys – so will jump on to crafting, or writing or whatever it is I need to achieve while I sit with them while they eat their dinner, and certainly once they are tucked into bed. They are very used to Mummy having to ‘make 100 daisy petals’, draw these flowers, or ’sew this cushion’ alongside them!
Working across many different media, how do you organize all of your creative supplies?
I have a bit of a storage ’system’ with large boxes in the studio separating out each type of craft – but when I am busy quite often things tend to just put back randomly in the studio… until I get to point the mess… it has to go. A good tidy, organised and refresh studio, ready for more projects and creativity!
Have you found something intended for one media that works well for something else?
Well… I bought a load of lovely fabric tailor shears when I was teaching larger classes – but I do (shock horror!!) use them for paper! I have now strictly allocated ones for paper use, and ones for fabric use but either way… they are great scissors!
Scraps. Saver? Or be done with them?
I am definitely a saver. Even the smallest pieces of paper or fabric could be used for another petal. Or decoupage – or card making. I hate to throw things away that could be still used.
What is your favorite storage tip for your creative supplies?
I like to store lots of things in glass jars on the shelves in my studio. Felt balls, buttons, stem wires, ribbon. Whilst it may not be the most organised, to see all those colours and textures is very inspiring!
Do you use a sketchbook or journal? How does that help your work develop?
I don’t have a specific sketchbook – but I do have a diary. It helps me write all the to-do lists. Things to achieve that day/week/big dreams and ambitions.
When I begin a large project – such as writing a new book, I always treat myself to a new notebook. Ready for all my ideas, sketches, meeting notes etc. It keeps everything neatly together and they are lovely to look back through.
For all of my illustrations, I like to draw and keep those ‘loose-leaf’ in a portfolio.
How often do you start a new project? Do you work actively on more than one project at a time?
More than I should to be honest! And definitely multiple on the go. It is being able to switch between different mediums that keeps my brain excited and inspired.
Can you tell us about the inspiration and process of one of your works? How does a new work come about?
It depends on what I am working on. However, I always love to look at nature.
The fresh shoots and leaves of Spring and colourful flowers of Summer. The stunning warm oranges and yellows of Autumn, festive greens of Winter. Sometimes it might be a local florist and their bouquet combinations. If I am on a walk, I might stop and take a photo of something I have seen or, I might have a look online at gardening websites, or Pinterest. I also like studying colour combinations and exploring how colours sit alongside each other.
This is the same for paper flowers together in a bouquet, drawing, block printing, digital crafting or even sewing fabrics together.
Which part of the design process is your favorite? Which part is a challenge for you?
Challenge wise, it is remembering to do the more admin parts of business… accounts, mileage, insurance etc. Very important! But, often easy to ignore when busy making lovely things.
My favourite part is I love seeing things come together how I ‘pictured’. Imagining how a paper flower could be constructed, and then making it, and then making more!
Or, initially sketching out some ideas for a fabric design… and then months later – seeing it in the shops with the drawings I made at the kitchen table. Seeing my imagination come to life is the greatest privilege of this being my crafty ‘job’ (it doesn’t ever feel like work!)
Is there an overarching theme that connects all of your work?
Recently, flowers have certainly become my thing! Whilst there are lots of other ideas and projects I work on, the combination of my ’Simple Paper Flowers’ book, my predominantly floral fabric ranges, my floral wooden blocks… It is all certainly full of blooms!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
To aim for the stars, and you will hit the moon. Basically, do your best and that will always be enough!
Also – over the years I have instilled into myself – that ‘you, do you’ and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. I used to really struggle with worrying about everything, but worrying doesn’t change the future, it only effects the present.
How has your creativity evolved over the years? What triggered the evolution to new media/kinds of work/ways of working?
When I was at university. my printed textile designs were very graphical! Bright colours were very evident, but I was inspired by patterns out in the world such as the metal structures of the Eiffel tower, or the Kew Gardens hot houses – solid overlapping shapes from windows, architecture and grids. I hadn’t drawn ANY flowers!
When the global pandemic hit, whether it was just being at home in the countryside more, and taking our daily allowed walks, being surrounded by nature, I suddenly wanted to draw. And draw, and draw… Every single evening, I set about drawing flowers! That was a huge shift for me.
The pandemic also switched how I was teaching. I went from running workshops and being at events ,to teaching up to 100 people at a time, to suddenly everything was online. Whilst I didn’t know it at the time, but all that drawing led to my fabric collections and taking The Crafty Lass to a more ‘product’ based brand. I still, of course, teach but it is now a huge mixture of teaching and product collaborations. It feels unbelievable where the business has gone across the last10 years, I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years bring!
Where can people see your work?
You can find all my latest happenings over on my socials @thecraftylass for both Instagram and Facebook – and also on my website www.thecraftylass.com
You can find…
BOOKS: My Simple Paper Flowers book is out now! My Cricut Craft book is out for pre-order online. https://www.thecraftylass.com/shop/
FABRICS: These can be found for wholesale order via the Visage Textiles and Craft Cotton Co website. They are for retail sale across various craft chains, small independents, haberdasheries and via The Crafty Lass website.
PAPERS: In conjunction with my Simple Paper Flowers book release, I launched The Crafty Lass floristry crepe paper bundles with the Floristry Warehouse, in UK and Europe. The papers are grouped together to coordinate with the projects within the book, these can be found here:
WOODBLOCKS: My The Indian Block Print Co collaborations – which take you through all four seasons of the calendar can be seen via their website: https://www.theindianblockprintco.com/
AURIFIL: In 2024 I launched my first Aurifil threads set ’The Foliage Collection’ to coordinate with the luscious greens running throughout many of my fabric designs. You can also find this for sale via my website: https://www.thecraftylass.com/shop/
SEWING: I am regular contributor to the Brother Sewing blog with various quilting and homeware tutorials. https://sewingcraft.brother.eu/en/blog
CRICUT: I am a Cricut ambassador, but also a Cricut Contributing Artist and you can find my profile via: https://design.cricut.com/landing/profile/5db42e1e4548dd05d0db3461
Interview posted March 2025
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