Primrose Design began as a part-time business in 2003 and was created as a way to combine a lifelong love of design with the sewing and needlework skills taught to me by my grandmother Kathleen (that's her in the photo). I grew up in NYC but spent every summer with her in Pennsylvania. She taught me to sew and to embroider and I'd spend hours poring over her needlework books.

I began by creating pillows from my extensive collection of vintage fabric, linens, trims, and buttons and selling them to friends. It was a great stress-reliever from a high-pressure job in publication design. After realizing that this was way more fun than my full-time job, I decided to follow my heart, and devote more time to this new venture. I left the 9-to-5 world behind and am now freelancing as a graphic designer. That leaves me with more time to sew and create new products. I'm working harder now but it's more personally satisfying.

My pillows have been described as fabric collages, with layer upon layer of materials. My background in art and design come in handy here - instead of paper I now use fabric! I generally work with bright colors in unusual combinations and love to mix patterns—plaids with polkadots, stripes with graphic florals. I like feedsack fabrics, barkcloth, fruit patterned tablecloths, kitschy tea towels, crochet-edged pillowcases, and flower-shaped buttons from the 40s. Mostly I love carrying on the tradition of fine needlework in a way that combines the best of old and new.

In addition to pillows you'll also find a growing selection of vintage accessories, aprons, baby items, buttons and trims, and vintage linens that are just too pretty to cut up. I spend a lot of time visiting flea markets, antique malls, and estate sales searching for items I think you'll like. I never know what I'll find. Hopefully it will involve great deals that I can pass on to you and some great linens that will become part of future collections.

I'm busy working on new things for the site and will add them as I finish. Sign up for the mailing list if you'd like to receive our e-mail newsletter or drop me an email if you'd like to receive the postcard mailing. You can visit my blog for news and updates as well.