When I completed my professional training in curtain making and soft furnishings, one of the things I really came to appreciate was just how much work goes into making something properly by hand. And it's something that's really important to me in my own workroom.

There's a lot more hand stitching involved in making a bespoke Roman blind than you might imagine. From preparing the blind to attaching the lining and finishing all the little details, it's about taking the time to get everything just right. The stitches are tiny, carefully placed and not visible from the front.

Could some of it be done quicker on a machine? Absolutely. But for me, the extra time is worth it for the quality of the finish.

I think that's the real luxury of handmade. Knowing that someone has taken the time and care to make something specifically for your home, rather than simply getting it finished as quickly as possible.

This blind is Wisteria Botanical Green from Woodchip & Magnolia. It comes in some gorgeous pinks too.

Here’s something you might not expect …

I didn’t touch a sewing machine until January this year.

I’d done a little hand sewing at school, but certainly nothing that suggested sewing would one day become such a huge part of my life.

It actually started with upholstery. I was taking a course purely as a hobby and visited my local fabric shop to find some fabric for my foostool. I completely fell in love in that shop. The fabrics, the trims, the colours, the textures - all of it. It felt like I belonged in there. I left the shop and immediately ordered myself a sewing machine. I booked onto a beginners course with Tara from The Seamstress MK and used YouTube tutorials from there.

Things moved rather quickly.

My first proper introduction to hand sewing came through upholstery, learning to slip stitch the arm of a chair. I then went on to complete my Diploma in Professional Curtain Making & Soft Furnishings with Victoria Hammond at Master Soft Furnishers.

This is where my hand sewing skills really developed.

Traditionally made curtains and blinds involve an incredible amount of hand stitching, using multiple different stitches throughout each piece. Under Victoria’s expert tuition, I learnt the traditional techniques involved in creating professionally made curtains, Roman blinds and soft furnishings from start to finish.

And I absolutely loved it.

There’s something incredibly satisfying about working with beautiful fabric and watching it slowly becoming something completely bespoke for someone’s home. I love all of the tiny details and the fact that much of the work in a finished piece will probably never be noticed, but I know it is there.

I haven’t stopped making since.

And somewhere between that first sewing machine, my upholstery training, a professional diploma and many, many hours of making, Sarah Bradley Furnishings began.

And sometimes , you just get a feeling when you find something that feels meant for you.

Sarah x

I’ve always loved interiors. Not necessarily perfectly styled homes or following whatever is on trend, but the way a home can feel or look depending on the things you put into it.

I love warm, considered interiors, beautiful fabrics, texture and the details that make a space feel personal. My own home isn’t massively pattered or overly colourful but each room makes me feel how I want to feel when I am in it. I’m drawn to unexpected pieces that make me smile, whether that’s my pink tap, leopard print stairs or bright purple sofa. They might not be for everyone, but that’s rather the point.

I started Sarah Bradley Furnishings because I enjoy creating things for people who care about how their home feels and who want something that has been chosen and made especially for their space.

Sometimes that means finding the fabric that pulls the room together. Sometimes its making the curtains or blinds to soften how the room feels. Sometimes its adding a piece of furniture with a funky fabric to give the room a wow factor.

No two homes are the same and I don’t think they should be. I’d much rather help someone create something that feels completely personal to them.

Oh, and I get to work with some beautiful fabrics too!

Sarah x