MY COUNTRY BUSINESS
Bunting maker Sue Maullin
Sue Maullin makes bunting for every special occasion
’m a fabric hoarder – I have piles of it!’ says Sue Maullin, founder of Sussex-based Bunting Boutique. Her love of fabrics, along with a passion for sewing, has led to her business making beautiful handmade bunting, ranging from classic florals to designs made from vintage fabrics, doilies and even paper.
‘I grew up around sewing and have always loved it,’ says Sue. ‘My mum sewed when I was a child and my nan created lovely cross-stitched tablecloths. I was fascinated by my nan’s sewing basket and soon developed a love for embroidery. I remember having plenty of mini sewing projects on the go from an early age.’
Not surprisingly, Sue veered towards arty subjects at school before doing a foundation course, followed by a fashion textiles degree at Brighton. After she graduated, she worked in the accessory field designing and making handbags.
She moved into the textile industry and made interior samples, hand-appliquéing fabrics from her studio, a listed former
Ifarmhouse in East Sussex that is divided up into studios for craftspeople. The idea for Bunting Boutique came about when she was pregnant with her daughter Connie in 2008. ‘I began to look for ways to incorporate my collection of vintage fabrics into something new. By 2009, I had started to develop one-off strands of bunting using vintage doilies and lace. The response from my friends and fellow artists at my studio was very positive and it seemed to be a good fit with everything else that was happening in my life at the time – I was able to develop my ideas while seeing to Connie’s needs.’
Sue was keen to come up with a name that did justice to her handmade, one-off pieces. Bunting Boutique was a play on words that flowed nicely. ‘It was important to have a name that reflected the quality of the handmade product I was providing, and incorporating the word bunting was great for search engine optimisation.’
Sue’s business grew through word of mouth. She made bunting for friends,
What I love most... ‘hearing how special my bunting has made a wedding venue, promotional event or child’s bedroom’
then started an Etsy shop, before setting up a website. She promoted the business though Facebook and Pinterest, and also attended wedding and vintage fairs.
Sue makes a wide range of different bunting but specialises in vintage. ‘The bunting strands are little works of art in their own right, with added details such as a crocheted doily, a gorgeous trim detail or an area of hand-embroidery giving each piece its own unique story.
‘I was one of the first people to make vintage doily bunting and it was incredibly popular. It helped promote me as it was so in demand for weddings and it is still my bestseller,’ says Sue. Other vintage designs are made from tablecloths and napkins, as well as old paper. Sue spends a lot of time hunting at car-boot sales and flea markets for suitable material. ‘Vintage is very popular at the moment so it’s getting harder to get hold of beautiful old linens.’
Sue sells designs to suit a variety of needs, including a classic range that is great for parties and events, a range that can be used in children’s bedrooms, tiny bunting for caravans and smaller spaces, a wedding range, and a designer selection made using fabrics from companies such as Liberty. She even does a Christmas collection with Advent bunting that has little pockets to be filled with treats.
Business isn’t just confined to the summer. ‘The online shop is pretty busy all year, although there is more demand during the run up to Christmas. My bespoke work takes me in lots of different directions and I also produce personalised pieces for children’s bedrooms, parties and christenings,’ says Sue. ‘A big part of my bespoke service is working with corporate clients for events, shops, promotional stands and TV commercials.’ Sue’s bunting has even made an appearance at a garden party in an episode of Downton Abbey.
Her inspiration comes from the fabrics themselves. ‘I keep all my collected treasures in baskets, old suitcases and tins, and seeing all these amazing vintage linens, doilies, trims and buttons together is so inspiring. I don’t use everything immediately but each piece will find its special place eventually.’
The studio also provides inspiration.
‘It’s an amazing space and has a great vibe as everyone loves what they’re doing. We can bounce ideas off each other and it’s perfect for getting feedback. I enjoy running my own business as it allows me to have a great working life that fits around Connie. I feel incredibly fortunate to be doing something that I love.’
BUNTING BOUTIQUE, 07900 908393, BUNTINGBOUTIQUE.CO.UK.