Mr Pickles

TOYS REMINISCENT OF THE PAST

We catch up with Lee to see how his handmade business turned his mental health around!

TELL US ABOUT WHEN YOU STARTED SEWING AND WHY IT TURNED OUT TO BE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH? I had been struggling with mental health issues for a few years, and wasn’t able to find any hobbies or interests to help me manage it. I was looking for a mindful activity that enabled me to switch off and focus. I started sewing in 2016 after seeing a small toy that reminded me of one of my childhood toys. Something clicked and sewing became a great tool for me to manage my mental health; it became an escape from a high-pressure job and a busy lifestyle. I spent many months working on my sewing skills, watching videos on YouTube and asking people for advice.

WHERE DOES YOUR INSPIRATION COME FROM FOR YOUR DESIGNS? I had begun sketching toys that I remembered as a child then started to bring them to life and this is where Mr Pickles was born! Most of the Mr Pickles collection is based on childhood toys that either my siblings or I had. I’ve just stripped them back as much as possible to create an elegant and minimalistic linen toy. I work in small batches at a time. I would rather make less and take my time, than to rush and make mistakes. Every stitch is perfectly placed.

WHAT ARE YOUR BESTSELLING ITEMS? My best sellers are the Little Pickles collection. They feature several different characters from Rabbits, Horses, Rhinos, Elephants and even Dinosaurs. All have different clothes that you can collect, so they make the perfect present to gift to any child.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND SEWING TO THOSE SUFFERING WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH? I can’t recommend sewing highly enough to anyone who is struggling with any mental health issues. Because you need to be focused 110% when sewing to get everything perfect, you can’t think about anything else. It’s such a positive switch off from daily life. People always say crafting is good for the soul and it really is! It has really helped me and is something I wish I had started many years before and also I have my own business that I can be proud of!

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SEW ONE OF YOUR LUXURY LINEN TOYS? One Little Pickles takes approximately five hours to make. The Linen dolls a little longer due to the detail in their hair. My focus is on quality and not quantity, so