Designs by Francesca Winterman

I'm a designer/maker of imaginary beasties. My jointed creatures are all sewn by hand. I create patterns from drawings of the characters that pop into my head. They won't go away until 

I bring them to life. 

Having always been inspired by animal tales, I wanted my own bestiary of sorts. The Bestiary is my dream bubble. The Bestiary Bazaar is my market place.

Character design has always been a passion of mine. My background in graphic design and surface pattern has helped to develop my style and process. 

My drawings are pen and ink with some digital/vector manipulation. For my hand-sewn creatures, I mostly use mohair, but also love alpaca, and faux furs found in wardrobes and charity shops. I use both glass and plastic eyes.

These handcrafted creations are not suitable for children under 7 years old. This is due to the different kinds of materials used (for example, I often 

use cotter pin joints and glass eyes, 

as well as safety joints and eyes). 

These beasties are artisan friends,
rather than toys for young children.
Gentle playtime with these creatures 

is fine. They do like adventures.

 Handle them with love.