Theodora

I am Barbara Smith the Founder and Designer of

:Theodora Cleave

: Woodcutter's Daughter...

I was a woodcutter's daughter and my grandmother was Theodora Cleave .

I have a creative authentic & inspirational spirit, it is reflected in both labels which all began in 1996.

My passion is illustrating & painting.

I use both techniques in designing & painting.

: Buttons

: Christmas decorations

: Brooches to wear

:Fabric painted pieces

:Painted pieces on watercolour textured papers

AND

I illustrate designs for stitching, applique,felt use or also painting on fabric etc.

In my portfolio I have created

stitchings illustrated layouts,

self published stitching and button story books & booklets

paintings on watercolour paper

cloth dolls and Santas

Many many buttons

which include a huge Christmas range.

Lots of Christmas Decorations

My Bliss

is drawing or illustrating...and Christmas

I begin & wander into the worlds of gardens, farmyards at times, people, animals, birds and most abundant is Christmas.

Many of these works and stories have been profiled in Australian and French magazines.

In the wholesale part of my business,

My work sells in stores around the world.

My creations have gone where I have not ever been...within past years, international and Australian distributors.

Nowadays I solely distribute my work.

Designers in Australia, France & Germany have created designs around a button or decoration or have purchased design rights and converted into a cross stitching book and patterns.

Also I have worked in collaboration with French designer for French magazines projects.

I have enjoyed exhibiting in Craft & Quilt shows in Sydney & Melbourne.

Other designers have carried my work to many events.

The years seem to fly by and opportunities arise and it is wonderful to have been working with many talented people most of all Mrs Green my machinist for nigh on 20 years.

I love to create, my thinking has always been problem solving ideas, whether as a child playing in the garden, or listening to the stories our father weaved for us children when small. To the internal auditing within the public service...it all has "what if" or "I wonder ? "

I am Barb Smith

creator of Theodora Cleave and Woodcutter's Daughter