Hello - I'm Lara and this is my shop, HobbityDog.

I was introduced to cross-stitching in my 20s but quickly got bored with doing kits of other people's designs. Kits then were very traditional but not quite vintage enough to be cool and there's only so many walls you can hang pictures on! So I started adapting cross-stitch patterns to suit my taste and attention span, changing colour charts or just taking elements and mixing them with others. Then someone told me about waste canvas and I hooked, applying my designs to clothing, linen - anything I could think of. And then, Christmas 2010, my husband bought me a book about doodle-stitchng and my embroidery skills shot off in another direction. What a relief - no more squinting at patterns and charts!

You're probably wondering where the name came from? My beloved springer spaniel, Bronte, whose coat markings look like he's wearing a waistcoat, especially when he stands up on his back legs - our very own little Hobbit!

I hope you enjoy looking at my shop and, don't forget, if you have any questions or special requests, please contact me.

LARA x