Made in Scotland: Freya Mabel Makes

Our Made in Scotland blog is back with a bang for 2025 and we can’t wait to introduce you to our first Scottish maker of the New Year! Please meet Freya who runs Freya Mabel Makes and designs and creates Scottish landscape tapestries to bring a wee bit of Scotland to your walls. As well as the gorgeous scenery you can also browse through Scottish castles, wildlife, beaches, legends and landmarks to find the piece that sings out to you about your favourite piece of the best wee country in the world. Read on to find out more about Freya and her unique textile art!

Can you tell us how your business got started?

So I originally studied Fashion Technology at university in Galashiels. It was a great degree, it was a joy getting to study what I loved. I finished my degree in 2021 still mid pandemic, and felt really fortunate to get a sewing job creating sustainable accessories. The business then moved out of Edinburgh, and I ended up leaving that job.

I was then unemployed for a while, and at this time I knew I didn’t want to stop sewing so I was looking for a way to continue making things. A year previous I’d made a tapestry as a gift for my boyfriend who loves big American pendants and I thought hmm I could make this, but Scottish.

I came back to this idea and started developing a full collection of some of the most iconic places in Scotland. I started out on Etsy, before eventually creating my own website. For a year and a half I juggled my business and a part-time job in Edinburgh. Late last year my fiancé changed his career to be a deer stalker, so when we moved to highland Perthshire I also made the move to go full time with my business, and I couldn’t be happier.

Where do you look for inspiration when you are designing new products? 

I look for inspiration across all of Scotland, I’m often most inspired by the west coast, and the islands. The combination of the blue seas, white beaches and green sand dunes is one of my favourite things. We currently live in a remote glen in the Cairngorms national park, and my surroundings have encouraged me to produce an abstract tapestry of the view out my studio window.

Can you tell us a bit more about how you make your products?

I start by designing everything digitally, drawing doesn’t come naturally to me so I find this way most helpful. I then select the colours, using felt means that I am somewhat restricted by what colours I have available. When starting out my business I found this frustrating, but now I’m glad of it as it has led to me having a clear colour palette which reflects my brand. The tapestries are made using natural canvas with appliquéd felt, and everything is sewn on an industrial sewing machine by me. Apart from when I’m making individual customs, I have a production line going to make multiple tapestries at once.

I create the tapestries ready to hang, so one big part of the process is collecting the sticks that they hang on. I forage for these anytime I’m at the beach, and along river beds too. I often rope in help for this as it involves driving to some remote places and using a saw to cut all the sticks to the right length.

What are your most popular products and which are your own favourites?

The best selling tapestry is the ‘Forth Bridges’, people love the contrast of the red on the rail bridge. This year I brought out wee tapestries, and these have been a sell-out almost every time. Instead of landscapes these are inspired by Scottish symbols; Nessie, a thistle and a highland cow.

One of my favourites is ‘Glen Coe’, I love the moody colours in it and the way I’ve captured the vastness of the place. Another favourite is ‘Big-In Ardnamurchan View’ as it reminds me of camping at Sanna in the summer of 2020, we were only supposed to stay one night but the weather was so good we stayed two.

If you had to pick one place in Scotland to recommend that people visit, where would it be?

It would have to be the Isle of Coll, all the islands are great but Coll is just so peaceful, not touristy & has the best beaches. The pub isn’t too bad either! We often go in the Easter holidays and spend the week exploring on our bikes, and building up the courage to swim in the sea. I would recommend cycling around the island, have a picnic on a beach and reward yourself with a pint & dinner.

Made in Scotland: Ploterre

Which other Scottish Makers do you love to recommend?

Ploterre is a really cool business, she combines design with data. For example she has a print about the length of coastlines on Scottish Islands. Initially you look at the artwork and think ‘ohh that’s nice’ and then you study it and think ‘WOW that’s clever’.

Harbour Lane is another great business, not only does she have her own craft of illustrated lampshades, she also runs two shops. One based in South Queensferry and one in Fortrose. She is unbelievably down to earth too.

Thanks so much to Freya for taking the time to chat with us about her wonderful creations. Make sure to check out Freya Mabel Makes on her Website or Instagram to take a look at all her beautiful pieces.