FIVE MINUTES WITH A FRIEND: HARE'S TAIL

This week, we catch-up with textile designer, Hare’s Tail’s founder Speronella Marsh, and her stories of textiles. 


Image: Portrait of Speronella Marsh. © James McDonald. Image above: Eastern Leaves print by Hare's Tail in dirty pink and olive. © James McDonald.

Driven by a necessity to affordably curtain her new home following a move to rural Shropshire in 2016, founder of Hare’s Tail Speronella Marsh set out to learn the skills required to hand block designs onto her precious collection of antique linens. The resulting curtains, hanging around her home, were admired by friends and family who began commissioning their own projects. From this initial flurry of interest, Hare’s Tail was born in 2018. Since then, Hare’s Tail fabrics have been commissioned by interior designers across the world and have been featured, along with Speronella’s home, in many of the top UK interior magazines.

Grab a cup of tea, take a seat and let's talk textiles!

Something old
An antique sheet that I bought when my eldest daughter was born. It's a beautiful heavy linen sheet with monograms that correspond to my daughter's name (LP). It's still in my cupboard but I will pass it on to her one day.

Something New
A couple of months ago I bought a beautiful antique smock from Romania and wear it as a dress. I think it's 60-70 years old but it's new to me.

Something Borrowed
When I started learning how to carve lino I borrowed a lino tool from a friend. I am still using it and hope that she doesn't want it back, it has become one of my favourites!!

Image: Seaweed print in mustard by Hare's Tail. © James McDonald.

Something Blue
Blue happens to be one of my favourite colours so our kitchen, which is the room that we all live in, is blue. The covers on our kitchen chairs are all block printed in Zigzag blue, a design I created for us and now often print for other people.

What is my first memory of a textile
The pink toile curtains in my bedroom, they are still there.

What I love about textiles
Fabrics improve with age in my eyes, the more you wash them the more beautiful they become.

Where is your most inspiring space/place to create
My studio, it's a very quiet place so when I have an idea and start drawing, I can be there for hours.

© Hare's Tail

What has inspired you recently
My garden, I love growing annuals and every year I try to grow flowers or grasses that might inspire me to create a new design. I am particularly taken by the seed head of a Brizia Mazima at the moment.

My most cherished textile
A jumper that belonged to my father which he used to wear all the time. I don't wear it very often but it's in my cupboard, so every time I see it it makes me smile.

Where did I learn my craft
I did a few short courses on natural printing, repeat pattern design and block printing. I also watched a lot of YouTube videos and the rest really was and still is trial and error. I am learning something new every day.

When and why I started Hare’s Tail
I block-printed lots of antique sheets that are now used as curtains and blinds in our house. Friends and family started asking me to print things for them, resulting in Hare's Tail being born in 2018 - most of my work is available online.

© Hare's Tail

About my community
I think my online followers are like-minded people. They enjoy the designs and the fact that they are printed on antique textiles. They also appreciate the product which is created using old things and new ideas.

Something about one of my customers
One of my most loyal customers has become a friend. We spend a lot of time talking about design which inspires me to be more creative.

Looking to the future, Hare's Tail is excited to announce the launch of their first wallpaper collection First Impressions along with their new website. The collection is comprised of six designs – Boat, Seaweed, Lucy’s India, Cindy’s Needle, Eastern Leaves and Acorn – each available in four colourways. The new collection will be on show for the first time at FOCUS 2023.

Find out more:
Website: www.harestail.co.uk
Instagram: @hares_tail_printing