25 Years Q & A with Founder Petra

What’s a fun fact about you that not many people know?

I worked at the Hacineda night club for 3 years when I was a student and danced on the stage with Sister Sledge!

What’s a hobby or interest that might surprise people?

Tennis & forest bathing in a hammock 

Describe your ideal weekend in three words.

Local Norfolk beach walks, pottering in the garden & allotment

Favourite vegetable?

Asparagus & chard

Favourite dessert?

Sicilian almond & orange cake 

Favourite restaurant?

Andrew Edmunds Soho

Favourite colour?

Forever changing but at the moment it’s Ginger it goes with everything!

Cat person or dog person?

Definitely dog 

Dream Car?

Vintage Porsche 911

Dream dinner party guests - dead or alive, who would they be and why?

Nigel slater, David Attenborough and Mary Quant

Failsafe dinner party dish? 

Anna Jones dahl, with sweet potato and coconut samba

If you could live in any time period, past or future, just for a year, when would it be and why?

1950's the birth of colour and bold design.

Whats the one thing (people and pets not included) that you would save from a fire?

Our pinboard of family photos

Best ever holiday?

A childhood trip to stay with my Great Aunt Madaleine on her cocoa plantation in St Lucia ( The estate is now owned by Hotel Chocolate!)

What was your first job?

Saturday girl measuring herbs and spices in Culpepper the herbalist in Cambridge.

What did you study at university?

Embroidery at Manchester Metropolitan University.

What was the first product you designed and sold for Petra Boase?

Greeting card collection with machine embroidered felt cat and scotty dog!

What’s one daily ritual or routine that you can’t live without?

I took up drinking coffee again at 50! So an oat cappuccino to start the day

How do you stay creative and motivated during challenging times or creative blocks?

Always fired up with too many ideas! But when my head gets too crowded with creative thoughts I head to the forest to walk and breathe in the woodland scents

Favourite ever fast craft project?

Covering anything with spots from either a foam roller or rubber pencil tip

Describe Petra Boase (the business) in 3 words.

Optimistic, bold and energetic.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

Impatient, enthusiastic, ambitious

What inspired you to start Petra Boase, and what has been your favourite moment since then?

Moving to a studio at Cockpit arts London. So many, but taking the business HQ to the heart of Norwich has been great

What are you most proud of?

This business has grown with with my family and supported us in so many ways

What’s one piece of advice you wish you had received when you first started your career?

Save for tax bills!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given (life or work)?

Someone told me this the other day... Have many pillars in the business dont just lean and rely on one. Subconsciously I've always done that.

If you could give some advice to your younger self, just starting out on this journey, what would it be?

Take time out after Uni and go and live and work abroard and give yourself creative head space.