"I love Freo and I love shops"

“When I think about it, pretty much everyone I’ve met since I’ve been in Western Australia has been because of shops, and I don’t think I’d be half as happy here if it wasn’t for those connections.”

Embroidery artist Lindsay (@lindsay_stitches) has ditched her ‘shopping guilts’ – now her passion for Freo’s independent shops shines through in her beautiful artworks! Find out about some of her favourites and join Lindsay as she shops her edit for Mother’s Day.

 Shop Lindsay’s favourites this Mother’s Day

Tight Ology sock ($25) – Remedy, Togetherness linen picnic blouse ($190) – Remedy, Bud vase ($39) – Winterwares, Lemongrass & ginger organic tea ($14) – Winterwares, OTOMI textile art from Mexico with 12 notecards & envelopes ($32.99) – New Edition Bookshop, The Knighton Women’s Compendium by Denise Picton ($34.99) – New Edition Bookshop, There’s Only One Mum Like You by Jess Racklyeft ($14.99) – Paperbird Bookshop, First Nations Food Companion by Damien Coulthard & Rebecca Sullivan ($49.99) – Paperbird Bookshop, Joanna Lamb Botanic Garden puzzle ($59) – Kate & Abel, Fressko Camino Cup sage ($40) – Kate & Abel.  

Stonewear Mug ($55) – Winterwares, Morning Embrace soy wax candle ($59) – Winterwares, Incense holder ($35) – Winterwares, Marimekko The Art of Printmaking by Thames & Hudson ($100) – New Edition Bookshop, NGIRRAMANUJUWAL The Art & Country by Jimmy Pike ($44.95) – New Edition Bookshop, I Love My Mum by Anna Walker ($17.99) – Paperbird Bookshop, La Vie & Belle peony flower candle ($15) – Kate & Abel, Baggu puffy glasses sleeve ($25) – Kate & Abel, Kaylene Whiskey Seven Sistas tea towel ($48) – Remedy, Aesop rind concentrate body balm ($120) – Remedy, The Tartan Blanket Co. recycled wool ($180) and carrier ($52) – Remedy.

Lindsay's been infiltrating hearts in Freo’s local community by stitching her favourite buildings, shops and landmarks

After moving from Tasmania to Western Australia with her partner for his work in 2020, they spent a year in Esperance and then moved to Fremantle. They immediately fell in love with Freo's small-town feel and abundant choices for all life's good things: food and drink, retail and events.

“I’ve found that the easiest and best ways for me to connect with people and make friends in new places have been to go and stitch in my favourite cafes or public spaces (I almost always get asked what I’m doing!) and to make iconic local spots the subject of my work.”

Lindsay recently discovered that 80% of Fremantle’s shops are independently owned and operated – so it’s almost impossible to NOT support small businesses.

"There is no space for guilt because your heart is filled with pure joy!"

She says it's easy to want to buy things when you get to meet and chat with the people who are directly benefiting from your purchases, "I can tell you from experience that when Kate (Kate + Abel) tells you how much she appreciates you EVERY SINGLE TIME you leave her shop, there is no space for guilt because your heart is filled with pure joy."

Lindsay's Top 8 independent Fremantle shops

• Kate + Abel – “I love Kate’s support for local artists, her book recommendations, and her welcoming nature. It’s a good thing I have some level of self-control, otherwise Kate could easily have me buying a new Baggu bag every week.”
  
   
• Peggy's – “I haven’t even tried it yet, but I just KNOW that Peggy’s fish sandwich (a regular weekend special) will be my favourite item from the shop. I have, however, bought one of their cookies purely because it was the last one on the tray, which I will 100% do again.”
  
   
• New Edition Bookshop – “I tend to choose a book based on its cover, and New Edition is never short of aesthetically pleasing covers for me to choose from (the problem is narrowing it down to one). I also love that I can take my dog in to shop with me!”
  
   
• Remedy Store – “I admire Remedy’s commitment to locally and ethically made products that are also practical AND beautiful. The scent in the shop has me dreaming of becoming an Aesop girl someday.”
  
   
• Compendium Design Store – “I’m a big fan of a town that has its own merch, so Compendium’s Freo Goods Co range is the perfect way to celebrate a love of Fremantle, and make sure everyone knows about it.”
  
   
• Blink Coffee Bar – “Blink was my partner’s go-to coffee shop while he was working in Freo, so it also became mine any time I am in town. Something about sitting out the front when it’s bustling with uni students and nearby office workers makes me feel like a real local.”
  
   
• Winterwares – “I got a Winterwares butter dish for my birthday and, while I’ve only stored my cheapo supermarket butter in it so far, I am planning to have a fancy picnic just so I have an excuse to fill it with the most decadent butter I can find. Next on the wish list is to go to a Winterwares workshop!”
  
   
• Paper Bird Children's Books & Arts – “I adore looking at kids books, so Paper Bird is the first place I’ll go when I need a gift for a little person. I particularly love the Woylie Room, which is a space dedicated to books by First Nations authors and artists!”