Tasmania's geography, natural environment, history and the origins of its colonial occupiers have shaped the products of craftspeople, designers and manufacturers since European occupation began in 1803. From the mid-nineteenth century, floral embroideries depicting Tasmania's endemic flowers were sent from Tasmania to inter-colonial and international exhibitions. Since 1970 studio-based practice has developed significantly, predominantly in furniture and woodcrafts, ceramics and textiles, and also glass, metal and leather. Tasmania's unique flora, fauna and dramatic landscapes continue to be powerful sources for the development of forms, motifs and imagery in contemporary Tasmanian art and design.