It took a while..... but eventually I realised that a life of paperwork, admin, and being scarily organised was not at all my bag.  I just love making stuff.  There has always been a spinning wheel, a loom, a knitting project close to hand, but I'd hit my fifties before I was brave enough to  make the scary leap into full-time making.  The feeling of falling, falling, doors slamming shut, other doors - unexpected doors - opening wide.  Once the ground was steady beneath me again, I found that this is what I was supposed to be doing all along.  

Making by Hand is my thing.  Using a machine feels like cheating (washing machines and dishwashers excepted).  Creating riotously colourful, unique silk fibre art brings such joy.  My 'Rubbish' jewellery makes my heart sing.  Making hand stitched notebooks saves me a whole heap of money - I cannot tell you how many I use in a year!  And best of all, others are happy to rehome my work too (and pay for the privilege)!

If I can use discarded items, recycled materials, locally sourced things, so much the better - and if there's a whole bundle of colour in the mix, my joy is complete.   Sustainability  is so important - making conscious choices of materials - being thoughtful about the impact of processes - wasting as little as possible - imagining new and beautiful uses for overlooked resources.  

My gorgeous (if sometimes slightly chilly) workshop, The Workhouse Chapel in Sturminster Newton, is better known as the home of the very wonderful Handmade for Christmas.   I started H4C in 2012, as an opportunity to sell a few bits and bobs - it has turned into a bit of an institution over the years and now takes all my time for at least 3 months of each year.   

For the rest of the year I'm busy making, taking part in exhibitions elsewhere, going off for adventures with Geoff (he's my van ;-), and generally having a splendid time.  After all they do say that if you do a job you love, you never work another day in your life 😉.  

​