Our Story

This picture shows one of the earliest memories I have of sewing. I made this at my junior school when I was about 8 years old.

I remember it so well, every piece of it because it was creative and a really exciting for me to make. My teacher was enthusiastic, patient and helpful. It's something I was proud of and I still have it to this day. Now its hanging in my creative space, The Stitching Room.

After starting with hand sewing, I moved onto making my own clothes on my mum's sewing machine, under her watchful eye of course. There it was, the sewing bug, nothing was going to stop me.

Sewing has always been a passion of mine. Both my Nana's were seamstresses and had workboxes brimming with brilliantly coloured threads and trimmings. I always knew I wanted to do something related to sewing, so I moved to London and went to study a degree in clothing at the London College of Fashion. This covered everything from design, pattern cutting, making up, fabrics technology, right through to costing, marketing and PR. We covered every type of product, from swimwear to outerwear, workwear to eveningwear and everything in between.

With my degree in hand, I set off to make a difference to the quality of goods entering the high street, working with retailers such as  Tammy Girl, House of Fraser, Mothercare and River Island. As a Garment Technologist working in the buying office, alongside buyers, there was never a dull moment, from fit sessions, checking fabric test reports, factory visits and product trips.

After a career break having my 3 boys, the sewing bug was still inside me, so I signed up to the Royal School of Needlework to study for a certificate in technical hand embroidery. There is always something new to learn. I am still studying for this part-time.

Now I am using all of those skills to teach and inspire others to sew. Sewing is so good to relax the mind and forget about any worries you might have. Lets learn to make again, mend and recycle to help the planet.