"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart."
William Wordsworth
As well as all the usual crafty things I did as a kid, I LOVED making things when I was growing up! I was making my own Christmas presents at the age of 14 and my own clothes by the time I was 16. I started my first business at the age of 19 as a dressmaker.
From making clothes from patterns, doing alterations and making curtains etc, I trained in pattern-cutting and then specialised in designing and creating bespoke wedding dresses until I was 28, when life threw a curve-ball at me and I got divorced and moved into a caravan with my two small children.
Off to college I went to train in design, embroidery, textiles and print. Through the passion of amazing teachers, I came to see the world in terms of design; layers of spring leaves, texture of tree bark, colour theory playing out in nature. I took up my camera and started exploring the world, turning images into design ideas.
I started making hand-made cards, then framed pictures, wall-hangings and mini sculptures. But jewellery took the lead role when it came to making a marketable product and so I refined my techniques, discovered working with biscuit tins to use the colour and print in a new, imaginative way and developed a range of jewellery. I had a wee shop in Bodnant Gardens for three years but soon took off to trade shows to sell direct to other shops, galleries and boutiques.
After 12 years in business, I sold jewellery to over 500 stores worldwide, employed 10 people and 8 sales agents and designed 6 Collections of upcycled jewellery a year. The business sadly closed in May 2016 after the UK was flooded with imported jewellery that made it too difficult for us to compete in the gift industry.
I still keep my designers eye trained while out and about here in North Wales. Keep up with my daily musings and things that are inspiring me on Instagram.
