I’ve always found great joy and purpose in creating with my hands. From a young age I was trying small cross-stitch motifs with my Auntie Lily, learning the basics of dressmaking with Mum, having a go at quilting with my sister Sally and of course, diving into the pages of those glorious 1970’s ‘Golden Hands’ magazines (I shall blog about them presently). I realised that the pursuit of ‘needle work’ encompassed an unimaginably wide variety of activities, and I’m proud to say I’ve tried many of them!

I’ve also found a place where time slows down, colours and textures become clearer and stronger, the outside world recedes and all I have to do is focus on the thing that is right in front of me. Other people call this the ‘zone’, but I like to think of it as my Stitch Sanctuary.

I’ve probably spent more time honing my skills than most - I changed my career in my mid-thirties, left my job as head of training in a law firm and became an apprentice at the Royal School of Needlework. Here I learned from the best, most talented, generous and gifted teachers, and found a new outlet for my favourite type of job - teaching.

I strongly believe that everyone is creative, regardless of whether they can draw or have ever taken any kind of art class. Having an imagination and ideas is a fundamental part of being human; all people usually need is a helping hand to get them going and THAT, I’m proud to say, is what I do. I teach people how to stitch in a variety of techniques whilst helping them turn what’s in their imagination into something real.

And here’s the best bit: once a student has learned to trust their instincts with needle and thread, they find that confidence spreading to all the other parts of their lives…

…as can you!