MINI PROFILE
I revived a childhood love of sewing when my children were toddlers. It had been a long-held dream of mine to sew my own homeware and when I started crafting with my kids it reignited my love for making with my hands − something I hadn't really done since starting my career as a newspaper journalist in 1997.
It started with a handsewn scarecrow, dressed in adapted clothing my two had grown out of this, lead me to buy a machine and I started sewing bunting and Christmas stockings and then went on to costumes, dresses, pjs and quilts for them and clothes for myself. I've always loved holding fabric, seeing how it moves and then thinking of designs to make from it. I built on the skills I had been taught at Textiles GCSE and the knowledge that had been passed down to me from my mum, aunt and great auntie. It gives me a warm feeling knowing that I am continuing a family tradition of sewing. To start with I'd pick a garment I liked in my wardrobe and use that as a pattern then moved on to patterns, adapting them where I fancied. I love the freedom of making costumes for the kids out of my stash as that's when I can really get creative without the pressure of the final outcome needing to withstand the test of time! My favourtites are the wolf dressed as the granny from Little Red Riding Hood, and a Tudor outfit for my daughter − which was inspired by a costume I had worn when I was a body double for the main character in The Discovery of Witches in 2020.
In 2019 I took redundancy after an amazing time in newspapers, which included press trips to Colorado, The Caribbean, Mauritus, Austria, France, Italy, and all over the UK. I embarked on a new career as an actress and model. It was exciting, fun and hard work, and I was
