Following my dreams.....
I first learnt to use a sewing machine at home, when I was about 10 years old and it was on one of the old Singer machines with a large metal pedal that rocks. Getting my finger stuck with the needle right though it did not put me off, even though this meant that I could not move away from the machine for about 30 minutes while waiting for my Mum to take me seriously! Mak
ing what I thought were lovely patterns on paper with no thread in the needle was no bother to me, it was just a way of allowing myself to be creative. Making teddies had to be my favourite part of using a sewing machine, my favourite being ‘Woofta’ the dog. Apart from hammering my Mums sewing machine, my love to crochet and press flowers came from my Great Auntie Rene, Knitting was learnt and loved from my Grandma and my love to paint came from my Granny. I learnt to hand sew and do cross stich at lunch times with my primary school lunch time sewing club. I grew up thinking I needed a proper job, so I joined the Army for 5 ½ years and left with a Diploma in Admin management and a Diploma in Admin and Secretarial skills. I still kept up with my sewing skills with sewing on badges on to my uniform as well as the odd cross stitch patterns while away on tour. I then worked for a 3rd party pensions administrators for over 10 years and gained an NVQ level 4 in Pensions Administration. I only left the office work that I really enjoyed in 2009 to look after my 4 children, a cat and 2 dogs at the time, and of course my Husband! It was at this point, after doing a few refresher courses in crochet, quilting, curtain making, felting, etc., taking over the conservatory with all things craft as well as help off my Sister Ailish, my Sister-in-Law Paula and my Mum that I came back to the craft I love to enable me to work around my family life.