Where did it all start?

My mother always told me I remind her so much of her Dad. He had a shed full of bits and bobs that he never threw away “just in case”, his pockets always had buttons in and his lapel was where he stored pins. He made all their leather shoes on his own last. He hand crafted all their toys and Christmas ornaments. He carved chess sets from the remains of pencils. They had very little of anything unless Grandad made them. Sadly I never had the chance to learn from him as he passed when I was 3 years old.

Now I have a shed full of things “just in case” and am surrounded by beads, wire, fabric, paint, wood and every other medium you can think of.

I started out wanting to be a vet as a child because I loved animals and that is the only job a child’s mind can think of involving working with animals. Had I had better careers advice at the right times I would most likely have become a zoo keeper. I excelled in sciences better than in arts if i’m honest, or maybe I just didn’t get the right art tuition to help me find my favourite mediums and my ‘style’. Curriculum art doesn’t allow for a lot ways to ‘find yourself’. Wildlife and natural history made it’s way into my art subconsciously at every available opportunity. It was only when I went for a selection interview at a University for a Wildlife Photography degree that it was pointed out to me. I had no photography in my portfolio, the 6th form I attended didn’t have the equipment or skills to teach it (there’s that gold star careers advice again). My portfolio was, however, crammed with work in every medium on the subject of natural history.

I got the place. Then I got the Degree.

Fast forward the boring bits where I never really succeeded in a career in photography and had a long and challenging road full of bad people and bad luck. (Maybe that’s for another day).

I was not in employment when Covid happened due to ill health and I began creating again. As time passed I discovered a new craft I had not explored before in the form of braided Kumihimo. I immediately fell in love with its process which is akin to meditation and promotes my mindfulness. I loved the end product too and began making bracelets for myself and others. I also experimented with beaded Kumihimo relatively quickly as I became proficient.

Life became kinder and more stable for my Husband and I by the end of 2022 and in the greatest act of love and kindness I have ever been blessed with he told me he would support me with my endeavour to make crafting my full time job.

So here I am. At the mercy of the world and desperately hoping someone likes my work enough to swap some of their hard earned money for it. That is no small ask in these difficult times.

- Magpie