The Maker’s Journal

Running a creative business is a constant balancing act. On one hand, there is the joy of designing, printing, and making. On the other, there are all the unseen parts that keep it running — emails, packaging, pricing, photography, bookkeeping, and of course, teaching workshops. Some days it feels like you’re juggling ten roles at once. I remember the early years, when I’d finish a class, tidy the...

Finding your creative voice is one of the most rewarding parts of being a maker. It grows gradually, through doing, experimenting, and noticing what truly excites you. Over the years, teaching lampshade making and printmaking, I’ve seen students have that magical moment when a design feels just right, a stitch flows naturally, or a print starts to reveal its character. I’ve had those moments too, ...

To the creatives who question if they’re good enough, and to those wrestling with imposter syndrome and self-doubt, this one is for you.Self-doubt often creeps in when we care deeply about what we’re making. The more we value our work, the more we worry it might not be “enough.” I remember the early days of hand-stitching lampshades and trying out new print designs. Sometimes I’d pause, thinking m...

We all know that feeling: putting off a project, a sketch, a new lampshade, or a print because the timing doesn’t feel right, the studio isn’t quiet enough, or you don’t have every tool perfectly in place. You wait for the stars to align, for everything to be “just so.”But here’s the truth: the perfect moment rarely arrives on its own. It’s something you build as you go. It begins with showing up,...

Slowing down to create with care, whether it’s hand-stitching a lampshade or carving a linocut for printmaking, brings a quiet, almost magical satisfaction. It reminds us of the joy of presence, the value of patience, and the deep fulfillment of bringing something to life with our own hands.Intentional making isn’t just about the finished object. It’s about the process, the small decisions, the pa...

The truth is, pricing isn’t just about numbers. It’s about understanding your worth, recognising the time, skill, and care you put into every piece, and connecting with the audience who will value it. Many makers feel stuck, unsure, or even overwhelmed when it comes to setting prices, but it doesn’t have to stay that way.Pricing is often where creativity meets practicality. It’s easy to undervalue...

I remember that mix of excitement and nerves — wanting to turn what I love into something real. It’s such a brilliant (and sometimes bumpy) journey, and there are a few things I’ve learnt that might help if you’re just getting started.1) Know why you’re doing itIt’s easy to get swept up in the idea of selling your work, but at the core, do you love the making? That passion is what keeps you going ...

Ever wonder why everyone’s suddenly into making lampshades?Not just any lampshades — I mean the proper hand-stitched, old-school, take-your-time kind.Here’s why it’s having a bit of a moment:It’s soothing. Honestly, once you’re stitching away, the rest of the world just melts into the background. Cheaper than therapy — and you get a beautiful lampshade at the end of it.It feels good to make someth...

During a recent five-day lampshade workshop, my student and I talked about so many things… but one chat in particular stuck.We realised that as you grow older, certain filters begin to fade. The inner critic quiets, and your creative voice starts to shine. The barriers that hold us back — fear of judgment, fear of failure, the pressure to be perfect — slowly lose their grip, letting your authentic...

On the first day of my recent student Elena’s lampshade course, who travelled from Spain to learn with me, we got onto this really fascinating topic, why so many people decide to start a creative path later in life. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to share it with you, as I have witnessed this so often over the last 17 years that I could probably fill a whole book with the stories I...