The Maker’s Journal

It’s hard to describe until you’ve done it. It starts with the first cut, the first careful stitch, the first neat fold and you notice every little movement. There’s a rhythm to it, a quiet kind of focus that makes time feel slower. For a while, the outside world fades away and all that matters is the work in front of you. Your mind quiets, your thoughts settle, and there’s a kind of peace in the ...

Whenever my energy dips or creativity slows, I step outside, feel the air on my face, or hop on my bike for a short ride. There’s something about movement and being fully present that sparks ideas in ways I don’t expect.But what about you? What do you turn to when your creativity needs a little spark?Sometimes I feel that creativity isn’t just about what we make or what we know. It’s about being a...

There are moments in life when you pause, look around, and realise this feels right. Not because everything is perfect, but because it’s honest, it’s yours, and it comes from a place of truth and being wholeheartedly yourself.I’ve been thinking about how we arrive at these moments, the kind that fill you with quiet happiness and gratitude. And I keep coming back to one thing: the power of followin...

Every creative journey starts with a spark — a small idea that excites you, scares you, and refuses to be ignored. Over the past three decades, I’ve learned that nurturing that spark takes patience, curiosity, and courage.This week, watching one of my students quietly absorbed in their work reminded me of that feeling. Seeing someone so focused and present made me reflect on my own journey and the...

I was chatting with one of my recent students, who came from Wales to attend a five-day lampshade making course with me in my Brighton studio. She asked, “How many lampshades do you need to make before you feel confident in your skills and can say, Yes, I’ve got this?”I had to smile — I remember feeling exactly the same when I first started. After a rocky beginning, it took me a while to make my f...