1. What have been the doings/makings/scribblings at your desk/making table in the last week?

– At the moment I am developing my range of textile and mixed media sculptures and I have been working on some more caravan designs.

I have also had some Etsy orders this week.

And I’ve started work on an order for a guest book.

2. Where are you currently finding your inspiration?

– One of my main sources of inspiration is my collection of toys and dolls and my memories of childhood, the playthings, stories and games that I treasured. I like to use preloved and vintage materials in my pieces and these can sometimes trigger an idea.

I am also fascinated with folk art and traditional craft and I have numerous books on these subjects which I often visit for inspiration.

For the vast libraries of images I often use Pinterest and Flickr. I haven’t long had a smart phone and I’m now on Instagram and finding that it’s a good place to make connections and meet inspiring people.

My family have always been a great support and an inspiration. My mum taught me to sew and knit and she is always making something and my sister is an amazing artist and maker of many things. My partner Keith makes films, photos and stories and I couldn’t be without his creativity and belief in me and everyday I am awed and inspired by the talent of my children.

3. How important is being creative to you & how do you blend this with your work/life/family balance?

– Having the time and space to be creative is so important to me. I have always made things but as a means of earning a living it has only been since having children that I have had the confidence to pursue my current path. This freelance life has been a mix of making and facilitating/teaching in different measures. Over the past few years, as my children have got older the making side of things has developed further.

This path is probably evolving quite slowly because it is important to me to give time and energy to my family and personal life, I find this equally fulfilling (and also creative). So sometimes I’m baking bread for the family, sometimes I’m staying up all night finishing an order, sometimes I’m delivering a workshop, sometimes I’m away from home at a fair and sometimes I’m sitting nattering with good friends. As yet I don’t have much financial security with this choice but I think I do have some kind of balance.

I’m tagging Francine of COW Studio and Rebbecca of Fika Print Designs. I met Francine when she ran her wonderful COW studio in Birmingham, (now back in her home country of the Netherlands) and I met Rebecca when I exhibited at The Affordable Art and Design Fair that she helped to organise.