“I have always been artistic and creative. I did an Advanced City and Guilds in Millinery in Huddersfield in 1999 and by the time I finished, I was already getting commissions.
“It was a great experience – in my work, precision is paramount, and it enabled me to develop the skills I needed. We were given plenty of time to do a lot of development work on our own at home.
“It was also really important in terms of giving me the confidence to realise that my work would sell and to believe in myself.
“I make hats for special occasions – for brides, the mother-of-the-bride and for the races. Many customers come to me because they want something different which is an original design. Some customers come to me because they can’t find the right colour. I also work for people who may be very tall or petite and can’t get hats to fit them.
"My creative work complements the farm, which is a successful business"
“One lady said to me she had enjoyed the whole experience of having something made for her. I was really pleased that she saw it as an experience – not simply buying a product.
“It was the customers who asked me to make handbags. When I had the first request, I made a handbag but it took a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I realised I needed training in the field.
“Lantra funded four short courses which I took in London. It was a different type of training – more business focused and intensive, based on specific skills in soft handbags, structured handbags and pattern cutting. The last course was on the production of bigger, chunkier handbags.
“I now have the skills to make handbags far more quickly and produce a range of different styles to complement my hat making. I’m planning to use my skills by producing fashionable, chunkier handbags to appeal to a younger market.
“My creative work complements the farm, which is a successful business. I do work very hard juggling both roles, but I have flexibility. I went away recently with my husband who was judging a sheep competition and when I came back, I had to work on my own business through the weekend. But I don’t mind because it is my choice.
“My business has done me a lot of good. It is hard sometimes when you work long hours from home, but through my business, I get together with other people which you need when you are creative. I believe it is important to accumulate new skills throughout your whole life.”
