The Birth of Creative Bobbin

So how did Creative Bobbin come about?

I feel like it's been years in the making, but all of a sudden everything came together and this is the result of it all. I always think the best things aren't planned, they're organic, and that's exactly how I came to be doing this.

My love of dressmaking, and now over 30 years experience in the fashion industry, along with finally finding a use of my love of video editing, (which until now was just a hobby) meant the next natural step was for me to share my skills and love of the subject with my own YouTube channel.

I left school in Norfolk, England in 1992, which doesn't feel that long ago! I then started college, studying art and fashion and loved it from day one. This was back in the days before internet, smart phones and instant access everything (a time I'm sure many of us miss). I spent all day every day being creative, and I absolutely loved it, my dreams were big! Below is a local newspaper article from my college fashion show in 1993, can you imagine how excited I was to see this!! (I'm not sure what I was thinking with that silver outfit!!)

My education continued until I graduated with a degree in fashion, textiles and business in 1999, and also some great work experience along the way, which helped secure my first real job - in New York!

I worked there for a few years in the garment district for a small fashion brand. I had to pinch myself. In the space of 7 years I went from a shy child who didn't really know what was fashionable, to a fashion designer working in New York! I was one very very happy young lady.

My next step was to move to London, where I worked for various retailers, and was lucky enough to travel a lot to Hong Kong, India, Turkey, Mauritius (hard times), Paris, New York, Milan etc.... to visit factories and visit industry trade shows, a real insight in to the industry. It was after a few years of this that I decided I wanted a change. No longer did I want to work in the ever faster fashion industry, I wanted to make one off lovely dresses, with my own hands - not factories. It was a big decision, and one I've never regretted.

Whilst enjoying the new path I'd chosen to go down I also became a mum, so work was no longer my biggest priority. I now had two little people to look after while I somehow found the time to carry on working. My love of fashion never went though, and now that those little people are getting bigger I decided earlier this year to take the plunge and start something new.

Creative Bobbin has reinvigorated my love of creativity, and I feel like this has been just the first little step to what will become my next big adventure.