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About me……..

I’ve always made things, , mostly out of other things, and mostly using my sewing machine.

I went to Plymouth College of Art and Design to study Btec Diploma in Craft and Design, working in metal, glass, ceramics and textiles, and then I trained as a florist. I worked in Floristry until I had children and then, for many years my creative whims were fulfilled by sticking, painting and playing with my kids. We renovated a house on an absolute shoestring which meant being extremely creative when it came to decorating and furnishing our home. I took up silk painting and sold everything I made.

 Gradually as the kids got older I ended up working in business management, initially for a local business that had just started and needed organisation and  procedural systems and then for my ex-husbands’ construction business. Accounts and administration did not provide much in the way of creative outlet and after 10 years I increasingly felt the need for change.
 
The one thing I have never stopped doing was sewing. I made clothes, curtains, cushions, toys, I covered chairs, did up the inside of a campervan ….anything that we or my friends needed. I mended things, altered things ( my ex-husband could not understand why I would buy something only to bring it home and chop it up !!), I designed things, some with more success than others! I  did a City & Guilds course in Dressmaking for Fashion  as a way of updating  my skills which I passed with a Distinction.

In December 2008 a night out with a friend sowed the seed of Make New & Mend. The shop unit was empty, I had just finished my dining room curtains as well as some for a friends nursery and was saying how much I had enjoyed spending a whole week just sewing. She said “why don’t you.....”  and I could not think of a good enough reason not to  try. We fitted out the shop with cutting table, shelving and rails and on January 10th 2009 I opened the door to Make New & Mend.

I honestly thought that I would spend most of my time making bits and pieces to sell. I love making curtain panels from lots of different remnants and trims sewn together, I have collected a remnant mountain that I was looking forward to working my way through.....  In fact I am still looking forward to making my way through it !!! 

Creative Sewing Services……

In the 15 years that I have been open I have worked on an enormous range of jobs, from shortening a collection of silk ties to making an entire outfit for the mother of the groom to relining a tea cosy. I have replaced zips in coats, jeans, suit trousers, dresses, sleeping bags, buggy covers and a rucksack. I have repaired split seams, torn hems and  patched numerous knees. I have relined a 1930's coat, altered the fit of an Ozwald Boateng suit ( possibly the most beautiful suit I have ever seen!) and made a cushion from a very old fur cape.I have re-covered lampshades, made curtains out of old wool rugs and made cushions covers out of too many different things to mention!!  I have made loose covers for sofas, chairs and footstools.

I continued to be challenged, delighted and, at times, surprised at the things I am asked to work on. I love that people trust me to use my creativity on something they will have to live with, I love it when someone leaves the shop with something that fits, works or is useable once again, they are always so pleased.

January 2016 has seen us take up residence in our new premises, a fantastic new build that has been over 3 years in the planning and doing. With the help and support of my family I have been able to realise my vision for a previously dilapidated site in the centre of our lovely village. It gives me the most amazing work space in which to grow and develop my business. I have lots more room, much better fitting room and the most amazing views !!

2020...As for so many people this has been a very strange year  that has prompted me to look at the things that are really important and to reassess my priorities. As part of that I have decided to realise along held dream and have successfully applied to do a BA in Textile Practices at Plymouth College of Art. Its a full time course but there is some flexibility so I will still ( need to still !!) be running Make New & Mend alongside this, albeit on a smaller scale during term time. I am excited by this opportunity to explore a more experimental and personally creative side of the world of textiles 

We work hard to keep our work to the best quality we can and our customers happiness with their experience at Make New & Mend is of the greatest importance to us. We regularly look at how we do things and what  improvements we can make and welcome all feedback, good and bad. We hope to see you soon!