Courses and YouTube videos are great and you should start with the basics. But the best learning comes from sewing something you want to wear. If you are one of those girls who likes to wear your boyfriend’s shirt the next morning then I am all for it. I love the idea of getting maximum use from your wardrobe.

No one has to start with a tote bag or sunglass case. But you can. The nice thing about a quick project is the natural dopamine hit it gives you to do it again.

If you want to know what Type of sewer you are I created a Quiz. I then send you a report of your strengths, that small flaw to watch out for and what is your ideal next sewing step for you dopamine hit.

I save that for my pattern tutorials. For you, who has invested in my product.

I release 2-3 new sewing patterns each year. I spend hours recording then editing I don’t really have it in me to sit down and chop it up again for reels and YT clips. I know I should. I should do lots of things but this isn’t one that gets me out of bed in the morning. I would prefer to lie in bed with my husband in his boxer shorts.

You want to celebrate your sewing. I think you should. It’s an essential part of creativity (it’s why @sewover50 is so fabulous) but when you do, it seems to fall flat. Why do @gizagiza.gorogoro and @leila.makes nail the look each time. I believe it is in the fabric colour choices.

I talk about colour, a lot, like these:

• Understanding key colour terms
• How to sew charisma: Dress with warmth and competence
• What colours to wear to a job interview

I even created a product to help you with it. Getting your colours to make you look your best is my specialty. As we age our features and hair change (no lazy Botox here) and I encourage you to work with it to make the most of what you have.

The Fabric Formula will help you get dressed in your best colour everyday.

p.s. I am praying Botox and big lips are a fad. What are we doing to ourselves? It makes me so sad.

Fabric.

I like designing fabric that works on boys and men. If I had to articulate the difference the designs and the motifs in the designs are more defined. I am surrounded by good men in my life. The style feels natural to me.

I have a small selection of fabric on this website mostly as part of my Camp Collar Shirt Kits, but you can find a larger collection on Spoonflower.

I first printed with Spoonflower in January 2013, before I knew anything about repeating patterns (which I learnt from Bonnie Christine and then fine tuned the craft with the extraordinary Bärbel Dressler - History Repeating). I am still fine tuning. It is never ending.

I wanted to give people something to make with my fabric. As I grew up sewing it seemed a natural next step to design sewing patterns. I was already visualising my designs on men's garments, so why not design them too.

There is something creative about imagining yourself in a caricature. Like all the times I did my Wonder Women spin. So if you envisage yourself nibbling fruit in a silk robe or limboing on the beach in your colourful camp collar then you are in the right place.

It is all possible.

McCalls (my preferred growing up), Vogue, Simplicity. They all did it. They had these lovely hand drawn images on the front. Why can’t I? I’ll just put a modern spin on it in my colours I thought. I don’t draw them I have the wonderful Maddie, who lives and works in Sri Lanka draw them for me. She does it in between her day job. I am very specific about what I want and she creates them for me. How wonderful is that.

No, I have the wonderful Mariia (who currently resides in war torn Ukraine) to help me. I give her my ideas. She drafts. I download, print, test pattern, make changes. She redrafts and then puts it in all the PDF formats for you. I then set about recording and doing everything else needed to get a pattern into your hot, happy little hands.

Two published books + 1 Journal. Actually I haven’t written any books but I have illustrated them.

Cookbook (Children's Book)

The first was for a Dreaming Big for Little Girls (my previous business). In the end I collaborated with 12 girls to write a cookbook. We had girls from around the globe submit their favourite food recipes. This way I knew it was going to contain food that kids loved.

I then had the brilliant Alison Alexander select the best recipes (ones that would work every time because the ingredients and method were spot on). Up until putting this kids cookbook together I didn’t know that the ingredients are written in order you put them in. This played havoc with my typesetting sensibilities. Then I collaborated with the girls to market the book. I wanted them to experience what was involved in marketing the book. The girls got 50% of the proceeds. We had a book launch at Riverbend Books. The book ended up in 10 countries. I still have a few copies in our garage if you would like one. (email me)

Yoga Me (Children's Book)

The second was for a kids yoga book “YOGA ME” Written in poem by the talented and very flexible Daniela Maddern-Lesser. She describes how Downward dog overcomes sadness and Butterfly pose brings out joy. Daniela has written beautiful poetry in the language a 5 year old can relate to. It is a wonderful way for children to deal with their emotions. My kind of book. It’s on Amazon.

Yes food and exercise. Nothing to do with sewing. Or maybe they do. They certainly have a lot to do with creativity.

Journal for girls - See the world as it could be

I created this journal as a creative space for ideas and inspiration. It doesn't have inspirational quotes because I believe you know what inspires you - you don't need me to tell you. This high quality was a true collaboration project with talented graphic designer Reneé Rogers, the founder, CEO, and Creative Director of LH Agenda (previously Leaders in Heels) Kasia Gospoś and 16 tween and teen girls as part of my design team. We worked together via Slack to create this original masterpiece that everyone should be proud of. Because it is beautiful and original. You can buy it here and I will ship it to you personally.