Name: Sue Parnell
Where did your love of crafting start?
My love of crafting has always been present since I was a child. I started making occasion cards about 3 years ago as a way of keeping busy while recovering from heart surgery, but I continued on with this after recovery and have now developed in the area of sewing. I also enjoy hand embroidery
Where did you learn your skills?
I learned how to sew and use a machine at school, my first job was making suit trousers in a factory. I am a qualified psychotherapist and have always used techniques that have some aspect of creativity in them. I find these days that YouTube is a very useful resource.
What is your favourite craft activity and why?
Sewing, embroidery and card making. I find it such a buzz that you start from a piece of card or material and watch it develop in front of your eyes and know that you have made something that will bring a lot of joy to others.
What is your favourite craft item to make?
Quilts.
How do you choose the materials that you work with?
I feel the material and look at the colours and texture making sure they will work with what I am wanting to make.
Describe your crafting space/room in 5 words
Desk, sewing machine, materials, cutting board, private.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
YouTube, friends, family; and random ideas that come into my head.
Which items can you not live without when crafting?
My cutting mat, roller cutter, ruler, iron, sewing machine, cottons, iPhone (to take snap shots of the progress…or not!)
Out of all of your projects you have made which one are you most proud of and why?
I am most proud of the quilt I have made for my due-to-be-born grandchild. I wanted it to be special and it was the first one I ever made and was totally surprised that I could produce something so lovely.
Do you have any top tips that you would like to share?
Crafting is the opposite to cooking. Cooking, you can add but you can’t take away. Crafting you can take away, but far more difficult to add so make sure you measure twice, cut generously leaving enough material to work with.
What are your crafty plans for the future?
Roll with it and see how it goes!