For me jewellery making offered something no other craft could give. Not only is it enjoyable, it was relatively quick and easy to do, it gave me the opportunity to initially make presents for people, and then the big WOW factor - people actually wanted to buy my jewellery!

My jewellery making has slowly expanded as my health has improved. First I would make presents for people and then I would make items to sell at the church coffee morning. Then the big take off point was being encouraged to have a stall at the ME North East craft fayre and from that day I haven’t looked back. From doing the craft fayre I suddenly realised that I could do this and the idea for hosting jewellery parties was born.

I’ve been doing jewellery parties for about a year now and I manage to do one around every 8 weeks, although before Christmas I’m in high demand and have them a little more regularly. It’s given me such a wonderful new dimension to my life. I can make the jewellery at my own speed as my health permits. I now have a jewellery catalogue and my jewellery has been seen far and wide, on TV, at weddings and in Australia to name but a few places.

So go on, get creative, do something you enjoy, try a new craft you never know where it may take you.

E-mail Helen at lawson@synergybroadband.co.uk

Please feel free to email any comments, stories, articles, tips etc – you might be able to help someone else. Email ypg@me-ne.fslife.co.uk