Good question.
I've always been someone who makes things.
I can remember trying to follow Blue Peter and Art Attack crafts, only to discover that we didn't own the all-important double-sided sticky tape! Looking back, I made guitars with shoe boxes and elastic bands, sketched my soft toys, painted money boxes and plaster of paris figurines.
At A Level I discovered the freedom that art could offer. I made a plaster sculpture that my mum still proudly displays, and a giant fake-fur Maltesers packet inspired by Claes Oldenburg. At university, where I studied Art and English, I spent my first year experimenting with everything from lino printing and screen printing to photography, sculpture and life drawing. I loved that there wasn't one right way to create. You could explore, make mistakes, change direction and discover something completely unexpected.
Thankfully, that curiosity never stopped.
Over the years I've gradually collected a very full art cupboard (actually it's more like a cram packed room now!) It's overflowing with fabrics, buttons, beads, paints, pens, paper, stamps, sewing machines, a Cricut, an embroidery machine… and plenty of those bits and pieces that you keep because they might come in useful one day. It's can be a happy place - and a frustrating one, when the image in your head does not match the output.
Although creativity has always been at the heart of what I do, I've also enjoyed spending time working with children over the years. I worked at a children's summer activity centre when I was younger, helping to navigate engaging days for kids of different ages. More recently, I've volunteered with my local primary school's PTA, organising events and activities for school families. Alongside being a parent myself, I appreciate how much children thrive when they feel relaxed, encouraged and free to have a go without worrying about getting everything perfect.
The idea for The Makery Nook really arrived one afternoon while my teenager was happily rummaging through my art cupboard. I remember thinking, 'I wish other kids had access to this, and I would have loved it when i was younger'
Some children already love making. Others have convinced themselves they're "not creative". Many simply freeze when they're handed a blank sheet of paper. As children get older, opportunities to experiment become fewer, and creativity can start to feel like another subject to be assessed rather than simply enjoyed.
That's what I hope The Makery Nook can change.
These workshops aren't about producing identical masterpieces to take home. They're about giving children permission to play, experiment, solve problems, change their minds and discover what excites them. Sometimes they'll leave with something they're incredibly proud of. Sometimes they'll simply leave having discovered a new material, a new technique or a little more confidence in themselves. Both are equally valuable.
Of course, freedom doesn't mean children are left to figure everything out on their own.
My role is to create a welcoming, well-prepared space where they feel confident enough to explore. I'll be bringing enough materials to fill The Bothy with possibilities, along with plenty of ideas, demonstrations and gentle guidance whenever it's needed. For children who love to dive straight in, there will be endless opportunities to follow their curiosity. For those who aren't sure where to begin, I'll be there to help them find a starting point without taking over.
Keeping the groups small means I can get to know each child, encourage them as individuals and make sure everyone has the space to create in their own way. It's about being curious enough to have a go.
If that sounds like the sort of creative space your child would enjoy this summer, I'd love to welcome them to The Makery Nook, at The Bothy in Cirencester. Come and make, experiment, get a little bit messy and discover where imagination can take you.
I look forward to seeing them there.