My story
Born to make
For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by how things are made.
I went to a Waldorf kindergarten, where making (handwork), creativity and nature are at the heart of everything children do. I also grew up in a home where creativity was all around me.
My mother was always knitting or making Waldorf dolls, while my father (a teacher) was busy in his workshop building furniture for our house, painting or tinkering on repairs. My two aunts were professional tailors and both of my grandmothers - one Greek, one Austrian - were accomplished in detailed embroidery, crochet, in addition to being excellent cooks. All this was perhaps not unusual in 1980s rural Austria, but I absorbed it all with every fibre of my being.
A squiggly career and creative evening classes
Aged 26, I moved from the Alps to London. Though my background was in teaching English and Geography, I ended up pursuing a marketing career in the legal sector.
Because corporate life didn’t fulfil my creative needs, I attended evening workshops to learn everything my heart desired: jewellery making, professional dressmaking, painting, etching, screen printing, lino cutting and life drawing. On those evenings I was always in my happy place.
A foray into doll making and how motherhood led me back to (my) nature
When my daughter arrived we left London because we wanted her to grow up in nature. I have always drawn inspiration from the natural world. My family teases me about my complete inability to return from a nature walk with empty pockets - I cannot resist picking up beautiful leaves, pine cones, acorns, pebbles, shells and other treasures. In my creative work, I always veer towards natural fibers and materials, and many of my designs are inspired by nature.
I also left the corporate world to be a full time mother - this gave me the freedom to be creative at home. Having learnt doll making from my mother, I was inspired to make Waldorf dolls for a living, but I quickly found myself in a minefield of rules and regulations, which I respect, but which I felt stifled my creativity.
So I went back to corporate work for a few years, until I realised I wanted to spend the last chapter of my working life doing the thing that I really, truly love: creating and inspiring and teaching others to create. That is how Creations & Distractions came to be.
Bringing you Creations & Distractions
Throughout my life, making has given me so much pleasure - it has calmed me and excited me in equal measure. And I want to share that with as many people as I possibly can with my tutorials, patterns and templates.
I hope they help you to slow down, to be more present, to connect with nature and with those you love (by making things for them). I want you to experience the pure joy of holding something in your hands and being able to say: “I made this.”
Contact
I'm always interested in what others have to say, so if you have any questions, suggestions or feedback, please don't hesitate to get in touch.