At 15 years old I made my first wedding dress for a school project. The dress was actually created for the character of Elizabeth Bennett, in Pride & Prejudice, for her wedding to Mr Darcy. That was it, I was hooked.

After leaving school in the 80’s, I attended The Great Yarmouth College of Art & Design, where I developed my design & manufacturing skills. Fast forward to 1995, & two name changes later, the college was then known as ‘The Norwich School of Art & Design. I went from Student, to Fashion Technician, to Lecturer in Pattern Cutting & Manufacture, before then becoming Head of the Fashion Department in the Schools final year, before the whole Yarmouth site was shut down. I guided my 10 second year students through their final year, culminating in a spectacular Fashion Show at The Royal Norfolk Showground, where I also showcased my first every bridal collection of 13 outfits. What a truly magical time that was & what a fabulous foundation for my life in the design world.

Fast forward again to the early 2000’s & I’m a single parent of two fabulous baby boys, & I have my dream bridal business. My work gets spotted at a bridal event, at The Savoy in London, & I’m offered the opportunity to take my work to Milan. I’m interviewed by the local radio & tv stations, championing single women in business & I have a big spread in the local & regional papers. Another magical time with great memories. In 2007 I make the heart-breaking decision to put my business dreams on hold & concentrate on being a full time mum to my then impressionable young children.

Here we go with another fast forward….. Before the pandemic hit, as well as being a Full Time Art Technician, at City College Norwich, & Paston College in North Walsham, I was also teaching night classes in sewing skills to both beginners & intermediate sewers. I had gotten the bug for creating & teaching again & I loved it. Then wham! The pandemic hits & the whole world shuts down!!

During the pandemic like so many others I struggled with my mental health & turned to my love of art & manufacture to help me through. My days were spent working full time for the college from home, & while my husband was out working long days as a delivery driver, I spent my evenings & weekends making endless laundry bags for our fabulous NHS. I then turned my thoughts to myself & my wardrobe. I rediscovered my love of whacky clothes & started making myself some weird & wonderful things. I then discovered sculpture & mosaic art, before my life changing journey into fluid & abstract painting.

We’re now in 2023, & given the last few years we’ve all been through, & like so many others revaluating their lives, I have decided it’s time for me to get back to doing what I do best, to being me true, authentic, creative self. So here I am, back in business as ‘The Sewing Lady,’ but don’t be fooled by the title, I’m not just a lady in the village that sews, there’s way more to me than that.

Check out my portfolios for just a small sample of the things I’ve created over the last 35 years & the exciting new products I’m launching this year. If you’d like to come & visit me in my workshop to discuss a project you may be thinking about then I’d love to see you. Give me a call or drop by when I’m open.

All the best & I look forward to seeing you soon

Deb x