The beginning...

Almost 40 years ago, I walked out of college clutching a freshly awarded BTEC Diploma in Art and Design. I was 19 years old and had a place waiting for me on a textile degree course that autumn.

Then life happened.

That summer my parents moved from London to a sleepy Victorian seaside town in South Wales. Suddenly I was far from my friends, the galleries and museums I loved, and the creative world that had shaped me. Somewhere between packing boxes and unpacking uncertainty, self-doubt crept in.

By September, I had convinced myself I wasn't good enough for university.

Instead, I got a job.

Like many crossroads in life, it seemed like a small decision at the time. I imagined I'd find something creative, perhaps working in a gallery or assisting an artist. Reality had other ideas. Jobs were scarce and my experience as a Saturday girl in Sainsbury's wasn't opening many doors. I trained as a croupier in a casino and took a completely different path.

Me as a mature student, finally fulfilling my dream.

Two years later I was married, had a mortgage and a baby on the way. The dream of a creative career quietly disappeared beneath the responsibilities of everyday life.

For decades I built a successful career in retail management. On paper it looked sensible and secure. In reality, I often wondered how the girl who wanted to study textiles had ended up immersed in staffing spreadsheets and sales forecasts.

Then, in my early fifties, life handed me another crossroads.

After losing both of my parents within a year, I realised something profound: life is far too short to keep postponing the things that matter most.

I started attending local textile classes. My first experience of natural dyeing felt like pure alchemy. Suddenly plants, flowers and even kitchen scraps became sources of colour and possibility. A spark I thought I'd lost forever flickered back into life.

Eventually, at the age of 56, I found myself doing something I never imagined possible.

I went back to university.

19 year old me, with a head full of dreams in 1986

Being a mature student in a class full of people young enough to be my daughter was daunting. It was also one of the best decisions I've ever made. Over three years I learned new technologies, developed new creative skills and pushed myself far beyond my comfort zone. I travelled to India, volunteered in a dye and fibre garden, and discovered a community of people who shared my fascination with textiles and sustainability.

Most importantly, I rediscovered who I was.

During my studies I became increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of the textile industry. While I love traditional processes such as growing fibres and creating natural dyes, I also learned how time-intensive they can be. The reality is that we already have an abundance of textiles in circulation.

So instead of asking, "How can we make more?", I started asking, "How can we make better use of what already exists?"

That question became the foundation of Textiles Reimagined.

Through textile art, repair, visible mending and workshops, my aim is to help people see value where others see waste. A worn pair of jeans, a damaged jacket or a forgotten piece of fabric can all be transformed into something useful, beautiful and meaningful.

India field trip, harvesting natural dyes and experimenting at Cardiff Metropolitan University

This blog is where I'll share that journey.

There will be stories from my degree show, experiments with natural dyes, visits to inspiring artists, the transformation of a damp old garage into a creative workshop, and the inevitable successes and disasters that come with starting a new business.

After all, Textiles Reimagined isn't really about textiles.

It's about second chances.