I began making cards around 1998 when I was working full time in Cambridge and I needed something creative to do at weekends. In 1999 I began paper quilling and made quilled cards for family and friends, who liked them and encouraged me to have a stall at a local craft fair. I love visiting craft fairs and I knew the one at Clare Priory in Suffolk has a very high standard so in 2000 I had a stall and sold my cards. They all sold on the first day so I had nothing to sell on the second day! It was brilliant but exhausting.

Then I decided to join the Open College of the Arts (http://www.oca-uk.com) and study a short Textile course. The Open College of the Arts is a great way to dip a toe into the art and craft world which can be daunting. They give you a course booklet and you have a tutor you visit for guidance. I loved this so much in 2001 I decided to leave my job in Cambridge, move to Norwich, and study on the one year Foundation course at Norwich School of Art and Design. I gave myself one year to see if the art and craft route was for me and if I could make a go of it. It was at the Clare Priory craft fair in 2002 that Sarah Crosland (now editor) of Crafts Beautiful magazine saw my cards and asked me to write an article for the magazine. This quilled vegetable article set the wheels in motion as my name was then given to a commissioning editor of David & Charles publishers.

In 2003 I was commissioned to write "The Papercrafter's Bible" for David & Charles publishers and this was published in October 2004. It was quite stressful as I was studying at Norwich School of Art and Design for a BA Honours Degree Fine Art Printmaking and Photomedia. However I enjoyed writing the book and designing the projects so much that in 2004 I was commissioned to write a second book "Cards for Lads and Dads - Over 70 Inspirational Designs for the Men in Your Life" again for David & Charles publishers which will be published in October 2006. I finished my third book "Quick & Clever Christmas Cards and Tags" which was published May 2007. My fourth book "Thrilling Quilling" published in 2008 is where I return to my favourite papercraft and I am very pleased with the result. Currently I am enjoying running cardmaking workshops, writing articles for three craft magazines and generally keeping very busy!