Oh Sew Creative

Vendor Biography

My Oh Sew Creative journey….

I have always been a creative, practical person who enjoys designing and making. I have previously worked in the fashion industry but that seems a lifetime ago now!

For the last seventeen years, I have been teaching textiles at a secondary school. I worked with 11-18 year-olds guiding them through various projects and helping them to realise their design ideas. I loved this part of my job, it really is amazing seeing the look of pride when a student completes their product. I used to do this full-time, but parenthood called. I am now a mother of two gorgeous boys who keep me very busy! When they came along, I made the decision to reduce my working hours because teaching really is an all-consuming job. My family had to come first, not that pile of marking!

Life is easier now with my boys at school and I began to consider my work options. I knew I did not want to increase my teaching load at school. My boys are still so young with so many commitments and I need flexibility. Then in 2018, a friend asked me if I would do a sewing party for her nine-year-old daughter. I did and it was hard work but such fun too! The girls were so pleased with their creations, and I felt so proud of them. It was like the best parts of my job without the marking and naughty behaviour! Oh Sew Creative was born and I have spent the last few years slowly growing my business and increasing my exposure. I now offer sewing parties, children’s holiday workshops, sewing machine courses, adult evening creative workshops and coffee & craft mornings, to name just a few.

One surprising development was creating a range of craft kits to sell. I opened my British Craft House shop in 2021. I always thought I would do this, but it was brought forward with the Covid crisis. I haven’t been able to really grow this side of my business in the last couple of years, due to rebuilding my Oh Sew Creative face-to-face workshops and courses and, of course, the demands of teaching. However, in an exciting new development in 2023, I have resigned from my teaching job having secured several extra-curricular Oh Sew Creative clubs at local primary schools. I look forward to this step of my journey, alongside growing my British Craft House shop!

I do hope you find something you like in my shop and any questions, please give me a shout!

Andria x