Moving Article about Suzie Fletcher from The Repair Shop

I came across this article in the Radio Times magazine a few weeks ago. It is a lovely and touching account about the talented leather worker, Suzie Fletcher, from the popular BBC show, The Repair Shop. She tells how working on the show has helped her process the grief for the tragic loss of her husband to cancer as well as the deaths of her mother and aunt within 5 months of each other! I love tuning in to watch the Repair Shop on BBC 1 to see what all the crafts people are up to, but I am especially interested in what Suzie is tasked to do being a fellow leather worker myself! I run leather courses and have had many people through my studio doors who have said they have been inspired by the programme and love how it is helping to keep craft alive. It’s an amazing advocate for true craftsmanship and the act of repairing items (of particular sentimental value) that may otherwise be thrown away. A true backlash to our very digital and screen based age which is truly refreshing and very much needed.

My Last Group Workshop!

Little did I know it at the time but this was my last large group workshop, for a while anyway. 12 lovely ladies came along for a 3 hour hand stitched leather notebook cover workshop at the fabulous Arts & Crafts Centre in Cranleigh at the beginning of March 2020, just before the lockdown.

They all made their own notebook covers complete with clasps and embossed initials or names. It was a great morning and I miss teaching groups like that both big and small. Hopefully soon I will be able to teach again even if just one to one to start with.