Charlotte's Web

Meet the Maker - Stacey Ward

What do you do?

I make things! I like to craft, I crochet and I sew.

I crochet a lot, using my own patterns and designs. I started to create my own creatures after making a unicorn as a gift for my niece, I realised I could use different techniques to create shapes and have been doing so ever since.

I love all crafts but the sewing, cross stitch and crochet are my thing.

How did you get started?

I started to sew when I was about 7, I had an accident where I damaged my eye and wasn’t allowed to go out of the house. I had school work but got bored being stuck inside. I made a sock puppet (still have him in a show box somewhere), I also learnt to crochet a blanket using “granny squares”.

I was gifted a cross stitch kit by an Aunt and was addicted from that point on.

I was never bored, I always had hobbies. When I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I’d been really ill for a while and picked up my crafts again as a coping mechanism. I don’t rest easy, I feel lazy if I’m not doing something. This is where my crafts come in, I am always doing something even if I am resting, a sort of therapy maybe.

Is this your full time job?

I wish that this was my full time job! I work at Redcar & Cleveland College, as a Work Based Learning Coordinator. It’s a hectic, high pace, stressful at times and generally a very busy role, where I manage a team and also look after my own apprentices. This is why my craft is so important to me. It helps me unwind and relax – which is much needed!

Luckily I love to be busy and time management, motivation and productivity are my favourite issues to help people with in my coaching.

Where do you create?

I create at home, I have a section of my loft that I am renovating into a craft space. I also use my dining room as my quiet space, where I can read, relax, design and make.

Tea or coffee?

Oh definitely a tea person, but partial to the odd double chocolate mocha…

Where is your favourite local place?

Tunstall is one of my favourite places. I grew up on a farm there as a child, and worked as a nanny there too. It’s beautiful place. I love the dale in general.