How it all began

For as long as I can remember I have been creating. As a little girl, I remember always 'making' something. I would love to paint, draw, collage and sew. Name a craft and I have tried it. But most of all, I would love to make things for other people. Looking back, I am sure my aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins got sick of receiving my 'abstract' paintings, beaded necklaces, cross-stitched bookmarks and beginning attempts at sewing shorts and jump suits!

I come from a crafty family - both of my grandmothers loved to create - I still have samples of their sewing, knitting and crocheting in my own home. Although I never really knew them (one passed away before I was born and the other - Ruby - died on my third birthday), I like to think that my love of creating came from them. It was actually my step-grandmother that first taught me how to sew. I loved to visit her in my school holidays to sew up little creations for myself, my friends and cousins. I studied art, home economics, and fashion at school and at one stage thought I would pursue these fields in tertiary studies. However, I chose to study business and public relations instead.

I continued to create into my adult years though and started selling handmade jewelry for a while. I stopped this when my children were born but I still had an urge to make! I loved decorating my children's rooms as they came along and started to make curtains, bunting, garlands, mobiles, pyjama bags, wall art, softies and cushions to adorn their rooms. I also began to make unique outfits and accessories at their request - they and I get great joy choosing fabric together and turning it into something they can wear! I also made things for friend's children as gifts and then friends began to ask me to make them things by request. A lot of friends suggested I should start my own business and sell online and at markets but I was unsure. I have always loved attending handmade markets and secretly aspired to one day sell at markets but I didn't think people would actually want to buy things from me! Then in 2010, and at the encouragement of a friend who was having a stall at a local school market, I decided to take the plunge and took Ruby Two Shoes to market! To my surprise, I actually sold quite a lot of my creations and so my business was born.

Fast forward two years and here I am - running my own handmade business, selling my creations to people who love them and connecting with other like-minded handmade business owners both online and at markets, all while working at my own pace and fitting my 'creating' time around the needs of my own family. My life is crazy busy at times but I really am living my dream and love every minute x Em