WoW!! HoW?? H&W if I quickly knew how to put the W on top of the H like the logo with a computer I would bother to do it but there is a limit to my computer skills. But think we have to keep learning to keep ourselves up to date with the latest trends to learn how to survive!!
If you were a betting person and 35yrs ago someone asked you to place a bet on which business would still be going in October 2019 I don't think many would have placed their bet on me.
The local enterprise development officer in 1986 told me at a meeting in the Strangford Arms Hotel that I would never be able to make a living making wedding dresses!! I came home in tears and my Dad just said you have a good lot of orders in your diary now that you have been going a year keep going and see what happens. I bet not many of you knew that! I wonder where that guy is now, is he still employed by the government?
So here's a bit more about me.
I grew up on a stud farm on the Ards Peninsula in Northern Ireland. My father had a hardware store in Bangor providing essentials for locals and as a young girl I was taught the importance of making customers happy as I worked in my Dad's shop after school. My art teacher encouraged me to keep doing my art to A level and she talked 7 of us into applying for the foundation course at the art college but only one got in, so I felt I must give it a go. I thought I wanted to do hair dressing and work in TV or theatre!!
My Great Aunts were keen patchwork quilters and my Grand Mother had seen a lot of the world and had brought back many inspiring pieces of everything from jewellery to clothes.
The beauty of Strangford Lough, the antique shops and my love of art @ school all lead me to do a Degree in Fine Art and Textiles. Inspired by linens and laces from the Irish tradition I went on to specialise in Fashion and embroidery at art college and developed new techniques to produce my own pieces. The local Folk Museum just 4 miles from me has the most fabulous pieces in their archives to share with us and I was lucky to be allowed to study pieces close up just after I left art college by a lovely lady called Lynda Ballard.
As soon as I finished Art College some of my pieces of embroidery sold. I started doing exhibitions of my work locally and across the water I also took part in the RDS competition down in Dublin were two of my pieces won awards. I was asked to do a talk to the local Embroiderers Guild and meet lots of lovely ladies who encouraged me. Designing and making bridal dresses and accessories then became my passion. Meanwhile I continued to collect vintage pieces for inspiration and to fully appreciate the skill and craftsmanship in them, beautiful hand sewn embroidery linens, christening robes and beaded bags.
Being able to communicate with people is maybe my most important skill, but craftsmanship and impeccable quality are at my business's core and I strive to maintain this everyday. Without my lovely clients I would not still be here today, so to everyone of you from my past 35years to the next year I want to thank you. Yours sincerely Joanne
