Winning this award is so special to me as recently I’ve felt slightly lost and stopped believing in myself. It’s allowed me to reflect on my whole life and how I used to draw animals every single day, using all my dad’s printer paper, costing him a fortune!

As a child, I always knew I wanted to be an artist but was always told it wouldn’t be sustainable. I always loved art but I was never the best in the class, I would often peak too early and fail at the final hurdle.

This continued into university, finding embroidery. I discovered to draw animals but with thread?! I was so hard on myself for being one mark off a 1st for my BA. This at the time, was the end of the world but reflecting, it doesn’t matter at all. No one cares, that course showed me a skill that would shape my whole future.

Though I stepped back from embroidery due to doubts and falling into jobs which I loved. I ended up with a job that would treat me poorly and end up firing me. Losing this job was the best thing to ever happen to me, it allowed me to think about what I love doing and create the business you see today.

I contacted the King’s Trust and they supported me in creating this business which I am so proud of. They offered me support and most importantly the confidence to even stand up on that stage.

3 and a half years later, I get to celebrate my achievements with an amazing support network around me. Thank you everybody who has been on this journey with me.

I’m not very good at being serious and vulnerable, so this is a lot for me! But this weekend I’ve realised how strong I am and how that has helped shaped this whole stitched adventure.