I create simple, colourful concrete pieces to bring a little joy to your home and garden.
Hi, I’m Anna, the maker behind Anna Happy Place in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
It all started with some leftover cement after a home renovation. I had an idea, bought a few moulds and made my first piece. I didn’t really know where it would lead, but I soon discovered how much I enjoyed it.
I work as a cleaner, so most of my making happens in the evenings, after work and after I’ve finished looking after the house and my family. I have a little room at home where I can close the door, paint and create, while my concrete pieces are poured into moulds outside and left to dry naturally in their own little space.
At first, I was making things for myself and for friends. I found that sitting down to make and paint something after a busy day helped me relax and gave me a real sense of calm. A friend suggested that I should try selling my creations, although it took me quite a while to find the courage to actually put that first piece up for sale. When someone finally bought it, I was absolutely delighted.
I’m inspired by nature, flowers, gardens, colour and simple things that I would happily have in my own home. I make concrete decorations for the home and garden, including larger planters and smaller pots for succulents and cacti. Sometimes I also make mugs with my own designs, names or photos, but concrete is where it all began and remains at the heart of my shop.
I like things that have character rather than looking perfectly factory-made. Each piece is poured individually or in small batches, so small differences in texture, colour or tiny air bubbles can sometimes appear. I try to keep these to a minimum, but I also think they are part of the charm of making things by hand.
I take my own photographs too and try not to over-edit them. I want my products to look as natural and true to life as possible.
Most of all, I make things because it makes me happy and gives me a little bit of peace in a busy life. I hope that something I create can bring that same little bit of happiness to someone else and make their home or garden feel special.
I’m still learning, experimenting and coming up with new ideas, so who knows what might appear in the shop next.
Thanks for stopping by and having a look at my little creative corner.
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