Welcome to Janiemade and my new little Folksy shop that I will be filling with all kinds of crocheted loveliness. If you're after unique and quirky toys and gifts I hope you won't be disappointed.

Many of my toys can be made in other colours or personalised to make a truly original gift, so please get in touch if you'd like something made especially for you, I like a challenge.

Happy shopping, Jane :)

Crochet is my happy place

I grew up in Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, 'where the pork pies come from', but have lived in a village a few miles from Northampton for the last 20 years, having first come to the county as a student. I didn't realise as a child how lucky I was to grow up surrounded by family who were good with their hands and, out of necessity I suppose, were very keen on the philosophy of 'make do and mend'.

I was taught to knit by my Mum when I was about 7, but it was Grandad who had the time and patience to help me knit my first (very holey!) scarf for my Sindy doll. In the 1970s crochet became very popular, Mum couldn't get the hang of it when she tried to teach herself, but we came across a simple child's book of crochet and muddled our way through together until we finally mastered granny squares. I continued to crochet and knit, and had a cross stitch craze in my twenties, but crafting wasn't cool, so it was always a bit of a guilty secret!

I'm so glad that times have changed and that handmade is no longer seen as inferior but something to be celebrated. I now understand that being creative with my hands and concentrating on following a pattern really helps my mental health and wellbeing. The coronavirus lockdown gave me precious time to pursue my dream of creating and CE testing a range of crocheted toys to sell online. I'm so pleased I discovered the Folksy community, it seems a friendly and positive place, and I hope you will find something to make you smile in my little corner of it. Thanks for dropping by, Jane x

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