From Crafting for Fun to a Thriving Creative Business: Meet Janey
For some, creativity is a hobby. For others, it quietly weaves its way through every stage of life; until one day, it blossoms into a full-blown passion. That’s exactly what happened for Janey, a lifelong crafter whose love for sewing, knitting and crochet laid the foundations for a flourishing career in soft furnishings. What began with a few handmade blinds for her own home soon turned into a lightbulb moment: she had both the eye and the enthusiasm for interior design.
Keen to master the skills of curtain and blind making, she joined the National Design Academy’s in-studio diploma, and hasn’t looked back since. Now running her own growing business, Janey shares how the NDA helped her turn a lifelong passion into a fulfilling career that balances creativity, family life, and the joy of beautifully made design.
Read on to discover Janey’s design inspirations, proudest projects, and the one unexpected skill she’s fallen completely in love with!
What first sparked your passion for design?
I’ve always had a passion for crafting, whether it’s sewing, knitting, or crocheting. In fact, I’ve almost always had a project on the go (though I’ll admit, not all of them make it to the finish line). While I’ve been busy with other career paths and family life over the years, my time for crafting and sewing was often limited.
It wasn’t until I made a few blinds for my own home, and loved the process of blending functionality with beautiful design; that I realised I had a thing for interior design. When my mum built a house and asked me to make all the curtains and blinds, I saw an opportunity to refine my skills. From there, the idea of a curtain-making business was born!
Who is your biggest design inspiration?
There are many designers, eras, and styles that inspire me, I could never pin it down to just one! My tastes have definitely evolved over the years. I once had a deep love for bold floral patterns, like those from Liberty, but over the past decade, I’ve gravitated toward more geometric, contemporary designs.
One thing that hasn’t changed? My obsession with colour and my love of a stripe! I absolutely love mixing and matching different patterns and vibrant hues to create something truly unique.
How would you describe your design style/taste in 3 words?
Bold, colourful and eclectic!
What made you apply to the National Design Academy?
I wanted to refine my curtain and blind-making skills, and the NDA course stood out as the perfect fit. Studying in-studio was a must for me as I’m a highly visual learner, so seeing techniques demonstrated in front of me was essential. Plus, I was excited to connect with like-minded people, making this course an even better match. I felt mastering the fundamentals of soft furnishings was essential. I knew I could build on my skills over time, but having a strong foundation was crucial to setting me up for success.
What’s the most unexpected thing you have learned from the course?
I never quite understood just how much of traditional curtain and blind making is hand-sewn before I did the NDA course and I am absolutely here for it. I love the hours that I spend quietly sewing in my workroom. It feels like a tonic to my otherwise frantic life!
I expected to be spending a lot more time on my sewing machine but now understand exactly why hand-sewing produces much more durable, elegant soft furnishings that stand the test of time.
What has been your favourite course module and why?
So hard to choose! I really enjoyed learning and still love to make roman blinds so perhaps that is my favourite. I love that you ‘build’ the blind, adding in the layers and all the hidden stitches that structures the blind and makes it run smoothly – with a completely uninterrupted front with no visible stitches. They are incredibly satisfying to make.
What’s your favourite project that you’ve worked on?
As mentioned above, I love making roman blinds. I often get asked to make a set of roman blinds for a bay window – which requires at least 3 blinds that sit side by side. When the fabric is patterned, there is some important decisions to make about where the pattern is placed so you make the most of the display – and then ensure that the pattern runs across all the blinds you make – it is such a triumph to see them up, like a work of art!
What advice would you give to potential National Design Academy students?
If you are considering it, just do it! You won’t regret it. And get the most out of the time you have at the NDA and the contact you have with the very knowledgeable tutors.
Now that you completed your course, what have you been up to?
I completed my course a while ago. Upon completion I soon started making soft furnishings for friends and family. I completed all the curtains and blinds in my mum’s new house and its all looking wonderful. Over the last couple of years, I have set up my website and started advertising in the local magazine.
Most of my work comes from word of mouth, which is really reassuring that my work is something that people recommend to others. I am really enjoying growing my business and also appreciating the flexibility it gives me around my family. Being self-employed allows me the freedom to spend lots of time of time with my children, while doing something I love and that brings me great creative satisfaction – I feel very lucky that is now my job!
