Making things to make you smile
I have always been a maker of dolls, of creatures and animals, but it was not until I discovered etsy and set up my shop in 2010 that I really found an outlet for my work. The name of my shop "Lybo" comes from the name my elder sister used to call me, which was short for Elizabeth.
I design patterns and original dolls and animals from yarn, needlefelt and cloth. All my patterns are my own — I find it very liberating to invent as I make, often having a picture in my mind of where I am going, but no real plan of how I get there — my fingers just take over. All my work is either done by hand or with the help of my hundred-year-old hand-cranked Singer sewing machine. It is very forgiving, and will sew through many layers with ease.
I work alone, and have never been very good at delegating, so I do not produce large numbers of dolls. I take custom orders, and am happy to personalise. I have many very loved and valued customers who have stuck with me and I am so grateful to them for their continued support. I am a big fan of instagram (Lybo_handmade), it is a great community where I have met lots of inspiring makers.
I am based in the beautiful Cathedral city of St Albans in England and all my work is created from my favourite place in the world — a tiny purpose-built office, halfway down my garden — just a 3 second commute from my back door. It is a lovely space to work, just me, my little dog Archie (who watches me from his day-bed by the window), my radio and piles of fabric, ribbon, buttons and thread. Every morning Archie and I have a hour long walk, before I retreat to my work-shop, cup of tea in hand, turn on Radio 4 (hopefully in time for Women's Hour!) and the day begins.