I've been making things and drawing for as long as I can remember, when I was 4 years old I told my parents I wanted to be a heart attack when i grew up! (architect!)

I was admittedly pretty terrible with a pencil - I was creative and loved creative projects but I was desperately bad at painting neatly and drawing. My art teacher saw something in me though as she asked was I interested in art college.

It wasn't until I had a (lets call it occurrence - long story) where I was supposed to lose the use of my dominant arm - which didn't happen - when I felt a strong urge to use my hands to create. I enrolled on an art and design course. The learning environment was very different to school, my strange approach to art was encouraged and so my drawing improved thankfully!

A few years later my cousin was getting married and as a bridesmaid I wanted to give her a special gift. I know she wanted her wedding to be different so I offered to make pendants, keyrings and necklaces for her 200 something guests. To use as wedding table favors instead of the more traditional bags of sugared almonds.
I had never made any jewellery at all. But I knew I could figure it out. Thanks to the assistance from the guy at BDI Jewellery in Bray, i selected stones and seed beads. As I was new to it all he gave me a quick demo on using crimp beads and then away I went. I spent hours making them every week, even on the bus home from college.

Once I had finished I kinda missed making jewellery. So I went out for more supplies - and the rest is history.

I had donated pieces (paintings and jewellery or gift certs) for charity auctions and raffles before but apart from that I had never sold my work.
I knew about Etsy as I had an account for several years. In early 2012 I heard about a baby who lived near me that needed life saving treatment in Boston - She had a malignant brain tumour - her story really struck a chord with me. I wanted to do what I could for her so I decided to sell my jewellery for her. When I signed up with Etsy I quickly learned that I really enjoyed everything about it. And I adored the excuse to shop for supplies and make as much as I wish rather than being restricted to when I needed gifts. So I decided that when I had done what I could for Kasey, I would continue with Petra's Creations.

I make jewellery, cards, I altar things and paint. I bake as well (just for us though!) barely a day goes by when I don't make SOMETHING.