Billy Now Makes
Welcome to my craft business – where my hobby has become my therapy!
Having not sewn or knitted anything since I was in my early 20’s I started again in 2019 to give me a way of switching off from the stress of my fulltime career. In 2021 I was diagnosed with ME/CFS*and, as a result in late 2022 I had to take medical retirement – so my hobby became my therapy – as I learnt to pace**.
I started to sell my makes so I could afford to buy more materials to make more things. My business name ‘Billy Now Makes’ came from a nickname a very good friend gave me years ago and as a business name it made me laugh!
I only make things I like or because I want to challenge myself to do something I have not done before. I love working with natural products which is why most of what I make is based on cork and leather. I try to support small UK businesses when I can and most of the fabrics I buy and use are classed as ‘deadstock’ – deadstock fabrics are what has been left over after a designer/producer has finished sampling or producing their collection and would otherwise go to waste. The exception to this is the cork I use in my bags – this comes directly from Portugal from the company that harvests the cork and turns it into fabric and other items. I have tried to source this from small UK suppliers without success – either the quality is not great or it is so expensive I could not afford to try and sell the bags made from it.
*ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) – is a chronic, fluctuating disease, causing symptoms such as post-exertional malaise (PEM), sleep problems, problems with thinking and memory (brain fog), pain and crushing fatigue.
**Pacing – is a way of managing and learning to live with ME/CFS – it helps me to manage the amount of energy I have, to use it in the best possible way
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