21/09/2026
I almost gave it all up.
For the last couple of years of owning Forest & Cove, the stress became intense.
Running a retail shop was incredibly difficult. Costs kept rising, more people were shopping online, and despite working harder and leaning into creative classes, it wasn't enough to make everything work.
I thought about it constantly, from waking up to going to bed. It affected my relationships, health and enjoyment of life. I felt like I was carrying an enormous weight.
In 2024, I had an unexpected health scare. Doctors told me I needed to reduce the stress in my life.
In January 2025, I had a major operation. Recovery took a long time, and by then, I felt like my life had spiralled out of control.
So I made the incredibly difficult decision to close Forest & Cove.
After five years of pouring so much of myself into that place, it broke my heart.
But I decided I needed to give up jewellery too.
I convinced myself I needed a stable job with clearer boundaries. Because I knew I loved teaching, I decided teaching in a school might be the answer.
I even got onto a teacher training programme.
I told the Forest & Cove community the gallery was closing, and my students I was giving up jewellery.
And then something unexpected happened.
The pressure disappeared.
I had time to teach.
My students wanted final classes, to learn particular techniques and make things with me before I stopped.
So I packed a huge amount of teaching into a very short space of time.
I absolutely loved it.
Somewhere in all of that, I realised:
I didn't actually want to give up jewellery.
I didn't need to give up what I loved.
I needed to change the way I was working.
For a long time, I'd been trying to make everything work in a way that made me miserable.
So after a lot of soul-searching and planning, I decided to give jewellery another chance.
But this time, differently.
No gallery.�No trying to make everything work.
Just jewellery.�Teaching.�Making.�Creating.
And hopefully, a better balance.
And so here I am.
In my brand new studio in Fordingbridge.
Starting over.
I almost gave it all up.
But I'm so glad I didn't. 🤍
