CRAFTY COTTON REEL
I have always loved creating and making. From an early age I made clothes for my toys and later moved on to designing and making my own clothes and supplementing my wardrobe.
For 26 years my creativity took a back seat while I pursued a career in teaching. However it eventually became clear to me that the balance of work versus joy and creativity was out of sync for me. So I tentatively began a new chapter.
At first ‘Handmade by Nicki Cottingham’ became my label, making bags as gifts and then selling at craft fairs. It was wonderful to receive positive and enthusiastic feedback about my handcrafted makes.
Later, joining instagram as crafty_cotton_reel, I enjoyed photographing my products and showcasing my expanding range of bags, accessories and homewares.
Landing a traineeship at The Emperors Old Clothes increased my confidence, skill base and awareness for ethical practice and sustainability.
My passion for pattern, colour and vintage fabrics found me spending many happy hours sourcing reclaimed textiles, unloved garments and beautiful secondhand fabrics to add to my stash.
I love to make beautiful and useful designs using preloved and vintage fabrics, to reduce textile waste and give materials already in existence a new lease of life. My first product was the roll-up bag which was designed small enough so that you always had a bag on you and didn’t need to buy plastic shopping bags to add to our plastic polluted planet.
I relish the challenge of working with limited pieces of textiles, which often dictate what size and designs can be made. Matching coordinating or contrasting closures, handles, straps and topstitching brings me a special kind of joy!
I’m thrilled to add my designs to The Makers Market.
All of my designs are ‘one of a kind’ which have been carefully selected and handcrafted by me in my Sussex countryside studio.
