Angela was first inspired to sew by her Grandmother, who lived next door to the family home in New Zealand. Her Grandma would always be making her the latest fashions, and soon Angela got the sewing bug! At first using her Grandma's sewing machine, she finally got her own at age 12... and has never stopped sewing since!
After moving back to the UK, Angela studied textiles for five years, first with a Art & Design Course at York College and then Foundation Degree at Cleveland College of Art and Design in Hartlepool.
It was after this training, she realised there was a definite lack of suitable facilities in the area she lived..... and The Design Suite was born!
The Design Suite is made up of three studios, Studio One, Two and Print Studio.
Studio One has a gorgeous relaxed feel, with confortable seating and inspiring surroundings. This Studio is for the sewing and craft workshops, and can be hired for your own use for £50 half day.
Studio Two, is more formal, and is designed mainly for meetings and talks. It can be hired for your own use for £25 per hour.The Print Studio is an open plan area to allow space for screen printing on fabric and wallpaper.
Angela is running workshops in various subjects from dressmaking - basic and advanced, design and pattern cutting, free machine embroidery techniques, Christmas crafts, book binding, knitting, bunting making, and fashion drawing.You don't need to take your own sewing machine to workshops, as the Studios have their own Janome Sewing Machines for you to use... and tea, coffee and cake is included with every workshop!
I can't wait to go and visit the Studio's in the New Year, and soak up the creative atmosphere... maybe a cuppa and cake...and hopefully join in with a little sewing while I'm there!For more information on The Design Suite, visit their website, Twitter and Facebook page, and full list for workshops click here.
If you don't live in the Yorkshire area, why not check out our full list of recommended Janome Learning Centres all over the UK.
Born out of a desire for a social setting in which to indulge in their passion for Sewing Fay Hooper and Becky Owen (still in their 20’s - well only just!) set about creating The Sewing Café. Branded as a social sewing emporium you’ll be able to take part in sewing workshops, sew by the hour (like an internet café but with sewing machines), spoil yourself with a gorgeous range of fabrics, buttons and trims plus everything you need to get sewing.
The Sewing Cafe will also run social sewing session, which are all about enjoying sewing in a social setting, surrounded by other sewing lovers, to share projects, swap advice or simply share stories.
You’ll be able to bring along new or current projects and pick up some great tips from some savvy sewing experts, who will be on hand to help. You can make the most of one of 8 
“We are both so exited about The Sewing Cafe, our aim is to make sewing as accessible and sociable as possible – we want to create an inspiring, relaxed environment” says Fay Hooper.
With the ever growing interest for ‘make do and mend’, a dramatic increase in Sewing Machine sales and a movement away from fast fashion towards creativity, there was no better time for these two like-minded friends to enter in to their first venture.
"We wanted to bring The Sewing Cafe to our corner of Leicestershire, we’ve already had such a great response from the people of Hinckley and have only been open a couple of weeks!“ says Becky Owen.