About me..

As someone who always enjoyed playing with crafty things but never really had the time, Von's Craftery was born from needing a positive focus whilst suffering from Long Covid, and a shopping habit that resulted in more pretty, shiny and colourful things than could ever be used by one person!

Where it started..

As for many of us, my life was changed dramatically by Covid .. As a senior police officer, I was still going in to work in ever more challenging and uncertain times.

In October 2021 I caught Covid, and have never recovered. Long Covid has affected so many in different ways; for me, it has been a story of fatigue and exhaustion, brain fog, insomnia, muscle aches, lack of co-ordination, anxiety, gastric problems - and just generally feeling awful.

After nearly three years of pacing, small improvements and big setbacks, I accepted that my policing career had ended after 31 years, and was medically retired from a career I had been passionate about.

Silver linings

Whilst this time was extremely difficult in so many ways, it provided a silver lining, from which Von's Craftery was born. Whilst my recovery was about pacing and resting, I needed some positive focus that didn't require too much thinking! So when I came across the Indian Block Prints with all their beautiful shapes, and range of paint colours, but not too much energy required - a passion was (gently!) born!

I hope you will find the same level of gentle relaxation and fun as I do, and have something to take with you that will make you smile!

I have an extensive collection of hand-carved Indian blocks, and was pleased to become an accredited trainer with the Indian Block Print Company in June 2024. I also have more wool, scraps of material, little wooden embellishments, ribbons, beads, buttons and patterned paper than I know what to do with - please help!

Oh.. and cake..

I've always loved home-made cake, and enjoyed baking and sharing my cakes at work. The energy and ability to bake was another thing Covid stole from me, but I am slowly and proudly reclaiming that one, so whilst the plan is to provide home-made cakes with my workshops, I reserve the right to rest if needed!

and lastly.. is happiness really home-made.. ?

Whilst I was block-printing my way to recovery with a friend (fellow long covid suffering senior police officer), we were discussing how to stay sane, when our bodies, our profession and the world in general felt out of control.. after much debate, some tears, some laughter, quite a lot of swearing and cake (of course) we decided quite simply that we needed to make our own happiness, as far as we possibly could. On the basis that you need to accept the things you can't change, change the things you can and eat plenty of cake..

I look forward to meeting you soon x