I started Red Hen Designs as a small local craft business in Rotorua with a dear friend in the late 1990s, after my girls had started school. We were ‘The Little Red Hen’ and sold dolls at local craft shops. I took over the business a couple of years later and started selling more widely, at craft shows and in craft shops throughout New Zealand. I also taught in workshops, holiday classes and increased my skills.

I published my first original cloth doll design in 2003, and since then have designed many dolls and animals in a variety of styles. I have also designed quilts and stitcheries, usually for the special people in my life.

Since our move back to Christchurch in 2011, I have continued designing, and in the past year, I have re-discovered the joy and gentleness of knitting and have used my doll patterns as a starting place to design and make knitted toys and knitted dolls.

I am so fortunate to be able to work from home, in this lovely city, close to family and friends and doing what I love.