The story of The Happy Hut & Me
All of my life I have been creative, initially with D.I.Y birthday cards and presents for family, however, as I have grown so has my creative streak. In the summer of 2019 I started up a pet bandana business, I had recently gotten a new dog who was rather shy and nervous, I started following some Instagram accounts for dogs and in no time I set one up for honey and she made a few virtual friends -you can find her page by searching @honey.the.scottie. Many of Honeys new friends had bandanas, and I had never really seen them before so I set about trying to make my own. The first one I made I put up on her Instagram page and within minutes we had a message from someone in America looking to buy on. And that is the story of how ‘Bespoke Bandana’ came to light. Throughout the rest of 2019 I attended many local craft fairs and met many wonderful local crafters.
As 2020 started to change I received a message from a loyal bandana customer who requested I could make some masks for her team of staff. With lots of funky fabrics ready to be used and a willingness to learn I started to make fabric face coverings. While still working for my full-time job from home, I managed to make hundreds of fabric masks and stocked 2 local shops as well as shipping across the UK.
The spare time I had from not having to travel and having no social plans also meant I had time for my creativity to run free. I bought some polymer clay online and soon my next shop ‘Clay Bake’ – name inspired from a tray bakes, as everything is homemade and a lot of products are inspired by cakes – was up and running. I made a variety of earrings for myself and friends and now have a large range of clay jewellery products available, such as necklaces, bracelets, broaches, hairclips, earrings and clip on earrings too.
I found myself running low on space so at the start of the summer holidays I bought myself a shed. I painted, decorated and filled my space with everything that makes my soul happy! I named my space The Happy Hut and it has become a hive of activity, I have had several open days and visiting hours for people to come and see my small shop. I also hope that as restrictions ease, I will be able to host guest sellers to show us what they make and sell their creativity too!
I have made a decision to merge my business in a way to create a brand, rather than a variety of projects. I have decided to create this website in a hope I can share some of my creative ideas in a way you will be able to do at home, with things you already have in your home!
A creative mind is never bored.
Jocelyn Downes.
