A little bit about us
Photo from our archives - On our stand in the Country Living Pavilion at Hampton Court Flower Show back in 2007. Textile gifts created with deadstock, vintage and recycled fabrics.
Alice
I initially trained as surface pattern designer in the late 1980’s before started my working life at
Liberty, first within the silk department and then as the Liberty Sewing School co-ordinator where I
both taught and devised a wide range of workshops and classes. When I had my first son in 1998, I
began free-lancing and set up Sew Liberty – a quarterly magazine with information, sewing advice
and what was new in the world of textiles (this was of course prior to the internet – it would all be
online today!)
In the early 2000’s, with two small sons, I left Liberty and went into business with my lifelong friend
Ginny. Folkydokee was born from a shared love of textiles and a keen desire to waste not want not.
All of the products were handmade and totally unique, made from recycled shirts, jeans, dresses and
furnishings and when we needed to purchase meterage, this came from a mill specialising in end of
lines! We sold our products through our website and at prestigious fairs such as
Country living and House and Garden and ran our business from an old flour loft at the bakery where I grew up.
In 2008, with the birth of my third son, we changed direction and after being invited to teach a
workshop at The West End Centre in Aldershot together, I came full circle and so began teaching
sewing and craft classes once more. This time, in local art centres and within the local community.
Sewing is my passion. I cannot imagine my life without my sewing machine and a stack of fabrics.
These days, I have a studio space at The Phoenix Arts Centre in Bordon and teach sewing classes at
The West End Centre, Farnham Maltings, The Haybarn in Froyle Hampshire and of course at the
Phoenix where I also teach 1-1’s from my studio. Ginny and I are also delighted to be hosting sewing events with Jane Austen’s House in Chawton. I love teaching all genres of sewing - dressmaking
and alterations, soft furnishings, embroidery and patchwork & quilting but my absolute favourite
thing is dressmaking, with a focus on getting a good fit.
I have lived in Farnham for nearly thirty years and am married to Nick. We have three sons, Oscar,
Edwin & Rufus and two bouncy dogs – Gladys & Maudie. I have co-written three craft books with
Ginny – Sew Fabulous Fabric, 2008, Home Sweet Sewn, 2009, and later Sewing for Kids, 2013, all published by David and Charles.
Ginny
After training as a costumier at Wimbledon Art school in the late 80’s, I went on to work in repertory theatre and community theatre as a costume designer/maker, and costume supervisor. I then ran the costume department at Middlesex university for 5 years, guiding the performing arts students with all aspects of creating costumes for the stage. With a small baby daughter in tow, I moved back to my home county and within a few years Alice and I had began our business Folkydokee, creating and selling up-cycled one off textile gifts. Our journey continued with the writing of three project based sewing books.
The return to teaching sewing in 2008 was a joy. Our first course was called ‘A Kick start to Sewing’. Sewing was at the beginning of becoming more popular again and the foundation program we designed to support complete beginners with using a sewing machine is still in place and thriving. Hundreds of students have been through the program over these past 17 years, and are the proud owners of our famous ‘Strip Cushion’.
Passionate about sustainable textiles, I was very proud to be on the steering group for the textile provision for Farnham Repair cafe, which we launched in February 2015. As well as sewing and textile repair I integrate many sustainable practices into my work and have a particular interest in traditional textile processes and natural dyes. I grow plants for colour, and flax for fibre, on my allotment. In 2024 I set up an educational dye garden at Farnham Museum with Sam Jones of Farnham Crafts Quarter, and was the co- founder of the local Lets Grow Flax, Flax to linen community project with Brigitte Kalenbacher in 2022.
As well as teaching regular sewing classes with Alice, I host a variety of community crafts workshops. My aim is to help others reconnect to nature, explore the potential of locally found materials and adopt earth kind and mindful creative practices.
You can find out more about my work on my Instagram and website.