Samantha talks about life at Sew Crafty

Samantha Claridge is the resident craft blogger at The Maidenhead Advertiser.

Aside from writing on her own personal blog Live it Love it Make it with her bestie Heather, Samantha also runs Sew Crafty in Maidenhead.

We spoke to Sam to find out how she went from a trainee pub manager to running a Maidenhead institute with her mum Judith.

How it all began...

Nine years ago my Mum phoned me very upset. She told me the fabric shop where she worked part-time was going to close down because the owner wanted to retire. I was very sad for her as I knew how much she loved that place. I had been going there with my mum since I was a baby. All the staff knew me as they helped to entertain me while my Mum shopped for fabrics when I was little. I put the phone down and didn't think much more of it until a week later when Mum phoned again. My Dad had suggested that we buy the shop.

At the time I was a trainee pub manager and Mum asked me if I wanted to quit my job to help run the sewing shop with her. It will be nine years in May that we embarked on this crazy journey. A name change to Sew Crafty, a hectic Christmas shop relocation, a divorce, a new marriage, millions of metres of fabric later and we are still here.

The biggest challenges...

We're always working to improve our stock and keep the shop on trend which is twice as hard in a recession-filled United Kingdom.

When it's your own shop, it's very hard to switch off at the end of the day. I'm constantly thinking about work.

Best part of the job...

We have some wonderful customers and staff who make running this business so worth while. We are predominately dress making specialists. We sell patterns, dress fabrics and haberdashery, but we have seen the resurgence in the craft sewing market and now stock books and loads of cotton fabrics. We also sell lots of cute stuff like trimmings, buttons, beads and ribbons.

I never really knew before I started this that it would be my dream job. I never imagined that I could be a shop owner. All the hard work is worth it because I get to play with pretty things all day long.

Fun facts...

My Dad and Grandfather hand-made the signs for the shop. I especially like the little scissors on the top of the smaller sign.

There is a Singer sewing machine in the store that belonged to my Great-grandmother.

You'll probably notice when you come into the store, we try and arrange as many things as possible by colour, in rainbow order.

A bride who we'd helped out with wedding plans stopped by the shop on the way to her wedding to say thanks.

We have served a few famous people over the years, but our most regular is the lovely Rolf Harris, and his pet Poodle.

Sew Crafty, 3 High Street, Maidenhead, England. 01628 620703