Handmade ‘Roll up’ Fabric Pen and Pencil Case: Ideal Gift for Stationery Lovers

Thank you for reading my story.

Having been born with a rare metabolic condition affecting my liver I was ‘wrapped in cotton wool’ and was slow to meet milestones such as sitting up and walking. I’ve always had the gift of the gab though and describe myself as a short, Scottish chatterbox! Luckily, despite regular low blood sugar episodes, it transpired that the type of Glycogen Storage Disease I have is on the milder end and apparently doesn’t affect my muscles – phew! I carried on pretty much a normal life studying, qualifying as an Occupational Therapist then working in mental health. I then got married and had 3 children before I retrained as a Midwife. During my training we completed our family with child #4.

My younger 2 children are diagnosed as autistic which (as anyone with any experience of autism knows) means they have many, varied and often unseen challenges – such as food phobias, anxiety, sensory difficulties with heat, sound and textures, understanding social rules and fixed ideas about how things need to be. Lots of time has and continues to be spent advocating for them and getting their needs met in an educational setting. Recently on discussion with other parents of autistic teens I began to question my own neurotype and whether I may have ADHD or be autistic. I haven't been assessed but it would explain my fluctuating energy/ focus levels.

One of the long term possible effects of Glycogen Storage Disease is cirrhosis. I was diagnosed with this in 2013. Now under the care of the liver specialists at the Royal Free hospital, they highlighted low vitamin D levels. I’ve subsequently had a few fractures and was diagnosed with osteoporosis. I have annual infusions of something called zoledronic acid to stop the osteoporosis from worsening.

Just before my mum died in 2017 I stopped working as a midwife and have not been able to return (firstly I couldn’t do long shifts due to fractures, and secondly I needed to be at home with my younger children due to my husband's job). I got involved with Girlguiding in 2018 and Squirrel is my Girlguiding name.

Sewing Squirrel started with seeing some gorgeous woodland pattern fabric in a local shop. After a couple of intensive lessons I made PJ trousers ready for camp and sleepovers. A friend gave me her unused sewing machine and I set myself the challenge of making bunting to display at the opening of a hospital relatives room in memory of my mum. She was a great seamstress so perhaps it’s in the genes. The bunting was a success, and I was delighted to find it wasn’t too tricky and I that really enjoy sewing. I find it very relaxing too…well when things go smoothly that is.

Months later, I’d made LOTS more bunting for neighbours and family. In the first UK lockdown of the covid pandemic I made scrub hats, laundry bags and face masks for a local NHS collection. Friends and family then encouraged me to sell my ‘makes’ and Sewing Squirrel was launched.

In 2022 I rebranded from Sewing Squirrel 20 (started in 2020) to Scottish Sewing Squirrel to bring in more of my identity as the 20 ‘bit’ was confusing people.

In 2023 I fractured my ankle and it took a LONG time to heal so because I couldn't use the sewing machine, I took up crochet! I found the same love for this and started getting more confident about making things for friends and family. Last year 2024 I started working part time at a 1:1 learning support assistant in a junior school but unfortunately a prolapsed disc meant I needed neck surgery and sadly my employers weren't too supportive of me needing time off. My youngest has struggled with anxiety and I decided to stop work to be able to help her through her GCSEs. As someone who has battled depression and seasonal affective disorder for a number of years. I'm finding is really difficult to have enough strength of my own so I can help my daughter. I feel quite guilty about not being a good mother sometimes but friends are kind and offer reassurance.

Now my neck is better and she's finished school, I'm so lucky to be part of Mightie Makers and the support of a lovely community of similar creators.

Squirrel ramblings is my blog if you wanna take a look!