Life is full of swings and roundabouts. Sometimes we search for the silver lining. Sometimes, as creatives, we pick up a pen and draw the silver lining ourselves — brightening not only our own days, but also the days of the people around us. The past few years have been challenging for me, but one thing has never changed: … makers are gonna make!
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been creating something. Beaded bracelets, hand-painted silk scarves, bridal headpieces… the list goes on. As a self-confessed geek, I’m constantly tweaking websites, editing videos, or experimenting with new ideas. And let’s not forget cooking — I’m definitely a foodie at heart.
This website is a reflection of all those passions combined: handcrafted accessories, cookbooks, video tutorials, creative projects, and soon, a few videos about St Albans — a place I truly love because of its inspiring community and wonderful people.
Creativity is more than a hobby; it’s a way of life. Whenever something beautiful catches my eye, the thought “Oooh, I could make something like that” is never far behind. Creativity is also about connection. This website would never have existed without friends encouraging me to share my handcrafted accessories, recipes, and tutorials with others.
Everything here has been created for you — to inspire you, cheer you up, and perhaps brighten your day a little.
MY PORTFOLIO
They say a day is worthwhile if you’ve made someone smile. The proudest moments of my creative journey have always been the times I’ve managed to do exactly that.
Over the years, I’ve worked with countless brides-to-be, designing bespoke headpieces and handcrafted accessories to help bring their dream weddings to life. My designs have appeared on stage, at fashion shows, and even in short films.
One particularly memorable experience was designing headpieces for, as well as attending the filming of Ultra Obscura, a short film featuring Roy Scammell, the legendary stuntman known for his work on the James Bond films, A Clockwork Orange, and Alien, among many others. Roy was an incredibly inspiring and humble man who worked alongside icons such as Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe.
For several years, I also designed crowns for Miss Hertfordshire contestants. When one contestant went on to win Miss England, my accessories were worn not only at the Miss England final, but also at the international Miss World event in Bali. One of my favourite memories was seeing photos of contestants visiting children in hospitals, letting them try on the crowns and bringing huge smiles to their faces.
I’ve also contributed to magazines and publications within the wedding industry. I wrote a full-page feature for Wedding Ideas, sharing tips on choosing bridesmaids’ accessories, and contributed shorter articles, photography, and creative advice to other local and national magazines, including The Perfect Wedding and Your Hertfordshire Wedding.
Looking back, my creative journey began at the age of sixteen, when I started making beaded jewellery for friends and helping at craft workshops and community events. One of my first paid jobs was decorating gingerbread for a bakery while still at secondary school. Later, while studying at university, I launched my first small business, selling hand-painted silk scarves and beaded jewellery through galleries and personal commissions.
After moving from the Czech Republic to the United Kingdom, I continued developing my creative projects. In 2006, I started designing bespoke jewellery professionally, which eventually led to exhibiting at wedding fairs across London and Hertfordshire hotels and venues. Later, I opened and ran my own boutique in the Village Arcade, just off the High Street in St Albans, for over two years.
Over time, both the wedding industry and the arts and crafts world have evolved — and so has my life. As my priorities changed and new commitments came along, I stepped back from selling handcrafted items full-time and returned to creating on a more flexible, part-time basis. In many ways, that turned out to be a blessing. Creativity and routine rarely make comfortable companions.
During this time, I began sharing my skills through online video courses under my business, Wedding Crafts Academy. This opened the door to exciting opportunities, including hosting a live demonstration workshop at The Big Bead Show at Sandown Park Racecourse in Surrey. I’m currently refreshing and expanding my courses, with new content coming soon both here on my website and on Udemy.
During the lockdown years, I also helped at local schools, organising activities and running breakfast and after-school clubs. Unsurprisingly, many of my creative projects during that time revolved around food — children certainly keep you on your toes! I also launched arts, crafts, and cooking channels on YouTube, where my crafts channel has now reached over 2.5 million views.
Right now, my diary is filled with exciting creative projects. I am working on cookbook series titled From the Heart of Europe, featuring recipes inspired by the cuisines of the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary.
I’ve also returned to designing jewellery for everyday wear, using beautiful Czech glass beads, sparkling crystals, and professional polymer clay techniques to bring even more colour, texture, and personality into my designs.
Thank you for stopping by and being part of this creative journey.