I have been interested in arts and crafts ever since I was little. I have always fancied the idea of doing some serious dyeing, but the amount of mess put me off. I thought that by the time I had covered up everything that needs protected, most of the time I had for doing the job might have gone. And then there is the clearing up.

To cut a long story short, I am now in possession of a series of sheds, with no particular purpose for them. It occurred to me that they could be the location for making all the mess I wanted. And when I need a break, I can just close the door, go back to the house, and be civilised again. The next time I feel arty, I can go out and pick up where I left off.