Meet the Maker Behind Craft Happy
From a kitchen table in Worcestershire to a full-time creative business, Helen from Craft Happy’s business is a lovely example of how a lockdown hobby can lead somewhere completely unexpected. What began with sea glass, beachcombed treasures and a desire to make something positive has grown into a joyful collection of quirky artwork, gifts and decorations.
Inspired by the coast, nature and the possibilities hidden in overlooked materials, every piece combines genuine sea glass, reclaimed or recycled materials and hand-painted details. We caught up with the maker behind Craft Happy to find out how her hobby became a career, where her ideas begin, and why giving forgotten materials a new life remains at the heart of her work.
Tell us a bit about your background and how you started Craft Happy?
Before Craft Happy, creativity had never featured in my career, it was simply a hobby. I worked in an office and, although I’d always enjoyed making things, I certainly wouldn’t have described myself as an artist. If you’d told me then that I would one day earn my living from my creativity, I’d never have believed you!
Everything changed during the first lockdown in 2020. Like so many people, I was furloughed from my job and suddenly found myself at home with unexpected time on my hands during a very uncertain period.
I’ve always loved the sea. I live in Worcestershire, about as far from the coast as you can get, but I’m never happier than when I’m wandering along a beach looking for treasures. I’m a beachcombing magpie and have always collected sea glass, shells, driftwood, pebbles and all those little things other people might simply walk past.
During lockdown, I began experimenting with my collection of sea glass and turning it into pictures. There was no grand business plan – I was simply enjoying being creative and trying to raise a little money for a charity I supported. It gave me something positive to focus on and a much-needed escape from what was happening in the world.
I started sharing my creations online and, much to my surprise, the response was enormously positive. People began asking me to make pieces especially for them and what started at my kitchen table gradually grew into a business. I discovered not only how much I loved creating, but also the connection my work created with other people.
By October 2021, Craft Happy had grown enough for me to take a huge leap of faith and leave my office job to become a full-time artist. Something that began during lockdown had completely changed the direction of my life.
My work has evolved enormously since then, but the idea behind it hasn’t changed. I still love taking simple, overlooked or discarded materials and transforming them into something that makes somebody smile. Alongside genuine sea glass and beach finds, I use reclaimed wood and recycled materials wherever possible – even tin lids collected by a local coffee shop have recently found their way into my work!
Much of my inspiration still begins on the beach. Sometimes I have an idea and hunt for the perfect piece of sea glass; other times an unusual piece immediately suggests what it could become. That unpredictability is part of the magic.
Five years after becoming self-employed, I still sometimes have to remind myself that this is actually my job. Craft Happy grew from an uncertain time but helped me discover a creative side of myself I didn’t know existed. That sense of possibility, transformation and finding beauty in unexpected places still sits at the heart of everything I make.
What do you make and how would you describe your style?
I create quirky, characterful artwork and gifts using genuine sea glass, beachcombed treasures and reclaimed or recycled materials. My work ranges from framed pictures and reclaimed wood art to cards, decorations and fridge magnets – but there’s usually a little piece of the coast involved somewhere!
I’d describe my style as cheerful, whimsical and slightly imperfect, with a strong connection to nature and the seaside. Birds feature heavily – particularly my sea glass robins – alongside beach huts, coastal scenes, flowers and other designs created to make people smile.
I love combining the natural shapes and textures of sea glass with hand-painted and hand-drawn details. Often the glass itself dictates the design; I’ll pick up a piece and see a bird, a wing or the beginnings of a new idea. As no two pieces are identical, every finished piece has its own personality.
Sustainability is also important to me. I love giving materials another life, whether that’s an old pallet transformed into wall art, a discarded tin lid becoming a miniature canvas, or sea glass shaped by decades in the waves.
Above all, I want my work to feel happy, accessible and full of character. I embrace the wonky shapes, individual brushstrokes and quirks that show something has genuinely been made by hand. I want people to see the hand of the maker in a Craft Happy piece – and hopefully feel some of the joy I had creating it.
What’s your workspace or studio like?
My studio is my happy place – although it’s rarely as tidy as I’d like!
I work in a corner of my kitchen at home in Worcestershire that was once our dining area. It’s now a bright, reasonably practical workspace filled with jars and boxes of sea glass, shells and beachcombed treasures, reclaimed wood, paints, brushes and usually several half-finished ideas.
Because I work with so many materials, the space changes throughout the day. If I’m making wooden cottage scenes, everything comes out and quickly spreads across every available surface – including the floor! I’m also frequently backwards and forwards to the garage, where my partner has a workbench and I can cut and sand wood without covering the house in dust.
I’d love a dedicated studio where I could keep everything together and not have to pack it all away at the end of the day – particularly when we have guests coming for dinner! For now, though, my little corner of the kitchen is where Craft Happy comes to life, and a proper studio remains a dream for the future.
What inspires your work?
My biggest inspiration is the coast. Despite living in Worcestershire, miles from the sea, I’ve always felt drawn to it. Give me a beach and a few hours to wander and I’m very happy! I love beachcombing and never know whether I’ll come home with sea glass, shells, driftwood or simply a head full of ideas.
Often, the materials themselves inspire what I make. Every piece of sea glass has spent years being tumbled and shaped by the sea, making it completely individual. I love looking at an unusual shape and wondering what it could become. Sometimes I see a bird immediately; other pieces wait months before finding their purpose.
Nature is another huge influence, particularly birds. Robins have become a Craft Happy signature, alongside puffins, penguins, seagulls, flowers and coastal scenes. There’s often a gentle sense of humour too – I like creating things that simply make people smile.
I’m also passionate about giving things a second life. Reclaimed pallet wood, old tin lids and tiny beach finds all have creative potential, and I love transforming something overlooked into something to treasure.
Memories and nostalgia inspire me too. So many of us have an emotional connection to the sea through childhood holidays, favourite places and people. Customers sometimes give me their own beachcombed treasures and ask me to create something meaningful from them. These commissions can be challenging, but I love how they stretch me creatively.
Ultimately, my inspiration comes from looking at ordinary things differently. Whether it’s sea glass washed up on a beach or a tin lid destined for recycling, I’m always wondering: what could this become?
Tell us about your creative process
My creative process can start in different ways. Sometimes I wake up with an idea and need to find the right materials to bring it to life. Other times – and this is probably my favourite – the materials themselves inspire the idea. At Christmas, I often repeat popular designs for markets and, whilst it can be repetitive, I enjoy switching off from constantly thinking up new ideas and simply getting into the flow of making.
Sea glass is perfect for this because no two pieces are the same. I can spend ages sorting through my collection until suddenly I see a bird, a wing, a flower or part of a landscape in a particular shape. I love letting the sea have a little say in the finished design!
From there, I play around with compositions, usually without a detailed plan. I might combine sea glass with watercolour, hand-drawn details, shells, pebbles or reclaimed wood, gradually building the piece until it feels right. Tiny painted details add personality and can completely bring a character to life.
There’s plenty of trial and error too. Not every idea works first time, and I’m happy to change direction or start again. Eventually everything comes together and the piece develops its own character. That moment when I stand back and think, yes, that’s it, is still one of my favourite parts of making.
What’s your favourite thing to make – and why?
This changes as I evolve creatively. At the moment, I’m really enjoying transforming recycled tin lids into miniature seascape fridge magnets. I love each stage for different reasons. Painting the lids is a wonderfully repetitive job for days when I want to switch off and enjoy the flow of making. Then comes creating the tiny watercolour backgrounds before searching through my sea glass, shells and other treasures for the perfect pieces to bring each scene to life.
These designs combine so many things I love: painting, beachcombing, recycling and transforming something discarded into something beautiful. Best of all, they’re a real draw at markets. Seeing people stop, pick them up and appreciate all those tiny details is incredibly rewarding.
What’s something people might not know about your craft or the skills involved?
Sea glass art has become incredibly popular, and there can sometimes be a perception that it’s simply a case of sticking glass onto paper and selling it at a craft market. I occasionally hear someone passing my stall say, “Oh, you could do that!” and it always makes me smile.
I’ve worked hard to develop my own style beyond traditional ‘sea glass art’. I taught myself watercolour to create backgrounds and landscapes, learned woodworking skills to incorporate reclaimed timber, and continually experiment with materials and techniques to bring little scenes to life.
There’s skill in working with the glass too. I don’t cut or reshape it, so I spend a surprising amount of time finding exactly the right natural shapes, sometimes layering pieces to create depth and colour.
Perhaps most important is the emotional connection people have with my work. Customers often tell me a piece reminds them of someone they love, a special place or a treasured memory. I like to think that’s because my work is more than sea glass art – it combines the skills I’ve taught myself, materials I love and stories behind them. I pour my heart into everything I make, and hopefully people can feel that in the finished piece.
What’s your favourite gift you’ve ever made or given?
Some of the most meaningful pieces I’ve made have been commissions in memory of loved ones. One that stays with me showed two figures on a clifftop looking out to sea; another depicted a couple beneath the famous whalebone arch at Whitby, a place filled with special memories.
These pieces can be emotional to make because I feel a huge responsibility to capture the feeling behind the memory, rather than simply recreate a scene.
It’s also incredibly rewarding. Being trusted to turn someone’s precious memories into something tangible they can keep is a real privilege. It reminds me that handmade art can be much more than an object – it can represent a person, place or moment that someone wants to hold onto.
Is there a customer story that reminds you why you love what you do?
It’s particularly poignant when a customer becomes emotional on receiving something I’ve made. Those moments remind me that handmade work can mean far more than the materials it’s created from.
I’m sometimes gifted people’s beachcombed treasures. One customer gave me a huge collection of sea glass, driftwood and other finds she’d gathered over many years, always hoping to create something with them.
As a thank you, I used some of her treasures to make a beach scene. When I gave it to her, she burst into tears and said, “Your creativity is such a special gift!” I have to admit, I welled up too!
That moment has stayed with me. I’d taken materials she’d treasured for years and turned them into something that represented her memories of time spent by the sea. Moments like that remind me I’m not simply making things from sea glass – sometimes I’m giving treasured memories a new life, and that’s an enormous privilege.
Please share with us what’s on your Christmas short list?
I’ve chosen this handmade sea glass robin magnet because it’s a thoughtful stocking filler for robin lovers or a meaningful reminder of someone special. Made from recycled materials, it’s small, sentimental and easy to post.
I’ve chosen this sea glass lovebirds ornament because it perfectly captures the quirky, playful side of Craft Happy. With their tiny Christmas hats, these characterful little birds are guaranteed to make you smile.
I’ve chosen this sea glass robin Christmas tree wall art because it’s a new design for 2026 that captures the quirky personality of Craft Happy. It’s a unique, playful piece of festive art you won’t find on the high street.
I’ve chosen this sea glass robin craft kit because it encourages you to get creative using genuine sea glass collected on my travels. With its festive feel, the finished decoration makes a lovely keepsake or handmade gift.
Finally, I’ve chosen this quirky beach cottage fridge magnet, one of my most popular new designs. Each is completely unique and makes a lovely gift for anyone who wants a little piece of the seaside at home.
Which three other makers would you like to support this Christmas?
Firstly, I’m a big fan of Joys of Glass. Having tried stained-glass techniques myself, I really appreciate the skill involved in her beautiful work and how supportive she is of the Folksy community. I chose her Sea Heart Suncatcher for its gorgeous coastal colours and wonderful seaside feel.
Secondly, I’d love to champion Alison Thomas at Macclesfield Bag Works. I admire how she transforms repurposed fabrics, particularly denim, into beautiful, practical pieces, giving materials that might otherwise be wasted a new lease of life.
Finally, I’m a huge fan of Nicky Lopez Jewellery and own several of her beautiful pieces. I’ve followed Nicky for years and love the stories and meaning behind her work. Having seen her face personal challenges with such determination, she’s someone I admire both creatively and personally, so I’m delighted to champion her new Folksy shop.
Just for fun:
- What’s your favourite Christmas film? It has to be A Christmas Carol (any version of it) because I just love the story
- Whats your favourite Christmas food? My home made sausage stuffing balls!
- Early bird or Christmas Eve shopper? Christmas Eve
- White lights or colourful lights? White lights
- Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? Christmas Eve
- Quiet Christmas or Crazy Christmas? Quiet Christmas
- Hot Chocolate or Mulled Wine? Mulled Wine
- Real Tree or Artificial Tree? Real Tree
We are delighted to share that Helen is offering 15% off her brand new Sea Glass Robin Fridge Magnet to celebrate being one of our 12 Makers of Christmas until the end of her feature on the 4th October.
