About Me

Wayne and I have been married since 1994.  Tragically, our daughter Abigail passed away in 2020 after a 3½ year battle with leukaemia, shortly after her 15th birthday.

I was employed in administration at the local council for over 30 years, handling various back-office tasks, until I lost my job due to Abigail's illness.  Since the establishment of Salient Books, I have taken on responsibilities including preparing books for publication (proof-reading, formatting, etc.), designing book covers, and maintaining our website.  Currently, I work alongside Wayne, continuing these tasks while also assisting with background research and editing.

I grew up in a home where there was always a sewing machine, and always some sewing project under way.  My mother was an ex-needlework teacher, and an excellent seamstress.  I learnt a lot from her – mostly by just watching.  I also learnt the mantra “make do and mend”, and how to save anything and everything “just in case” it would come in useful for a future sewing project (this becomes an issue when storage space is at a premium, however!!!).  When I was young, my mother would invariably make me a dress or skirt from the off-cuts when she’d made something for herself, and I did the same making clothes for myself and Abigail.  Nothing was (or is) wasted.  I now save old jeans, shirts, dresses, and curtains as well as the buttons, zips, and all sorts of fastenings from clothes and bags which are too old to rescue.  For many years now I have been making using these upcycled materials.  Helen Made Me is a continuation of this, but now not just making for myself and my family, but to sell for others to make use of and enjoy.