The word ‘challenge’ echoes throughout the book and whilst it is clear that challenging work may cause frustration, when it succeeds the sense of satisfaction is immense. In this book we will explain some of our challenges to you as well as our motivations and inspirations and hope that they will echo with you.

It is so often true that the best ideas happen at the busiest moments and we have long recommended that keeping ideas in sketchbooks, notebooks or visual diaries as the best way of ensuring that good thoughts don’t become forgotten. If the ideas remain exciting over a prolonged period, they may be worth further exploration. This has certainly worked for us.

We were fortunate to have the desire to work and able to become involved in several substantial pieces. We quickly realised that working was essential to our wellbeing and the meditative nature of stitching a positive factor of coping.