STORRIDGE WI’s president, Catherine Best, welcomed members and visitors to our September meeting.

After the briefest of business meetings (due to a lack of correspondence from WFWI during their summer break), it was soon time to welcome our speaker for the evening, Karen Van Hoff who told us her story “A Fashion Designer’s Journey”.

Karen started her life story as a girl aged three years, in Singapore, the daughter of a military family. She thought that her painting of the pet dog with a mixture of flour and water was the start of her artistic talents but, it came as no surprise to her audience, that her parents had a very different view.

Fast forward to her return to England and although she had had several very interesting jobs, she still has a desire to be more creative and to forge a career maybe in the fashion industry. She started by making her own clothes which even Karen admits were rather shapeless . She did not use a paper pattern as dressmakers do, but rather she would lie on the floor and have someone draw round her and she would use that outline as her pattern!

Whilst awaiting the birth of her first child, she was living with her mother-in-law who was the President of the local WI. Her mother-in-law asked Karen to make fabric flowers for a WI competition and to her great surprise she not only won first prize but she was asked by people who had seen her work to create fabric flowers and accessories for them. Her new career soon took off!

Karen progressed to creating stunning millinery for herself and her clientele, working to tight schedules and exacting standards. By 2003 she was ready to move on to her next venture. She created exquisite wedding accessories for many of the top UK bridal designers. The long hours, tight dead-lines and endless trip to London did not however fit in easily with raising a young family and it was time to move on again.

She now makes beautiful couture jewellery using gems and pearls some knitted or embroidered on fine wire. She also loves to share her talents with others and enjoys running workshops locally.

Karen’s story was inspiring but it was told with great humour and fun and the many examples of her work that she put on display for members and visitors were much admired.

Our next meeting will be held on October 13 and it will be” Member’s Night”.