Kathy:

A thirty-something year old housewife and mother of one, with a serious aversion to housework! That's how I would describe myself - and what better way to avoid that ever-growing mountain of ironing (not to mention the inch of dust on the piano) than to busy myself with a lovely new hobby? Little did I know that my nice new ‘hobby' would turn into a full-blown addiction, that would soon take over my life (not to mention a whole lot of cupboard space). Indeed, my husband thought I was joking when I asked to buy a new cupboard for the living room just to keep my beads in, only to find that in just a few short weeks it was full to bursting and a new set of storage boxes stacked neatly beside the cupboard were quickly being filled up too!

As I can't possibly wear everything I make, and whilst local craft fairs have proved a success, they are too few and far between to keep me busy. So myself and a couple of friends decided we would have a go at reaching a ‘wider market' and try our hand at internet selling. So here we are, un-ironed and maybe a bit dusty, but having lots of fun making lovely things that hopefully you will like as much as we do!

Sarah:

Having perfected the art of being sarcastic and occasionally rude to people, I decided at this point in my life that a new hobby was in order. Being the charitable and giving person that I am, I bid on a jewellery lesson at a local auction of promises. Having won my bid, not only did I have a new hobby I had found yet another outlet in which to persue the main love of my life...shopping!!! No it didnt involve shoes or bags, but the next best thing accessories!

My children and husband groaned, the credit card people smiled and so I launched myself into playing with beads. Making money out of it did come as an after thought, but with the never ending little packages of beads appearing in my post box, I had to do something to justify myself.

Craft fairs are lovely to do, but yet again it was also another excuse to shop. So 2009 saw the birth of The Purple Cow. Long may she moo!!!!!!!!!

Louise:

Living with 3 children, a husband and various animals, I had to do something to preserve what little sanity I had left. Having crafted in various forms for years, jewellery seemed a good way to branch out. Being a bit of an internet shopping junkie, I had yet again found another way to feed my addiction. What started out as just 'messing with beads' soon became so much more. What should have been an occasional 2 hours a week hobby, developed into yet another, but much healthier, addiction! I do try not to ignore my family too much, but letting them be self sufficient occasionally, I think is a good thing!

Having sold some pieces to friends, I decided that maybe internet sales would be a good next step. So The Purple Cow, while being more 'calf' than 'cow' at this stage, was created. I hope you enjoy our jewellery as much as we enjoy making it.