So this is me (and our cockapoo Dot).

For anyone who has followed me on social media over the past ten years you'll know I am definitely the shy and retiring type so this might well be the first time you've seen the face behind the birds!

My background is in illustration, leaving my homeland of Cornwall at the age of 20 to study first a BA and then an MA in the subject. I actually recall announcing to my teacher when I was about ten years old that I was going to be an artist when I grew up and I never deviated from that plan.

Following university I worked in the design industry for many years, but after having my two children I took the plunge and started Annette Mackie Handmade. Never being much of a stitcher before I was lent a sewing machine to make some party bags for one of my children's birthdays. What can I say, I was hooked from the get go. It all suddenly made sense and I began to combine my illustration background with fabric, 'drawing' with the sewing machine. This quickly evolved into three dimensions and with a lifelong love of birds it was always going to be these that I would endeavour to create.

So this is what I do, I make birds (plus a few other things too) from my little studio in Northamptonshire. I really hope you enjoy having a look around my website. Feel free to drop me a line anytime if you have any questions or if you just want to say hello.

Annette.