On the cards

For Mary Hollingworth it was a way to relax after a busy day at her job as a receptionist.

She started off by making cards for friends and family. Soon she had her husband, Paul, 52, hooked as well.

"We started to sell the cards we made on a craft stall at St Joseph's Church," says Mary, 52, from Romsey.

"Someone asked me to do them some wedding stationery, so we branched out into doing that as well."

But during this time, Mary found that there was nowhere locally that they could get the equipment and materials that they needed.

"Other crafters that I knew in Romsey had exactly the same problem," recalls Mary. "We came up with the idea of opening up a shop in the area which would sell card-making equipment.

"I started to research suppliers and Paul looked into the feasibility of opening a shop.

"We had never run our own business before. I'd only been receptionist and Paul worked for a mobile phone company.

"I wanted the shop to offer mail order and workshops so people could come in and learn card-making techniques."

Paul and Mary used some savings to set up the shop and Mary went to Southern Business Centre in Millbrook for advice.

"They suggested that I should rent a unit on an industrial estate as it would be far cheaper," she said.

"I found a small unit at Abbey Park Industrial Estate in Romsey.

"So I gave up my full-time job and threw myself into setting up the shop.

"I was absolutely terrified about running a shop as I'd hadn't any previous experience."

One of the biggest challenges Mary faced was coming up with a name for the shop.

"Three years ago my father, Alfred died aged 92," she says. "He had always loved dragonflies. Two weeks after he died there was a dragonfly banging against our window at home.

"Also, just before we decided to set up the business we were on holiday in Spain and were lying by the pool when we were divebombed by a dragonfly.

"We said to each other that it was a sign, so we decided to call the shop Dragonfly Dreams."

In September last year, Mary opened her doors to the public.

"As well as Romsey crafters, we have people travelling from all over the country to come to the shop," says Mary.

"We even have people from Belgium, the Isle of Man and Scotland using the mail order service.

"Our first few months of trading were very successful."

But in December 2003, things took a turn for the worse.

"I had my routine mammogram and it showed that I had breast cancer," says Mary.

"I was devastated. I felt like closing up the shop and walking away but I knew how many people were dependent on us.

"They are more like friends than customers to us."

She had an operation on December 22, which was a success.

She said: "It has always been our dream to be able to work together, although for now Paul is still doing another job.

"The only problem we have is that I just don't have the time any more to make cards!"

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN...

EQUIPMENT:

Folded white textured card - 5" x 5" when folded

White card - A4

Red card 3" x 5"

Black card - 2 x 5"

Printed acetate "Happy Birthday" cut to size 2 x 5" from A4 sheet

Hero Art stamp set "Women in Fancy Hats" (No: LL778)

Memories black dye ink pad - acid free

Peal Offs sheet of "Happy Birthday" in gold

Double sided adhesive tape

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. On the white A4 card stamp two images of the Fancy Hat Lady using the memories black ink pad to ink up the stamp.

2. Cut around the outline of each image leaving a thin white border.

3. Fix two strips of double sided tape lengthwise on the back of the black card.

4. Peel off the backing from the double sided tape and attach the black card to the red card. Making sure the black card is in the centre of the red card leaving a thin red border showing all the way around.

5. Put a strip of double sided tape on the back of each of the cut out Fancy Hat Lady images.

6. Remove backing from the double sided tape and attach images to printed acetate offset to each other.

7. Turn over the printed acetate and place two strips of double sided tape on the printed acetate where the Fancy Hat Lady images are. So that you cannot see the tape from the front.

8. Peel off the backing from the double sided tape and apply the printed acetate to the black card. Making sure it is square to the black card.

9. Turn this whole piece over and apply two strips of double sided tape to the back of the red card.

10. Peel off the backing from the double sided tape and attach to the front of the folded white textured card. Setting it square to the fold and " in. Also set it equal distance from the top and bottom.

11. Take off a "Happy Birthday" peel off from the sheet and apply to the folded white textured card next to the mounted Fancy Hat Lady images.