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Meet the Handmade Design maker

Rachel Walker

Started
Autumn 2013
Find & follow
rachel-walker-handmadedesigns
Making in Holmfirth
51 miles from the
Handmade Design shop

About Rachel Walker

The maker behind LetterJoy, a small business born out of love for design, nature and passion for life.

Why did you start making your products?

Took over my late sister's business in 2022 to keep her beautiful work alive and for more people to enjoy.

What inspires your products or collections?

What you see as you go on a walk..grasses, ferns, trees, birds..love for nature! Also, for the word plaques... the joy created from deciphering different chatter and dialects.

What is the best thing someone has said about your products?

Unique, beautiful, special!

What is your favourite product/collection, and why?

Cow parsley stem plaque..love the delicacy and fine cuts and just captures something you see everyday outside in an unusual way inside your home.

How does your local area impact what you make?

Lucky to live semi rural so lots of great walks to inspire.

What does a dream day of making look like to you?

Like the variety of the processes...painting, cutting, sanding. Dreamy when cuts go to plan, i.e, right depth..not to much splintering of the wood. Love the finishing the fixings, oiling, ribboning and labelling as nearly complete then.

How do you make your products more sustainable?

Wherever I can I use off cuts of wood that would otherwise go to waste and obtain paint from recycling enterprise.

What is the most important thing about your practice?

Personal connection I have continuing my sisters work.

What is your favourite thing about making that you don't get to talk about very often?

When not too noisy and can listen to favourite tunes or podcast whilst tinkering away. Love it when sun streams through the window or warm enough to work outside.

How do you want your products to make people feel?

Joyful.

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