I’m so excited to finally share a big secret I’ve been keeping for the past year! Twelve months ago, I filmed a brand-new TV show for BBC One called ‘The Big Idea Works.’
Hosted by Sara Davies from Dragons’ Den and Strictly Come Dancing, this programme joins engineers and inventors together to bring innovative product ideas to life.
It’s been a whirlwind experience, and I can’t wait for you to see it. My episode airs on Tuesday, 6th February at 2pm, but all episodes will be available to stream on iPlayer from Monday 3rd February. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how it all came about, the journey to the screen, and my exciting new product idea, The Handi Tape @handitape
Being a crafty entrepreneur myself, I have always looked up to Sara and the business she built in her 20s, Crafters Companion. We’re the same age, have 2 young children each and even both work with our husbands! At the end of 2023 when I spotted her Instagram announcement for the show (which was then called ‘Making It’) I immediately jumped at the opportunity.
I applied in an instant at 7am and heard back a couple of weeks later. Zoom interviews and phone calls followed until finally I was invited to head up to Newcastle for filming at Hoults Yard in February-March 2024. I was nervous but thrilled to take part (and also to have some time to myself away from children, work and busy home life to be honest!)
I went shopping for clothes I didn’t need and obsessed over what I was going to say. What would Sara be like? Who else would be on the show? Was it a competition? For some reason, I kept expecting someone to come out from behind a screen either saying ‘I’m in!’ or ‘You’re out’ in some weird Apprentice meets Great British Bake Off scene.
Since 2020 when I was working alone due to the pandemic and staff not being allowed in our warehouse, I knew that measuring tapes getting lost or getting in the way hindered my speed at cutting thousands of pieces of fabric for the stitch-a-long, Positivity Rules!
While spending hours cutting fabric for our cross stitch kits, I knew this product would make my life so much easier (and I also hoped it could help others too).
This is the first series of an exciting and uplifting brand-new show (think Dragons Den meets the Repair Shop). Creative thinkers pitch their ideas and share the inspiration behind them while the team of expert engineers have just days to turn this into a reality and show off the one-of-a-kind prototype to the budding entrepreneur! The brainchild of producers Duncan Gray (Jimmy Kimmel Live and Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway) and Antonia Hurford-Jones, this show is just what we need, a feel-good tonic to inspire and delight.
I’ve always been one to jump at a challenge and push the boundaries of what I feel comfortable doing. I’m a big believer that, like lobsters, you only grow when you crack that restrictive shell a little. I hoped that the product could be manufactured and launched into retail stores. If nothing else, I would have a wonderful and thrilling experience meeting new people, in a new place and grow in confidence.
Filming for the show took place over two weeks in Newcastle, and it was one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking experiences of my life. I remember the first day on set feeling hyped up (which may or may not be related to the copious amounts of coffee I’d consumed that morning combined with a flurry of adrenaline running through my veins).
I met a few other inventors and we were ushered into a ‘holding room.’ In reality, this was much more comfortable than it sounds! We had unlimited drinks, snacks and food deliveries throughout the day and in between filming, we hung out on the sofas and watched Peaky Blinders or read.
It was eventually my turn as each of my peers was whisked away one by one. We had, earlier in the day, filmed our big introductory walk from the cobbled streets and into the studio which was packed with equipment, tools and quirky props. Having worked on live TV shopping, speaking to large groups at events and filming over 200 cross stitch-related YouTube videos in my time, ‘overconfident’ would probably describe my demeanour before going in.
However, once sat next to my business girl crush, Sara it all changed. Her questions were met with silence as the words in my head failed to make it out into the large drafty warehouse space. While the lights glared and the crew watched on, I figured it was now or never. Somehow, I found the courage to have a normal conversation with someone who was essentially, a mother and craft business owner just like me, wanting to get to know more about me and my ideas.
It all came together and once Sara started asking about my former career as a solicitor and what it was like working with my husband, Tim, I instantly relaxed (holding tight onto my third cup of sugary tea that day) and the conversation flowed like two old friends!
Working with Sara Davies was an absolute highlight. She was endearing, loud, encouraging and lots of fun! She spoke about working with her husband, Simon and how she developed her product, the Enveloper early on in her career.
On the show, I presented my new product idea, Handi Tape. It’s a lightweight, comfortable, wrist-mounted, retractable tape measure that has Bluetooth enabled so that accurate measurements are instantly recorded on a tablet or other device.
I tried to solve my own problem of losing tape measures, hanging them around my neck or large rigid rules getting in the way. I knew if I was getting frustrated, others must be too! I love being efficient with time so any issue that gets in the way of productivity and speed, really needs to be solved.
I foresee fashion designers, seamstresses, crafters, interior designers, quilters, tailors and people working in haberdashery using this product. It rests gently on the back of the hand/wrist and is always accessible, allowing the user to have all 10 fingers free and measure anything at the touch of a button!
My episode of The Big Idea Works airs on Thursday 6th February, on BBC One. But if you can’t wait that long, you can watch all the episodes on iPlayer from Monday, 3rd February.
This experience has opened up so many exciting possibilities for the future. I successfully registered the product name for a UK Trademark and have more information on our general company website caterpillarcrafts.com. My goals for The Handi Tape are to either license the design to a larger company who can develop it across the world or to raise capital through investors or crowdfunding to finalise the design and begin manufacturing.
I’m also excited to share that I will be interviewed live on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire radio on Monday 3rd February at 10.15 am.
Above all, I hope viewers of The Big Idea Works feel inspired to have big dreams and encouraged to make things happen, even if it's just something small each day!
Thank you so much for your support over the years - it means the world to me. Whether you’ve been part of the Caterpillar Cross Stitch community or you’re just joining the journey now through The Handi Tape, I’m so grateful to have you along for the ride.
Please tune in on 6th February, and let me know what you think!
That time of year is well and truly upon us again, and you’re probably thinking about what Christmas gifts to buy for your loved ones.
If you happen to know someone who’s a craft or cross stitch enthusiast, then we know that finding presents for cross stitchers isn’t always the easiest, so we’ve put together this blog post to help you.
As we start spending more time indoors, there’s no better way to embrace the warmth and charm of the season than with some creative, hands-on crafting. Imagine transforming your space with festive touches, one DIY project at a time!
Crafting isn’t just about making something beautiful (although that certainly is a huge advantage!), it’s also about finding something that makes you happy, calms your mind and brings you a sense of enjoyment and accomplishment.
For neurodiverse people, crafts can offer amazing benefits, from improved focus and confidence to reduced stress and anxiety.
