Meet the Team - Helen!

Thank you so much for having a chat with us! Let's start with our usual first question - who are you, and what do you do for Sewing Patterns by Mrs H?

I'm Helen, I'm from The South Wales Valleys - the same town that Samantha was living before she moved to Cornwall. I am a Mum to 3 boys aged 8,6 and 2.

I'm Samantha's PA, I help her behind the scenes with organising and planning the business, such as the Virtual Retreat, Mystery boxes, answering emails and producing reports so she has more time for sewing.

I've had a few careers, I graduated in Hotel & Business Management then went into Human Resources in hotels followed by a charity and careers service. I then changed career to go into Pharmacy, worked my way up over 13 years....then I saw Samantha's advert for a PA and I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up!

Are you a bagmaker too?

I confess...I have never used a sewing machine in my life, although in Junior school we did hand sewing (those squares of material that you sew patterns into). The girls were given a square and the boys were given half a square. I had completed one of each by the time everyone else had completed their single piece. I was really proud of that achievement!
However, my mum is the seamstress in my family and regularly gets clothes from us to alter/make into something else.

Tell us something about yourself that sounds like a lie but is true!

I’ve been on a night out with the singer Bobby Brown and he called me his mate (I’d only met him earlier that night and have never seen him again)

What would you do if you won big on the lottery?

Give money to local charities, pay off all my family’s mortgages and set them all up for life, travel the world in 5* luxury and buy a home in Hawaii. Oh and get a cleaner!

Are you related or distantly related to anyone famous?

Apparently I'm distantly related to Kelly from The Stereophonics, but everyone in my town is apparently! My Uncle was also asked by them to be their manager in the early days but he turned them down.

Would you say you're more of an extrovert or an introvert?

Introvert

What's your favourite ice cream flavour?

Normal – mint choc chip, unusual – half baked by Ben & Jerry

Who is your favourite band/musician?

Take That – I’ve loved then for nearly 30 years and love to follow them around the country on their tours. My career aim is to be Howard Donald’s PA (but don’t tell Samantha!)

What's been your favourite holiday destination?

Hawaii on my honeymoon

Let's have a quick-fire round! Do you prefer...

Tea or coffee? Tea
Chocolate or candy? Chocolate
Early bird or night owl? Night owl
Wash dishes or ironing? Wash dishes (I never iron)
Christmas or your birthday? Christmas
Summer, Autumn, Winter or Spring? Summer
Scones with cream first and then jam, or jam first then cream? Either as long as I’m the one eating it! Phone calls or texts? Texts
Sweet or savoury? Sweet
Bath or shower? Shower
Pizza or burger? Cheeseburger pizza (from Dominos :-D)
City or countryside? Countryside
Sweet or salty popcorn? Both together
Chinese food or Indian food? Chinese
Toilet paper - under or over? Over
Beans on weetabix - yes or no? No
Pineapple on pizza - yes or no? Never!
Facebook. Twitter or Instagram? Facebook
Cardio or weights? Weights
Football or rugby/Soccer or American football? Rugby

Thank you so much, Helen! It's been a lot of fun getting to know you better! And, thank you for everything you do to help keep Sewing Patterns by Mrs H running smoothly!