‘It has been lovely to maintain contact and develop links through Future Fixers, as I try to make the most of networking opportunities. Future Fixers has provided an essential foundation for being self-employed, and also for continuing to develop my personal skill base.’
Anna left full-time employment in late 2019, with a ‘vague notion’ of concentrating on the tapestry weaving she loved, but unsure of the direction this would take. Attending the Future Fixers Purposeful Business Start-up Programme gave her the direction she craved and the boost she needed to partner with Irene, another weaver who was already offering face-to-face weaving experiences. Together, they expanded their network and now have an international audience and a growing reputation, working both online and in person.
Nearly Wild Weaving aims to connect tapestry weaving, weavers and nature. During online sessions, they facilitate peer learning and discussion about specific tapestry related topics and speak to well-known tapestry weavers about their practice and their journey. They also run sessions outdoors in nature or use nature as inspiration for the work they produce.
Anna recognises that connecting with others, and being in nature, is good for health and wellbeing, and she says that the act of tapestry weaving itself is often described as ‘meditative’. Over time, the business has evolved into developing and supporting a community of weavers, facilitating projects and learning opportunities, and communicating more widely about tapestry weaving.
According to Anna, using the ‘right’ materials in their weaving is also important. For example, they try to use locally sourced wool and ends of yarn from fellow weavers for both their own work and for teaching. They also try to support local businesses as much as possible, as well as other craftspeople for tools and equipment.
Anna says that whilst she didn’t have clarity on her business idea at the start of her Future Fixers’ journey, the programme helped her think through what was important to her and where her skills lay. She also developed the confidence to build her own work, and to teach tapestry weaving in South Cumbria, including at Farfield Mill in Sedbergh.
Key to the Future Fixers offer, is the opportunity to take advantage of one-to-one coaching to further develop confidence and resilience. One way we approach this is through a powerful personal profiling process called TIFF (Temple Index of Functional Fluency), which helps people become much more effective in their relationships at work and home. Unlike other similar approaches, TIFF doesn’t categorise or ‘type’ people and gives clear direction for those who, like Anna, want to develop themselves to develop their business.
The TIFF process unearthed strengths Anna had been unaware of, and resolving to use these strengths more often has meant that her personal confidence has grown. Greater awareness of behaviours that weren’t helping her get the best out of herself (and others) has motivated gentle changes Anna needed to make if she was to get the best out of herself and develop her business.
Anna has become part of the wider Future Fixers network. She said:
‘It has been lovely to maintain contact and develop links through Future Fixers, as I try to make the most of networking opportunities. Future Fixers has provided an essential foundation for being self-employed, and also for continuing to develop my personal skill base.’