Ginger + Make

I’m Jenni, the maker behind Ginger + Make. I run beginner-friendly creative workshops and creative clubs in Plymouth, helping people build confidence through creativity and making.

Whether it’s sewing, wire work, crafting or simply trying something new, my sessions are a chance to slow down, get creative and make something you’ll be proud of. Because I believe making really does matter.

At the heart of Ginger + Make is a simple belief: making is good for the soul.

I believe everyone is creative. Sometimes that creativity gets buried under busy lives, work, family, self-doubt, or the idea that being creative is something you’re either naturally good at or you’re not. I want Ginger + Make to help people rediscover that part of themselves.

For me, creativity isn't necessarily about producing something perfect or impressive. It can be about spending two hours sewing while listening to an audiobook, learning a new skill, making something alongside other people, getting away from your phone, or simply having the chance to focus on something with your hands.

There is something quite magical about imagining something and then watching it come into existence. It might be a piece of clothing, a wire word, something made from reused materials, or maybe something you’ve never tried before.

Where it started

I studied Photography at university before working in fashion and e-commerce in London. I later retrained as an Art and Photography teacher, where I discovered how much I loved helping other people develop their creativity.

After moving to Cornwall, having children and navigating the changes that came with Covid, I found myself thinking more seriously about what I wanted my own creative life to look like. Ginger + Make grew from a long-held wish to work for myself and to build a working life around creativity, making and the things that matter to me.

The name Ginger + Make reflects that too. ‘Ginger’ comes from my family, three out of four of us are redheads, and ‘Make’ felt like the perfect word because it can mean so many things.

What I offer

Ginger + Make is deliberately varied, because I don't think creativity has to fit into one particular box.

My creative workshops are beginner-friendly experiences where people can learn a particular skill and make something themselves. I've run sessions in wire writing, sewing and other creative techniques, with more sewing and textile workshops becoming an increasingly important part of what I do.

My creative clubs are more relaxed. They’re a chance to come along, make something, bring your own project, try something new or simply spend a couple of hours being creative with other people. There’s no pressure to be productive or to finish something. The social side is just as important as the making.

I also run private creative workshops for groups, celebrations, birthdays, hen parties, community groups and get-togethers, giving people something creative to do together rather than simply meeting for a drink or a meal.

Alongside the workshops, I make personalised wire writing and signs, combining aluminium wire with colourful cord to create handmade pieces for homes, gifts and special occasions.

Who is Ginger + Make for?

I particularly love working with adults who don't necessarily think of themselves as creative.

Maybe you used to make things but haven't done anything creative for years. Maybe you've always wanted to try sewing but don't know where to start. Maybe you have a sewing machine sitting at home that you've never quite figured out. Or maybe you simply want an excuse to spend an evening doing something that isn't work, scrolling or looking after everyone else.

You don't need experience, confidence or a particular creative talent. You just need to be willing to have a go.

Because one of the things I love most is seeing someone arrive saying, “I'm not creative,” and leave having made something they're genuinely proud of.

Why ‘Making That Matters’?

The phrase ‘Making That Matters’ has become my tagline because I’ve become increasingly interested in the role that making can play in our lives.

We live in a world where it’s very easy to consume constantly, to buy something, use it briefly and move on to the next thing. I don't think the answer is to become perfect or to stop buying things altogether. I run a business that makes and sells things, after all.

But I do think there is a difference between passive consumption and spending time making something yourself.

When we make, we slow down, pay attention and learn. We also connect with other people and get a sense of achievement. We can get away from our phones and spend time doing something simply because we want to.

And hopefully, when we understand the time, skill and thought involved in making something, we might appreciate the things around us differently too.

That is the kind of creativity I want Ginger + Make to encourage: less pressure to be productive, more opportunities to stop, make, learn, connect and feel creative again.

Ginger + Make is intentionally small and personal. I’m not trying to build a huge company or fill every evening with workshops. I want to create something that supports a worthwhile income while still leaving space for family life, my own making and my own art.

I’m also interested in growing the sewing and textile side of the business, creating more opportunities for people to learn practical creative skills and eventually developing a dedicated creative studio of my own.

For me, success isn't about having thousands of customers. I'd much rather build a genuine local community of people who come to a workshop, return to a creative club, try something else, bring a friend and recommend Ginger + Make to someone they know.

If you’ve been thinking about trying something creative, getting back into making, learning to sew, or simply spending a bit of time doing something with your hands, I’d love Ginger + Make to be somewhere you feel comfortable giving it a go.