Hello! I'm Bea (pronounced "bee"). I am a quilter, artist and entrepreneur living in Oakland, California. 

I started sewing when I was 3 - when I asked Father Christmas for a sewing set. Since then I've tried pretty much every craft you can think of, but sewing and quilting remain my focus. 

I am a member of the East Bay Heritage Quilters and a member and former President of the San Francisco Quilters Guild. I have been teaching workshops for more than 20 years in the three countries I've lived in - UK, Japan and USA. I have extensive experience in public speaking and lecturing and am an experienced event organizer and host. 

The first type of patchwork I was introduced to was English Paper Piecing when I was about 9 years old. EPP remains a great love of mine and I am rarely without a project on the go. I like to use it for bags and pouches as well as clothing and quilts. 

I love learning new techniques and trying out different styles of quilting. After a "close enough" relationship with patterns I now prefer to improvise and design my own pieces. I often draw on my own life experiences as inspiration and use my art cathartically to express emotions and mark or celebrate key moments. 

My business career has seen me work in start-ups, big-tech, and not-for-profits, where I worked with some huge names in marketing, growth and retail as well as in event management and career development. My combination of tech and soft skills have allowed me to help people worldwide get started with online selling and marketing. In 2023 I launched my own company and started the Quilt n Learn events, and in 2024 more than 15,000 quilters attended my events!

As a result of childhood trauma I've had a lifetime of mental health challenges, and after more than 25 years of various therapies I am still evolving into the person I was always meant to be. In 2024 I discovered I also had ADHD, which explained a lot of things.

My own experiences of living with serious depression and anxiety have taught me to be patient and kind, as you never know who else is carrying an invisible burden. My mantra is "don't be a dick" and I value honesty, reciprocity and resourcefulness. I am a recycling geek and am always looking for ways to achieve a sustainable and less environmentally harmful life. 

In 2020 I was diagnosed with breast cancer following a routine mammogram. My treatment was successful and I now bother people about checking themselves, not delaying routine mammograms, and giving up smoking. My life partner is my cat Charlotte who dictates a large portion of my day-to-day. 

I used to use my birth name "Alex" but it never seemed like it was my name. Bea is living a much better life than Alex ever did.