I am a domestic, but not necessarily domesticated, mother-of-three. I live in Berkshire with my husband Simon, and children Tom and Alice (both 15) and Phoebe (12).
My first book The Gentle Art of Domesticity was published by Hodder & Stoughton in October 2007. My next book is Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer which will be published by Hodder & Stoughton in July 2008. September 2008 sees the publication in the USA of The Gentle Art of Domesticity by STC Crafts/Melanie Falick Books.
I am also the creator of yarnstorm, yarnstorm.blogs.com. I set up yarnstorm in February 2005 in order to write about knitting. The subject matter soon expanded to include quilting, baking, gardening, colour, inspiration, books, paintings and films (in fact, all the good things in domestic life). So I was able to make and muse to my heart’s content, then photograph the results* and document the process in words.
I have no design or artistic background or training, but I have loved making things since I was very little. Before I began writing yarnstorm, I’d had a thoroughly eclectic career; first with multinational companies, then in the wine trade and, from 1990, as a freelance wine consultant (I became a Master of Wine in 1992). I went back to university in 2002 to study for an MA in Victorian Art & Literature, then began a PhD on Charles Dickens which was soon shelved in favour of all the things I enjoy most: quilting, knitting, baking, words and pictures. I still love wine, though.
*I took all the photos you see on this website with my Fuji Finepix F30 camera.
All images ©Jane Brocket. Author photo (left) by kind permission of Debi Treloar.
