A Midlands woman pulled herself together after being made redundant - to launch a curtain shop.
Tina Leese, from Warwickshire, had been making curtains for family and friends for years before losing her job, and has now opened her own unit at Hatton Shopping Village, near Warwick.
Following a suggestion from her husband Dale to advertise her handmade curtain service, the cottage industry took off very successfully.
Tina has since received commissions to curtain village halls, schools, hotels, guest-houses and for complete house makeovers - including supplying curtains and soft furnishings for 15 rooms in a listed rectory in Castle Bromwich.
Mrs Leese said the opening of Curtain Workshop would provide her with much-needed work space and a showroom for her designs, which include vertical, wooden and Venetian blinds, door-stops, footstools, table linen, cushions and chair covers, plus a range of luxury fabrics, curtain poles and tracks.
She also offers a free measuring and home consultation service and makes curtains from customer's chosen fabric.
She said: "I can't believe that what started as a hobby has ended up with me opening my own shop at Hatton Shopping Village.
"I love every aspect of the job, from the design and creation to finally seeing the whole concept in situ. It's my dream to come to Hatton and I've been waiting for a unit to become available for some time.
"It is the ideal venue for me as there is a community of crafts people already established.
"Now I'm really looking forward to some exciting commissions coming my way."
