My Story...
Hello, I'm Carina, a textile artist based in Alverstoke, Hampshire and the founder of Sew Tribal.
Originally from Ireland, creativity has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a child, I loved drawing, making costumes, creating artwork, and transforming everyday materials into something new.
Some of my happiest memories are of spending summers with my Aunt Mar, who taught me how to sew, make curtains, and create beautiful handmade pieces in her garden workshop. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong passion for textiles, craftsmanship, and creativity.
I studied Textile Design in Galway, graduating with an Honours Degree before spending six months in Sofia, Bulgaria, through the Erasmus programme at the National Academy of Arts. After graduating, I moved to the UK in 2008 to gain experience in fashion and textile design through placements in London, where I also met my husband.
As a military family, we've moved around the UK with various postings. While living in Scotland, I completed a Master's Degree in Fashion and Textile Design at Heriot-Watt University. Alongside raising our family, I continued creating handmade textile pieces, including baby blankets, cushions, gifts, and commissioned work, while also sharing my skills by running a textiles club at Portsmouth Grammar School.
In 2018, after settling in Gosport, I followed another long-held ambition and trained as a secondary school Art teacher. Although I became fully qualified, teaching during the Covid years helped me realise how much I missed creating with my own hands. With family life, frequent military deployments, and two young daughters to balance, I chose to step away from the classroom and return to the creative path that has always felt like home.
As I sorted through years of sketchbooks, fabrics, threads, artwork, and university projects, I rediscovered my creative identity. Looking back over decades of work reignited my love of textiles, storytelling, culture, and the natural world. I began creating again, filling our home with framed textile artwork and breathing new life into Sew Tribal, the creative business I first established in 2012.
The encouragement I found through local creative communities, networking groups, and fellow makers reminded me that creativity flourishes when it is shared. That belief is now at the heart of everything I do.
Today, I combine my passion for textiles, creativity, and education through workshops, community projects, and regular classes for both children and adults. I run several popular after-school textile clubs in local schools, all of which are regularly fully booked, and have recently launched a home education textiles group in Gosport.
As a military wife, mum to two wonderful daughters, and owner of an energetic Springer Spaniel called Duke, I understand the challenge of finding time for creativity in everyday life. My aim is to help people discover the confidence, skills, and enjoyment that come from making something with their own hands.
Alongside my regular classes, I'm passionate about supporting the local community through accessible workshops, including free Make, Do & Mend sessions, hand-sewing workshops, and practical repair skills such as sewing on buttons. I believe creativity should be welcoming, enjoyable, and available to everyone.
Whether you're joining a workshop, learning a new textile skill, or simply looking for a creative space to explore, I'd love to welcome you into the world of Sew Tribal.