LEARN with us
MAKE it yourself
MADE for you

Meet Our New Recruits – Lucy & Julie

It’s been almost a month since Lucy and Julie joined the EOW team, and we thought it was high time we got to know them better!

We took a few minutes to chat with each of them and discovered how they found their way to EOW, and uncovered some surprising facts you might not have guessed!

Lucy joins us as Membership Engagement Officer and will be looking after our resident and PAYG members – helping new people to join, promoting our community on social media, and keeping everyone up-to-date with the goings-on at EOW.

Julie takes up the new role of Community Outreach Officer and will be liaising with charities, clubs, and local community groups to see what workshops and events they would like us to offer and how EOW can best serve the people of Leith.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, Lucy! What brought you to Edinburgh Open Workshop?

I recently moved to Edinburgh from Bristol and actually chose Leith as a place to live because of Edinburgh Open Workshop. My partner and I were walking around trying to get a feel for different areas and we met Kirsty standing outside. She showed us around and it was like a warm hug – I knew I wanted to live somewhere close to the workshop.

I used to work in marketing for tech start-ups but I left the dark side and decided to return to what I love, which is making. I come from a family of makers and can’t remember a time when I couldn’t sew – we even had a sewing machine at the end of our kitchen table!! My aunt Dora used to send saris from Leicester market for me to make things out of, and she is the inspiration for my sustainable fashion business, Dora Studio.

After I moved here I started making quilted jackets for myself. I was walking around Leith one day wearing one of them and five people stopped to ask where I got it from. That was the nudge I needed to launch my business and make a living out of being creative.

What are you most excited about as part of your new role ?

I launched Dora Studio in December and it ties in perfectly with working at EOW, as I have the time and flexibility to do both. I love being surrounded by other makers as I find it tricky to work on my own, and I really enjoy being inspired and encouraged by other creative people. I am particularly looking forward to helping our members to grow and get the best out of EOW. I’ve been on the other side, so I know the kind of help and support they will be looking for. It feels great to be working alongside other creatively minded people again – a workshop full of people thinking and making and trying to do good.

Do you have any making experience and are there any new skills or courses on offer here that you fancy checking out? 

I actually studied ‘Knitwear for Fashion’ before going down the corporate route. After being made redundant, I realised that I needed to go back to doing what I love. My partner and I came to Edinburgh because it felt very like Bristol but was close to the Highlands, and we really enjoy disappearing off to explore the country in our campervan. I’m planning to do one of the furniture making courses so that I can create my own furniture to fit out the van. I know some of our members have already taken on projects like this, so I’m hoping they will be able to give me some pointers.

Tell us one surprising fact about yourself that we might not have guessed.

I’m a crazy cat lady. My cat Binky is an adventurer (for any Terry Pratchett fans, we named him after Death’s horse Binky, as when he was a kitten he was white all over with bright blue eyes). He loves coming on walks with us and heading off into the hills on our campervan trips.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, Julie! What brought you to Edinburgh Open Workshop?

I’m a creative-minded project coordinator with a passion for building communities and delivering projects that promote arts, culture, and local engagement. Over the past decade, I’ve worked across a wide range of organisations — from community hubs to arts charities, social enterprises and even a farm trying to diversify its land.

Throughout my career, I’ve been most motivated by roles that connect people, encourage creativity, and strengthen community ties. That’s what brought me to Edinburgh Open Workshop — I’m excited by the idea of supporting a space where people can come together to learn, make, and collaborate. I see EOW as a perfect extension of the work I love: building accessible, vibrant environments where creativity can thrive!

What are you most excited about as part of your new role?

I’m most excited about the potential for collaborative projects and workshops, and helping to build a vibrant space for creativity for the local community. I love bringing communities together to do fun and exciting things (basically, I enjoy throwing parties!)

Do you have any making experience and are there any new skills or courses on offer here that you fancy checking out?

I have a degree in design, specialising in textiles, so of course my answer will be anything textiles related. BUT I am so keen to learn more about the laser cutter and CNC machines. I have been dreaming up things that I could make for my house.

Tell us one surprising fact about yourself that we might not have guessed.

I grow dahlias in my spare time! Last year, I managed to grow over 150 of them.

You might like...

Workshop and Studio Spaces Available | Join Our Creative Community

We have Studios and Workshop Bays available! A rare opportunity for makers...

Edinburgh Open Workshop Works for Trades

Joiner Matt Callis discusses why EOW Works for people in the Trades

Making Together: A Year of Creativity at EOW

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re looking back on an incredible...

Shopping Basket