Joann O'Brien - Briar Patch Designs

Originally from Cairns, Australia, Joann has lived on the Isle of Man for five years. Being a bike enthusiast, she used to visit the Island with her partner for the TT, so when a job opportunity came up for him, they jumped at the chance of residing in a place they had fallen in love with.

Gaining an A Level in Art, Joann has always had an interest in paper crafting. Her Grandmother used to take her to the beach as a child where they would collect shells and then spend hours decorating cereal boxes. The fact that she has been able to turn this hobby into a job is the icing on the cake for Joann, who set up Briar Patch Designs five years ago.

Her products range from 3D pieces (teapots, cups, cards and memory books) to coasters and notebooks. Realising paper was a relatively limited market she has recently branched out into jewellery making for which she likes “big” and “textured” designs with plenty of character.

Joann also caters for children’s parties where she is able to teach the children a skill using paper and, in turn, they are able to take their creation home. She also offers craft classes, and details of how to book these, along with details of all her products, can be found on her website.