Until recently, Sarah Graham described herself as the wife of a farmer but since her first calving – a difficult birth where she was on her own and had to clear the calf’s airway – she’s become a very proud farmer’s wife.

Three days a week Sarah, 47, works as a copywriter and magazine editor at Enesco in Carlisle, where she started work aged 18 as a painter for Lilliput Lane when it was based in Penrith. When not at work or helping husband William on their beef farm at Bothel, near Cockermouth, Sarah is often to be found in the shepherd’s hut where she makes cushions, needle-felt art and jewellery.

She came up with the idea after spending a family holiday staying in a shepherd’s hut: “I came back all starry-eyed and said I want a shepherd’s hut.” She was amazed when her neighbour John Jardine set to work and produced one for her to use as a back garden workshop.

A second hut, which goes to shows and events as a pop-up shop, now stands in the farmyard. Sarah, who is mum to Nelson Thomlinson pupil Jake, 16, sells products from her range, called Handmade Designs By Sarah Louise from her Facebook page, at craft fairs and is planning to have a stall at Carlisle Old Town Hall.

Picture 1: I was going off to uni and I got a summer job at Lilliput Lane and never left. I’ve been all over the world doing painting demonstrations. It was massive in the 90s when it was in its heyday. This ornament is Sweet William, for my husband. We’ve only been married three years, but we’ve been together for 12. We met in the village pantomime – he was Wishy Washy and I was Princess Jasmine. Sometimes we come and spend the night in the shepherd’s hut – we pretend we’re on holiday. Because we’re farmers, it’s hard to get away.

Picture 2: This needle case and pin cushion were some of the first things I made around four years ago in a sewing group with some friends. We get together once a month. It’s lovely to get together and make things. We call it stitch and bitch! That’s how I started making things.

Picture 3: This cushion is wool felting. I went on a course in Calbeck and I absolutely loved it. This cushion is a one-off – I could have sold it, but I love it. Hares are just so enigmatic and beautiful. They do something to me. It’s a magical thing. If you see one, you feel very honoured. The hare is even incorporated into my logo. I’m working on packaging and getting excited about setting up a business.

Picture 4: I started with the hare and pheasant cushions, but now I do lots of different ones. A lot of my inspiration comes from what I call my granny stash. There’s a room in the house no one can go into because it’s full of rolls of fabric. Often people just drop it round for me because they know I make things. I had some lovely oriental fabric so I did an elephant. I’ve just done a prize Charolais for somebody. You’ve got to have the right colours and fabric. It can take a long time but when it works it’s really good.

Picture 5: This mounted ram’s head was from Rheged. My mum, Elaine Edgar who lives in Wigton, gave it to me as a present when I got the shepherd’s hut because we don’t have any sheep. She also got me the tractor seat and a herdwick rug. I make mounted stags, highland cows and hares heads now.

Picture 6: I got into needle felting after trying wet felting. This hare picture is the best seller, but I do landscapes as well. I use a barbed needle that tangles the wool together. It’s lovely to switch off and go into your own little world. I’m just lucky that if I make something, people like it.

Picture 7: Being a countrywoman at heart and a farmer’s wife, it would be shocking if I didn’t make jam. I love going foraging. I can be out there two hours and come back covered in berry juice. Apparently my hedgerow jelly is legendary. I put in it elderberries, hawberries, rosehips, sloe, crab apples, blueberries and blackberries. I make that in autumn but I’ve just made some honeysuckle jelly and red clover jelly. It tastes like honey.

* This article first appeared in Carlisle Living