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Journalist leaves a life in news to pursue window of opportunity

A former Midlands journalist has told how she is reaping the benefits after setting up her own stained glass business, after 16 years in newspapers.

Jackie Harris left her job as a sub-editor at the Worcester News in March after struggling to juggle her job with looking after her two children.

She set up Art of Glass and now works from home producing stained glass panels for houses and smaller independent hanging panels using traditional techniques to create bespoke glass art pieces.

The 43-year-old has previously worked for the Dudley News, Metro News in Birmingham and the Redditch Advertiser, and joined the Worcester News five years ago.

But recent changes to edition times there meant she was no longer able to combine her shifts with family life.

She decided to take redundancy and now says the move gave her the incentive she needed to take the plunge and turn a long-standing interest into a new career.

Jackie said: “It has allowed me to start a business doing something that I love and have a big passion for. I don’t think I would have had the courage to do it otherwise.

“It is a long, slow process, but I gave myself a deadline that if nothing happened in three months I would have to think about getting another job.

“So far I have had enough commissions to warrant continuing. I wouldn’t say I’m matching the money I earnt before but I have some redundancy money to tide me over and I’m very optimistic and thoroughly enjoying every minute.”

Jackie had previously worked on her stained glass creations in her spare time, having studied a couple of college courses, and began selling her work to friends.

Since setting up full-time she has been able to use her newspaper connections to win some publicity in her local papers and is also involved in a number of arts and craft exhibitions.

For each commission she works closely with the client to come up with a design, and each piece is unique.

Jackie said: “I’m hoping everything I have learnt over the past 16 years in newspapers will help me in terms of self-publicity and getting the message across that people can contact me for work.

“I think that is one of the hardest things. Anyone can set up a business but it is actually getting people to know about you.”

Looking backing on her time in newspapers, she said: “I miss the camaraderie and the daily deadlines.

“But having worked to those kind of deadlines I’m finding it very easy to motivate myself and I don’t like to waste a minute.”

To see some of Jackie’s work go to www.finefayre.co.uk/artofglass. You can also contact her at [email protected]