Hello, I'm Amanda Danells-Bewley, a slow-stitching artist, based in North Yorkshire
I founded Create and Flo after my own journey through burnout and recovery. What began as quiet moments in the garden — stitching slowly, creating mindfully, and reconnecting with the seasons — became the seeds of a new way of living and working.
With a background in garden design and a long-standing love for found and sustainable materials, I ran a small business making bunting from preloved fabrics before the pandemic. But it was during a time of deep exhaustion that I discovered the true restorative power of nature, creativity, and rest.
Create and Flo is the result of that discovery — a space where I invite others to gently explore their own creativity, reconnect with the natural world, and experience the grounding benefits of slowing down. Through art-based wellbeing sessions, festival workshops, and nature-inspired retreats, I now share these mindful, crafting activities with others who are seeking calm, clarity, and reconnection.
Previous Creative Projects
Community Sewing Projects
From repurposing old school summer dresses, to making 500 yards of bunting for Ilkley town centre, to co-ordinating over 100 sewers during the pandemic making scrubs, I have brought sewing projects to the heart of the community. My passion is bringing people together, through sewing!
Festival Workshops
I've run fun, hands-on festival workshops where kids and adults create their own quirky bunting. Using a mix of vintage and pre-loved fabrics, or upcycled materials like maps and books, everyone learns the basics of bunting-making, including basic hand stitching or no-sew options and leaves with their own unique festival decorations. I've run sessions at a number of festivals including Camp Quirky and Elderflower Fields.
Community Advent Window Trail
Now in its 3rd year, I organise a community advent window trail in my home village. The local village school together with the local community creates magical, festive scenes for everyone to enjoy. From the 1st to the 24th of December, a new festive window is revealed each night at 4pm, somewhere around the village, so by Christmas Eve there are 24 twinkling windows on display.
