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Creative Threads Cornwall CIC
ABOUT US
JULIE VELLA
Founder | Teacher | Crafter | Community Maker
Julie Vella is the founder and driving force behind Creative Threads Cornwall CIC, a community‑focused organisation dedicated to bringing people together through craft, creativity, and sustainable making. Based in Cornwall, Julie has built her career around a passion for textiles, teaching, and empowering others to discover their own creative potential.
With a background as a teacher and workshop leader, Julie has spent years sharing her skills in sewing, textiles, and craft with learners of all ages. Her teaching style is warm, inclusive, and practical, ensuring that everyone, from complete beginners to experienced makers feels welcome and supported.
Julie’s love of craft extends beyond teaching. She is a maker in her own right, with experience in sewing, upcycling, hand‑dyed yarns, and textile design. Her creative journey began with small handmade projects for family and friends, which quickly grew into a wider practice rooted in sustainability and community. She has also been involved in ventures such as The Barn Cornwall and her Etsy shop Upon a Yarn, where she showcased her handmade and hand‑dyed creations.
Through Creative Threads Cornwall CIC, Julie has combined her skills as a teacher and crafter with her commitment to community wellbeing.
THE REST OF THE TEAM
Ange Collins
Admin and Safeguarding Lead
Ange is the Admin and Safeguarding Lead at Creative Threads Cornwall CIC, bringing clarity, calm, and a deeply people‑centred approach to the heart of the organisation. She oversees safeguarding practice, operational systems, and the smooth running of programmes, making sure every workshop and community space is safe, inclusive, and welcoming. With a background in community led creativity and wellbeing, Ange helps shape the culture of Creative Threads, where connection, care, and creativity sit at the centre of everything.
Ashlee Brett
Gong Practitioner
Ashlee joins Creative Threads as a Gong Practitioner, with a gentle, grounding presence, bringing her skill as a gong practitioner to help our community unwind, reset, and reconnect. Her sound baths create a calm, restorative space that supports wellbeing and we’re delighted to welcome her into the Creative Threads family as part of our growing focus on holistic, heart‑led care.
OUR MISSION
Creative Threads Cornwall CIC exists to bring people together through craft, creativity, and community. Our mission is to make creative opportunities accessible to everyone, regardless of age, background, or financial situation. We use craft as a tool to:
- Build confidence and wellbeing.
- Reduce isolation by creating welcoming, social spaces.
- Promote sustainability through reuse, recycling, and upcycling.
- Support people to learn new skills that can improve employability and open up future opportunities.
At the heart of our work is the belief that creativity is not just about making things — it’s about connection, empowerment, and resilience.
Our Events
Plans for the Coming Year
Over the next 12 months, we aim to:
- Launch our mobile workshops across Cornwall, reaching more rural and coastal communities where access to activities is limited.
- Develop themed programmes (e.g. sewing for beginners, upcycling textiles, intergenerational craft sessions) shaped by community feedback.
- Strengthen partnerships with community hubs, social prescribers, and local organisations to ensure our work reaches those who will benefit most.
- Train and support volunteers from within the community, giving them opportunities to share skills and gain experience.
- Embed sustainability further by increasing the use of donated, recycled, and repurposed materials in all our sessions.
- Measure and share impact through participant feedback, stories, and data, demonstrating how creativity supports wellbeing, skills, and community resilience.