I am a mummy to two amazing, but very different children.

I love a creative challenge and became inspired to make my own gifts when my children were born. This came to be the first of many bespoke creations for family and friends. The feeling of giving such perfect personal gifts was incredible, and something I really wanted to share. And so Gracie Jacques was born.

Jacques (pronounced ‘Jakes’) is my surname. The Gracie part has come from a number of happy coincidences. In our family business, my sister, brother and I — and my own two children — were all born on a Tuesday. And we all know that Tuesday’s child is full of grace. Gracie was also the girl’s name I had chosen when I was carrying my second child. My baby turned out to be a boy, but I still loved the name Gracie, so it seemed apt to use it for my business — which is also my baby!

I am a quiet character by nature and love that I have managed to create a business where words are the main feature!

Making these signs and wall arts is a real passion of mine. I enjoy dealing with words, creating layouts, painting etc, but what I love the most, is how something I have made with my own hands can touch your heart or raise awareness for all sorts of difficulties in life. I was able to use my signs as a way in to a local newspaper, to raise awareness of the Selective Mutism condition (which my daughter suffers with). It really is much more than just painting some words onto a piece of wood.

In the beginning, I was quite embarrassed when people asked what I did for a living. I almost felt as if I were a cheat, because I believe I am far from an artist (although the artwork I create in my mind is pretty awesome! - transferring that to paper or another medium is pretty tricky, if not impossible!) I have always loved to be creative and trying to find a way to allow me to be this was a challenge. It took a lot of research and many, many trial and errors, but I kept pushing forwards and finally found a way to create my own signs and wall arts. I have to make my own stencils which is why it is quite a long process from ordering to receiving. I'm not able to simply paint the words on as I am not that talented, and I do not press "print" to print directly onto the wood. I literally create a stencil from the design I have made and then painstakingly pick out each individual letter so that I have a usable (one time only) stencil.

As every Gracie Jacques product is individually handmade from scratch — no two pieces will ever be exactly the same.