On the eve of the British Trade Craft Fair in Harrogate, CHRIS TITLEY talks to two exhibitors who followed their dream and turned their craft into a business.

KJERSTI Olsen always loved modelling with Play-Doh at her school in Norway. Although she has done many things since - not least marrying an Englishman, Chris, and moving over here - she never lost those creative skills.

For ten years she used them at a commercial pottery. But the work became repetitive and dull. So she teamed up with another employee, Maureen Wilson, and opened Pocklington Pots in George's Place, Pocklington, 18 months ago.

Now they design, make and market their own range of pottery and stoneware.

"We do things like vases, planters, bowls, candlesticks. We've quite a wide range but it's starting to narrow down a bit as we find out which are the best-sellers," said Kjersti.

Much of their work is inspired by the natural world all around them. Planters are hand-painted with poppies, and salt jars and pepper pots are fashioned in the shape of pigs.

After a lot of hard work and investment, the business is beginning to thrive. "The first year was hard work for very little money," Kjersti admitted. "But it's been going forward all the time, from day one."

Maureen Wilson's background is quite different. She hails from near Newcastle and spent 15 years nursing and bringing up a family of four with husband Michael, a prison officer at Full Sutton. But like Kjersti, Maureen never forgot her love of art at school. She is delighted to be expressing her creative side so fully at last.

"We spend all day doing something we really love and we actually get paid for it! We tend to vary the work we do every day so we don't get into the same repetitive zone we were in at the commercial pottery."

One day she might be working with moulds. Another she would be creating the mini animals, or glazing the finished pots. What gives her most satisfaction about her work?

"When I see it go out the door, when somebody likes it enough to buy it. And when we get comments like, 'these are really nice', that's very satisfying."

Pocklington Pots will be one of more than 350 exhibitors at the British Craft Trade Fare at the Great Yorkshire Showground near Harrogate, from tomorrow until Tuesday. Open to trade only, buyers from around the country will be there.

Maureen and Kjersti's business has been affected by the foot and mouth outbreak, as some rural visitor attractions that stock their wares have been closed. Their work is still on sale at Green & Noble and Manor Prints & Pottery, both in York's Shambles, and they hope the craft fair will provide new outlets.

The craft fair will be the launch- pad for another North Yorkshire business. Amanda Lee Embroidered Textiles has been up and running for just six months, and Amanda herself believes her display at the craft fair's Newcomers' Gallery will be a tremendous opportunity.

Amanda pursued her interest in fashion and textiles by taking a degree in the subject. But when she graduated in 1991, she felt she did not have the business experience to take it any further.

Instead, Amanda joined York Museum Services, rising to become the retail supervisor for the museum shops. She later joined the Royal Armouries in Leeds as business development officer.

That gave her the business experience, and with it the confidence, to return to her first love. So she set up her textile business from her home in Brunswick Street, York.

"It's still in the early stages. It's great - I love working for myself. It's good to be using my creative side again.

"That's what I really missed in my job. It was good doing the buying, but there was always something missing."

Her creations centre around her love of embroidery, be they framed textiles, or brightly coloured cushions and bags decorated with silk. She is keen to update the image of embroidery. "I want to promote embroidery, show what it can be about.

"It's not just about old- fashioned embroidery, which has its place, but its use in vibrant, contemporary looks."

The British Craft Trade Fair is not open to the public, but to trade only

Pocklington Pots: 01759 301809

Amanda Lee Embroidered Textiles: 01904 624057

The Art, Craft & Hobbies Supply Show at the Yorkshire Showground is open to the public and runs from April 20-22. Ring 01377 255213 for tickets