Julie has lived in Essex all her life and some of her earliest memories are of being taught how to sew by her mother, who was employed by Norman Hartnell in his workrooms.  She can recall using a sewing machine at the age of six hen the only way she could reach the treadle was to work the machine standing up.  As Julie grew older her interest in needlecraft developed until it became something of an obsession and she attended many workshops before studying the City and Guilds qualifications.  These included certificates in Pachwork and Quilting, Creative Studies and Passementerie, and the City and Guilds Teaching Certificate.

Since 1991, Julie has taught courses at the Southend Adult Community College in patchwork and quilting, passementerie, goldwork and, more recently, doll making.  Her goldwork has won her a number of awards and she gives workshops all over the country.  She was invited to join EAST in 2008.