Our Story

After 31 years in the classroom, I retired from teaching due to illness.

The long road back to health stripped things back and gave me space to rediscover what really matters: family, friends, craft, and the simple discipline of living well.

The turning point came on a trip to Lake Como.

I rode my bike along the edge of the water, swam in its cold depth, and climbed the steep cobbled streets of Bellagio.  Somewhere between the miles, the climbs, and the stillness, something shifted.  Surrounded by beauty, precision, and quiet craftsmanship, the idea for JoeShmo Handcrafted Leather Jewellery began to take shape.

This has never been a solo pursuit.

Susie and I build this life together.  She keeps the wheels turning — organising, grounding, problem-solving — and without her, none of this works.  Together we raised our daughters, Gabby and Mika, and nearly seven years ago we swapped a Cotswold cottage for a 60ft Dutch cruiser moored on the Gloucestershire canal.

This is a shared practice. A way of living, working, and making with intent.