Monica Russel is a qualified Teacher and Art Therapist, and worked in schools, Further Education and Mental Health services for twenty-five years. In 2009, she set up a knitting and cake-stand making business using her creative skills. Monica designs all her own patterns and sells her knitting kits, which use only natural fibres, through her website. She attends many craft and knitting fairs and loves craft challenges. Since setting up her craft business, she has had patterns featured in Knitting magazines and books.