After 31 years in the classroom, I retired from teaching due to illness.  The journey back to health gave me time to rediscover what really matters; family, friends, and the simple joy of living well.

A turning point came during a visit to Lake Como, Italy.  I cycled the lakeside roads, swam in its deep, cold waters, and wandered the steep cobbled streets of Bellagio. - reflecting on where I'd been, what I'd faced, and what came next.

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Surrounded by beauty, craftsmanship, and soul, the idea for JoeShmo Handcrafted Leather Jewellery began to take shape.

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I'm married to my best friend, Susie.  Together we have two beautiful daughters - Gabby (31) and Mika (29) - and nearly seven years ago we swapped our Cotswold cottage for a 60ft Dutch cruiser moored in Gloucestershire.

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This is us.  This is our journey.

This is the craft that now defines it.

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