Our story
Claire Morrow
I spent a decade as an interior stylist before going independent to write about the things I actually use and care about.
Made & Minded is an independent editorial project about two things worth doing properly: sewing and fragrance. They sound unrelated, but they share something — both are full of confusing marketing that makes it genuinely hard to know what's worth your money, and both reward people who slow down and choose deliberately.
Why this site exists
Most sewing machine reviews are written by people who've never struggled through a buttonhole on a budget machine. Most fragrance content is either unreadably technical or a list of affiliate links with no real opinion behind it. I wanted something in between — honest, tested, and written like a person talking to you, not a brand talking at you.
How I work
- I test what I write about — advice is based on real use, not spec sheets
- I note when something was sent for review versus bought myself
- I update articles when products or recommendations change
- I use affiliate links, always disclosed, never affecting what I recommend
Affiliate income keeps this site running without paywalls or banner ads. I only link to things I'd genuinely recommend. Full details on the disclosure page.
Get in touch
Questions, feedback, or corrections are always welcome at akgeek2@gmail.com. I read everything and reply to most.