Hello there! So pleased to make your acquaintance! I am Wendy White, the owner of Wendy Woo Limited, a published author and an experienced childminder of more than 20 years.
I was never going to be a famous ballerina, singer, or actress, not only because I can’t dance, sing or act, but it didn’t really appeal to me. I wanted to be Mary Poppins… A “practically perfect” kind and magical nanny that all children loved and obeyed!
Hello there! So pleased to make your acquaintance! I am Wendy White, the owner of Wendy Woo Limited, a published author and an experienced childminder of more than 20 years.
I was never going to be a famous ballerina, singer, or actress, not only because I can’t dance, sing or act, but it didn’t really appeal to me. I wanted to be Mary Poppins… A “practically perfect” kind and magical nanny that all children loved and obeyed!
The idea never left me, and after leaving school I joined a Nanny agency. My first nanny job sent me to look after two highly mischievous grandchildren of a retired admiral and his wife. Forty years later, I am still in touch with those grandchildren.
Eventually, I married and had three children of my own, Madeleine, Josephine, and Michael. I loved being a stay at home mum because it gave me uninterrupted time to be on my own and explore and develop creative ideas.
As my three got older and started school, my house seemed to attract children – lots of children. Every afternoon after school, children came to play. We had doorstep picnics in the summer and hot chocolate with marshmallows in the winter, and these special times inspired me to become a childminder. Twenty years, twelve families, forty-eight children, and three outstanding Ofsted inspections have brought me to where I am now.
In my spare time, I sewed – I have always wondered if that makes me a sewer! I started to make little toys and rattles for the children I minded. I cut out their names in felt and made them into fridge magnets. I made little felt stars with faces on.
In 2017, disaster struck and arthritis in my thumb put paid to any more needlework for me. At fifty-nine years old, I decided to retire – but what was I to do? I’d always wanted to write, so I wrote some children’s books and actually got them published. I then thought back to the little stars that I used to make with the faces on. I sent the design to a manufacturer and My Mood Stars were born. My market research informed me that My Mood Stars would be an even better product if they had an accompanying board to stick them to. I found a sheet of hook and loop material, glued it onto an old picture frame and the My Mood Stars board was invented!
In my spare time, I started to make little toys and rattles for the children I minded. I cut out their names in felt and made them into fridge magnets. I sewed little-felt stars with faces on.
In 2017, disaster struck and arthritis in my thumb put paid to any more needlework for me. At fifty-nine years old, I decided to retire – but what was I to do? I’d always wanted to write, so I wrote some children’s books and actually got them published. I then thought back to the little stars that I used to sew with the faces on. I sent the design to a manufacturer and My Mood Stars were born. My market research informed me that My Mood Stars would be an even better product if they had an accompanying board to stick them to. I found a sheet of hook and loop material, glued it onto an old picture frame and the My Mood Stars board was invented!
My Mood Stars started to gain attention from parents and carers of children with Autism and Asperger’s syndrome. Some of these children have difficulty recognising and acknowledging facial expressions so My Mood Stars helped as a visual aid.
I was delighted, not only had I made a really fun toy but an effective developmental resource that would actually help young children.
In 2018, Wendy Woo Limited was created. This is the name to which I was referred whilst childminding. I think that it suits me perfectly!
Thank you for taking the time to read more about me and my life to date, join me as the adventure continues by following me on social media:
