Tina Payne, 55, is a crime writer and lives in The Wirral, Merseyside, with her partner Susie, 55. She makes fun fruit and vegetable sculptures.
I make funny sculptures from fruit and vegetables to cheer people up. It started while I was chatting on Twitter, after we'd gone into the first lockdown. Someone suggested we all make a funny creation using fruit and veg, and post a picture.
'If it makes just one person smile, then it'll be worth it,' I said to my partner Susie, then 53, as I pinned carrots and parsnips together with cocktail sticks to make a giraffe.
When I shared the photo everyone found it really funny. People responded with wonderful comments and loads of smiles, so I carried on making more and sharing them. I've made a cauliflower and Brussels sprout sheep, Betty the Lettuce - who was a big hit - and a fruit cockatiel, instead of a fruit cocktail!
My creations seem to have struck a chord with lots of people. Before, I had about 170 Twitter followers, now I have over 2,000. It's not about getting a big following - for me, the more people who follow me, the more people I can make laugh.
I'm conscious about what I share, and I make it clear no vegetables are harmed in the making of these sculptures. Rather than draw on the veg, I add the smiles and faces digitally after I've taken a picture. Everything is used afterwards, nothing is wasted - we have eaten a lot of soup over the past two years!
I'm a crime fiction author, which can be quite gruesome, especially when you're researching about murders and decomposing bodies. This is a bit of fun and helps to balance things out. Some of my creations only take minutes, while more elaborate ones can take up to an hour, but when you've been writing for eight hours, it's good to have a silly, creative outlet.
It's all a bit of good clean fun and, if it makes folk smile, then that makes me smile.
Denne historien er fra August 02, 2022-utgaven av WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 02, 2022-utgaven av WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
10 OF THE BEST Buys for CHARITY
Look great and support Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October
How to HAGGLE
Save those £££s by plucking up the courage to negotiate
Your wellbeing
LATEST HEALTH SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR MIND AND BODY
Here to help
LET COUNSELLOR KEREN LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD
Good to GLOW
Plant your bulbs now for a lovely bright start to spring
Painted VASES
Prettify empty jars and bottles with this quick craft project
Escape to OXFORD
Delve into the city's rich cultural heritage for a wonderful weekend
Sail through menopause WITHOUT WEIGHT GAIN!
Middle-aged spread may seem inevitable - but it really doesn't have to be
Woodland wonders
When you go down to the woods, you'll find a whole new world teeming with life
'We should all be dancing'
Singer and actor Toyah Willcox on overcoming adversity, ageing and Strictly Come Dancing