A BLACKBURN mum-of-three is tops after she was declared best crafts person of the year.

Tracey Davies, 51, who lives in Dukes Brow, was thrilled to find out she had won the Country Living magazine award for her lifelike models of dogs including her pet whippets.

The Blackburn College construction technician entered the competition after completing a degree in contemporary textiles at Blackburn College.

She said: “I was doing quite large scale embroideries but I could not fit them in my house so I thought I needed to do something smaller and gave this a go.

“I have two whippets, Jazz and Zorro and I have always been a dog person.

“I made a model of Jazz and it worked brilliantly so I was keen to do more.”

Some of Tracey’s models have been on sale at the Platform Gallery, Clitheroe, and she is also hoping to display more at their Christmas exhibition.

Tracey said: “The rest have come from commissions and people asking me to do their dog.

“People are always really pleased with what I have done. I made a lurcher for somebody not long ago and she sent me an email saying it was perfect.”

Tracey usually works from photographs of people's pets to create an exact felt replica of them.

She is now hoping the orders will come flooding in so she continue her crafting hobby.

Tracey said: “I am a bit dog mad now.

“I just did one and it worked out, it has become sort of a hobby now.

“I have not counted it up but it takes a long time sometimes to come together.

“I did not know what to say when they told me I had won. There are a lot of talented people about. I was well pleased.”

Country Living editor Susy Smith said: “With a wonderful talent Tracey is a deserved winner.”