Do you love your life but find work an ever-increasing drudge? Are you fired up with a passion for your free time activities you wish you could harness to get you through the nine-to-five grind? Don't waste your time trying, take control and make your work life as fulfilling as your free time.

Julie Zeldin, garden designer

Working as a textile designer for international clients, designing home furnishings and teaching fashion part time might seem quite glamorous from the outside – but after giving birth to her second child, Julie Zeldin realised she needed a change of career.

'My job essentially meant working 365 days a year and, as one of the main shows I designed for took place in the second week of January, Christmas was always a bit of a rush. With two children it just became too much.'

She also wanted to produce work that was more permanent and not just trend-driven – something that became more important to her once after having children. And while gardening had not been a huge part of her life when she lived in London flats, after moving to a house with a garden when her daughter was two, she became more and more interested in plants.

'Also as a family we liked to visit big houses and gardens, and go to parks, I started to see the possibilities of what could be done.'

The turning point came after visiting a French garden festival, showcasing garden designs from all over Europe; it was the turning point that persuaded her to quit her job and enrol in the English Gardening School.

In the meantime her second child was born, and she describes the course as a hectic time – 'with a portfolio on my back, the pushchair in front, running for the bus and to the childminder, in fact I don't think I stopped running the whole year. But I loved what I was doing so much, I never doubted it was the right thing to do – I just felt so lucky to be able to do it'.

Now qualified she takes on individual client projects, and last year designed her first garden for the Chelsea Flower Show, winning a Bronze Medal. Having worked for herself all along, she doesn't find it a difficult discipline to get up in the morning and get straight down to work – though having an office in the family home can bring its own difficulties.

'I've just about got the children trained not to come crashing in,' she laughs. 'Though they sort of understand the concept that when I'm in the office I'm at work.'

The most challenging part of the career switch has been finding the new skills this called for.

'I've never had to do my own marketing before and I have found it very challenging. I've definitely made mistakes along the way – and that's been the hardest thing for me.'

Her advice to people considering turning their hobby into a career is simple – 'think about a number of things you would like to do. Try out a short course first before you commit yourself, it will give you a taster and help you make the decision.'

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