Wednesday, April 28

meet a maker monday

except this week i'm a little late so temporarily renamed: wonderful wednesday

Please introduce yourself …
My name is Tracy and I live in Eastbourne on the South East coast. I've lived here for 24 years now, the longest I've stayed in one place! Before that I lived in Preston, Lancashire, (still got the accent) Toronto in Canada and Chippenham in Wiltshire where I was born. I work part-time as a private carer and spend most of my spare time making wirework jewellery and avoiding doing the ironing.

How would you describe your work / style?
I started making jewellery about 5 years ago and taught myself the basics in wirework and stringing. I now concentrate mostly on wirework jewellery using Sterling Silver and Copper wire. I use a variety of beads - Semi-Precious, Lampwork, Freshwater Pearls, Glass and Swarovski Crystal, anything I can get my hands on really! I've always been a silver person as opposed to gold, although copper is pretty cool as well. It was always my practise wire but now I use it a lot in my "proper" designs.

I suppose I would describe my style as modern. It has been described by other people as bold, different and unusual! I find it hard to make delicate, small jewellery, I'm always drawn to the larger beads for some reason!

Who, or what, inspires you?
The book Bead On A Wire by Sharilyn Miller inspired me to start making wirework jewellery about 3 years ago. I love her designs and the freedom working with wire gives you - you are only limited by your imagination. I've always loved swirls and spirals in design and working with wire means you can create almost any shape you want. Spirals feature a lot in wirework so it's a good job I love them!

There are lots of other wirework jewellery makers I love too - Connie Fox and Lynne Merchant. There's also an Etsy seller called Mel (www.etsy.com/shop/wireartbymel) who produces the most beautiful wirewrapped wirework jewellery - very intricate and absolutely amazing, each piece must take hours to make. Please visit her shop and you'll see what I mean!

Do you sell your work? If so, what helped you decide to start selling your work?
Yes I sell online and to friends and family. I originally sold on eBay after seeing lots of other handmade jewellery there and thinking "I could do that!" I also started selling online to justify buying more beads!

Where can I buy your work?
I have a shop on Folksy - cinnamonjewellery folksy shop and an Etsy shop which I have woefully neglected recently! cinnamonjewellery etsy shop

Do you have a website or blog address?
I recently started a blog - cinnamonjewellery blog

How did you learn your craft? How long have you been creating?
I've been making jewellery for about 5 years and basically taught myself with the help of books and the internet and a lot of practise! I did take a short evening class in silver jewellery making which included soldering, pickling and annealing, etc which was great but not very practical for me to do at home. I still have the twisted silver bangle I made there!

Is there any other craft skill you would like to learn?
I'd love to learn how to make jewellery using PMC (Precious Metal Clay)

Anything exciting planned for 2010 you’d like to share?
Not exactly planned for this year but I would love my jewellery to be featured in a magazine and I keep meaning to pluck up the courage to approach a few local gift shops with the view to selling my stuff! Both of which will only happen if I do something about it!
If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be …
A landscape gardener or chocolate taster at Cadburys/Thorntons - preferably both!

What do you do to relax?
I love getting out in the garden, it's actually only a backyard but I can dream! I just enjoy pottering and planting and tidying up....... I can spend hours out there. I also enjoy horse riding again after a break of 26 years - God did my legs ache after the first time back in the saddle! I also spend way too much time on the computer!

Marmite … love it or hate it?
Absolutely hate it!

What animal would you be, and why?
A bird, I'd love to be able to fly.

What’s your weakness?
I am a self-confessed chocoholic and must eat it everyday. I'm afraid I'm not one of those people who can eat a couple of chocolates then put the box away - I have to carry on until they are all gone or until I feel sick. I also eat Nutella out of the jar with a spoon.

How do you keep motivated?
I've always liked fiddling about and making things. It's totally "my time", when I can get lost in what I'm doing and forget everything else that's going on.

I must admit there are times when I sit down to make some jewellery and nothing happens. I'll have an idea for a pair of earrings but it just won't work and before I know it 2 hours have passed and I've produced nothing that I like. Or sometimes I just won't be in the mood. Thankfully this doesn't happen too often. When it does I'll have a break for a while, do something else or look through magazines and books for inspiration. I always keep a notebook handy to sketch ideas and make notes which comes in handy for those times when inspiration just doesn't strike! I even do it in the car sometimes if I see something like a pattern in a wrought iron gate that I think I could reproduce in wire. I have lots of ideas floating round in my head, sometimes too many, and I do find myself thinking about a design at totally inappropriate moments!

I think the greatest motivator is someone complimenting you on something you've made and actually wanting to own it themselves.

What do you wish you’d known when you first started out?
Selling handmade jewellery is very competitive. You have to develop your own style or you'll get swallowed up! This doesn't always happen straight away, the jewellery I make now is very different to the stuff I made 5 years ago. I don't believe in rigidly sticking to one style, you have to progress and learn all the time. There are so many new techniques and designs I want to try, such as wirewrapping and PMC. I still have so much to learn.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
With regards to opening an online shop - be patient! Lots of people think all they have to do is open their shop and the sales will flood in. Unless you're very lucky this just won't happen. You have to let people know you are there by promoting and advertising your shop. Another thing is don't be afraid to ask other sellers for advice. When I started selling on eBay 5 years ago I got in touch with another jewellery seller and asked for her opinion on my stuff. She was very honest and told me my loops were sloppy and inconsistent (which they were). It did hurt a little bit, but it made me practise my loops till they got better!

thanks so much for taking the time to have a chat tracy, i really love your jewellery :) i'm afraid i'm with you on the chocolate too, i thought i would have 'grown out' of eating chocolate till i feel sick but no ...

Friday, April 16

a wee break


so my little blog will be quite for a while as my mum's coming up today and then we're off for a surprise break - we're going to a cottage but haven't told mum where it is, have only shown her this pic and then i have a few other surprises planned too (one of which may not happen due to the disruption to the flights right now!).

for now, i'm frantically trying to scrub the house from top to bottom - have been obsessed with felting recently and the housework kind of hasn't been done for a while :)

have a good week everyone.

Monday, April 12

meet a maker monday

Please introduce yourself …
Hello my name is Chantal and I AM a sockaholic. I also run Hotdog And Me, a place where all the lonely sock puppies come looking for a new and loving home.

How would you describe your work / style?
I make sock dogs...I know, that sounds ridiculous! But I love making them and I love how they all have their own personalities...I promise I am not crazy.

Who, or what, inspires you?
My family do, I know that sounds cheesy but its true. Particularly my mum and my late nan Betty. I come from a crafty family :)

Where can I buy your work?
At the moment my main focus is on the wonderful Folksy but I am just starting out over the pond as well on Etsy.

hotdogandme folksy shop
hotdogandme etsy shop

Do you have a website or blog address?
Yes, we like to do features on what Hotdog gets up to, new puppies that arrive and also people sometimes send in photos and stories of their puppies.

http://hotdogandmerock blog

How did you learn your craft?
I taught myself from a book and then went off and created Hotdog.

How long have you been creating?
I have been creating all my life but Hotdog has been going since June 2009.

Is there any other craft skill you would like to learn?
I am a classic hobby jumper, I have tried loads, mastered some, failed miserably at other (notably resin - my hat goes off to all the resin magicians out there, I think they are amazing). I would love to learn photography.

Anything exciting planned for 2010 you’d like to share?
Now THAT would be telling!

Have you had any work featured in magazines/books/galleries?
Nope not yet but if anyone wants to ........

If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be …
Going crazy, crafting is very good for the soul.

Describe your proudest moment.
The birth of my 3 beautiful children.

What do you do to relax?
Make socks dogs :) Read, long bubble baths, eat way too much.
Marmite … love it or hate it?
I am an enigma, I love and hate it depending on the day.

What animal would you be, and why?
An otter, just so that I could look at all the other cute otters all day.

What’s your weakness?
Since giving birth in August it seems to be Chocolate! But I also have an obsession for vintage buttons.

How do you keep motivated?
It is really hard sometimes, I am not getting much sleep at the moment so don't always feel like sewing. For me the best thing is not to put too much pressure on myself, it's better to want to do something rather than feeling pushed into it.

What do you wish you’d known when you first started out?
How to plan better.


What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
I have 2 pieces of advice:

1 - There are a lot of very helpful people in the forums (especially on Folksy) that are willing to give a lot of useful advice......TAKE IT, I learnt a lot from them.

2 - You have to promote yourself, you can't expect people just to find your shop amongst all the others out there, there are millions of talented crafters out there and you have to SHOUT at the top of your lungs about your beautiful items.

What question did you hope to be asked but didn’t?
Can I buy 1 milllllion sock dogs?

What would your answer have been?
Why yes of course.

thanks for taking the time to chat chantal, i absolutely love your sock dogs - and you're right, each one does have it's own personality, every time i look at your pics it brings a smile to my face :)

busy, lovely, days

but not much time for blogging!

gosh the last few days have been like summer here, m got away for the weekend to go cycling in the sunshine so i took the opportunity to felt like mad - 15 hours on saturday and then 9 on sunday, i got LOADS made :) makes me want to be a full time feltmaker even more though, imagine the chance to do this every single day?!

i also got the chance to draw up some new business cards from moo for this year's craft fairs ...

Monday, April 5

meet a maker monday

being the inquisitive little feltmaker that i am, i thought it might be interesting to hear about other maker's stories. so a little while ago i asked if anyone would be interested in being interviewed for my blog. i was hoping to make it a monthly feature but have been so overwhelmed by responses that it is now a weekly feature!

so, grab a cuppa, put your feet up and lets meet lisa from ihearttoast ...

Please introduce yourself …
I am Lisa, and I run i heart toast. I make mainly jewellery but also corsages and fascinators.

How would you describe your work / style?
My style is quirky and fun, with a dramatic flair when it comes to fascinators. I love to work with fimo, beading, sinnamay and feathers.

Who, or what, inspires you?
I am inspired by everyday items, like a piece of toast or a hamburger. I love food so many of my jewellery pieces are replica food items. I feel hungry as we speak!

Do you sell your work? If so, what helped you decide to start selling your work?
I do sell my work. I did a course making fascinators and started to make them to wear myself at weddings and burlesque nights. I got lots of comments and started to make them for friends and family. I then decided to branch out into jewellery and people kept asking to buy my things!

Where can I buy your work?
I sell online at Folksy and also at craft fairs and school fairs in Glasgow. My next venture will be a swishing event in Edinburgh.

Do you have a website or blog address?
Yes, you can find me at ihearttoast folksy shop

How did you learn your craft? How long have you been creating?
I learnt through short courses around Glasgow. I have been creating for 2 1/2 years now and I am learning new techniques all the time.

Is there any other craft skill you would like to learn?
Yes - loads! I am very envious of my Granny who is a brilliant dressmaker - my sewing is limited to corsages and my flowered brooches.

Anything exciting planned for 2010 you’d like to share?
I have been approached to create fascinators for a troupe of dancers at a local dance school - I can't wait to get started!

Have you had any work featured in magazines/books/galleries?
Not yet but there is plenty of time!

Has your work won any prizes/competitions?
No but I haven't put anything forward - I'll have to start!

If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be …
A full time personal masseur for my two cats, Chairman Meow and Lady Marmalade.

I couldn’t do this if it wasn’t for …
The support for my family - they are full of inspiring ideas and support me every day.

Any funny stories you’d like to share?
I made myself a fascinator for a Christmas night out. It was a beautiful black and white piece made from vintage fabric and feathers. Just before I was due to put it on I heard a scuffle - there was my cat Lady Marmalade eating the feathers from my fascinator! I had to do a quick repair job - it must have been good as I got lots of compliments on it!

Describe your perfect day...
My perfect day at the moment would just be a relaxing day at home followed by cooking a big meal for all of my family in the evening. And maybe a spot of karaoke!

Describe your proudest moment...
When I was commissioned to make a fascinator for a lady going to the Queen's garden party. I just kept thinking that my fascinator was going to meet the Queen!

What do you do to relax?
Read and pet my cats. Or make jewellery - it is very relaxing!

Marmite … love it or hate it?
Hate it Hate it Hate it! Yuk!

What animal would you be, and why?
A cat so I could see into their world and beg for smoked salmon and chicken from the fridge.

What’s your weakness?
Food! I am a big foodie - my favourite is a roast dinner.

How do you keep motivated?
My family do a great job, especially my partner and sister. I am also always so motivated when I am at a craft fair and people are complimentary about my work!

What do you wish you’d known when you first started out?
That the way you present your products can make a difference between selling and not!

What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Do loads of research - go to a craft fair as a customer before going as a seller.

What question did you hope to be asked but didn’t?
What is your favourite item in your shop?

What would your answer have been?
At the moment my black cat necklace...

thanks for chatting lisa, what great names your cats have – they sound like lovely characters, apart from when they’re eating your fascinators that is!