queen of hearts

to celebrate valentine's day, this wonderful array of felt hearts are now available from fatcat felt's folksy shop

folksy shop now updated

thankfully i've had just enough daylight to get photos of some of my recent work :)

there is now a small selection of goodies available to purchase from fatcat felt's folksy shop, with hopefully much more to follow soon.

here's a wee preview ...

necklaces

bracelets

brooches

pebble gift set

pebble brooches

feltmaking kits

meet a maker

this week we meet debs from pipistrelle crochet designs ...

Please introduce yourself …
I'm Debs and I run Pipistrelle Crochet Design.

How would you describe your work / style?
I work all in crochet at the moment, and tend to just design whatever I feel like at the time. I've been doing a lot of hearts, garlands etc, but am looking into freeform crochet and intend to start experimenting in making other items such as more bags and accessories, wall hangings and cushion covers.

Who, or what, inspires you?
It mainly comes down to the yarn. I'm a real yarnaholic! I will see a yarn in the shop, or online, and it will set off a whole train for thought for me, whether it reminds me of the sea, or trees, or flocks of birds, or whatever, and my mind starts working overtime thinking about what would look good made with that yarn, or what effects I could achieve with it. I'm also very inspired by nature and birds.

Where can I buy your work?
www.muddybarefeet.folksy.com

Do you have a website or blog address?
www.pipistrellecrochetdesign.blogspot.com

How did you learn your craft? How long have you been creating?
I taught myself to crochet just over a year ago. I was a keen knitter before that, but since discovering crochet have practically abandoned knitting altogether - it just doesn't compare! I have been creating pieces seriously with the intent of selling them since late last year.

Is there any other craft skill you would like to learn?
I would really like to get to grips with felting, and as I said before I'm very keen to have a go at freeform crochet.

I couldn’t do this if it wasn’t for …
My wonderful family who put up with me enthusing about yarns and designs, and who leave me alone when I need to create.

What do you do to relax?
Spend time with my family out in the countryside.

Marmite … love it or hate it?
Love it!

What animal would you be, and why?
A hare. I've just always had an affinity with them. I quite often have dreams where I turn into a hare. I love the way they live, the family groups and the social organisation of them, and all the mythology, of course.

What’s your weakness?
Chocolate.

How do you keep motivated?
By looking at the wonderful things that other people make. When I'm feeling a bit demotivated, one of my tricks is to have a look through all my favourite shops on Folksy, and that usually inspires me to get back and get on with my own designs. I also have a few crochet books, and if I come across a stitch I haven't tried before, I'll have a go at something new like that, to get me back into it.

What question did you hope to be asked but weren't?
Who is your favourite Doctor Who actor?

What would your answer have been?
Tom Baker! Who else? :-)

thanks for taking the time to chat debs, i really like your work. if you're ever in scotland please look me up, perhaps i can teach you to felt if you teach me to crochet - i'd love to learn! oh gosh tom baker, takes me back a bit! when i was young, i remember being really chuffed when my aunt knitted me a 'tom baker dr who' scarf :)

meet a maker

this week we chat with elaine from ellie's treasures who makes gorgeous items using recycled fabrics and wool ...

Please introduce yourself …
I'm Elaine and I sell handmade treasures for my shop, Ellie's Treasures. I live in a rural village in Lincolnshire and truly love the peace and beauty that is around me. Life is busy, but I'm not one to stay still for long - I love a challenge!

How would you describe your work / style?Most of my craft items are hand-sewn using recycled fabrics, buttons and decorations where possible. I also sell little woollen ponies for which I use donated wool.

Who, or what, inspires you?
I am constantly looking at crafts in magazines, blogs and from other sellers to get inspiration and to just completely admire each person's individual style.

Do you sell your work? If so, what helped you decide to start selling your work?
I sell my crafts through my online shop with Folksy, it's called Ellie's Treasures. I planned to start my own website for Ellie's Treasures perhaps a year and a half ago, but it was taking far too long to get going with far too many other commitments getting in the way. Just before Christmas 2009, I decided to look into opening a shop through an established shopping site and came across Folksy through Zoe's blog. Zoe owns Top Floor Treasures.

Where can I buy your work?
You can purchase my crafts from Ellie's Treasures on Folksy, the direct website is elliestreasures. I'm more than happy to do custom makes too, just contact me through the shop.

Do you have a website or blog address?
As yet I don't have my own website but I do enjoy blogging and currently have three active blogs! One is about daily life, another for my garden, chickens and veggie plot and my third for my crafts and shop. The main web address is: elliestreasurescrafts

How did you learn your craft? How long have you been creating?
I think I've picked up the sewing bug from my Mum. She's always enjoyed mending and altering her clothes and has always hand-sewn too. Sewing for me goes back to senior school years when I starting sewing classes at year 7. Sadly, my fear of sewing machines also came from these lessons, but I remember having to make a skirt at school and longing to make a pair of shorts at home using a second-hand electric Singer sewing machine. It was a total disaster as the material Mum gave me to use as practise was a pair of old curtains that turned out to be rotten! The sewing machine kept smoking and sparking and my love of sewing went out of the window for several years.Having said that, "make do and mend" has always come naturally to me. Making things for pleasure and later to sell is a relatively new thing. The idea of the Patchy Pockets keepsake wallet came to me one night and I made a couple to see how they came together. A few months later a friend suggested running a stall at the local Christmas craft fair and that pushed me into making more Patchies and other pretty seasonal things.

Is there any other craft skill you would like to learn?
I'd love to do weaving. Again, I remember having a quick go at this at school and really enjoying it. Also, I'd like to try encaustic art as a blog friend is very skilled in this and produces the most amazing pieces.

Anything exciting planned for 2010 you’d like to share?
On the craft front, I'd like to do some craft fairs this year, perhaps around Christmas time to give me a few months to build up some stock.

I couldn’t do this if it wasn’t for …
My husband. It was his idea that we look into starting Ellie's Treasures online and spent the next year and a half really pushing that I do something with all the crafts I was making and storing away! Also my friend who initially suggested the craft fair - that sparked off the interest in selling I guess.

Describe your perfect day.
Having a morning lie-in would be a real luxury followed by a relaxing day of pottering about the house and garden finishing off with a meal at my favourite Indian restaurant in the evening.

Describe your proudest moment.
Oh, that's difficult. Proudest craft moment - my first sale I think!

What do you do to relax?
Potter about, enjoying the animals and tending to the veggie plot.

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

What animal would you be, and why?
A cat. I have three and could quite easily have plenty more. If I was going to be a cat though, it would have to be in a happy home so I could sleep for as long as my cats sleep for, just waking for attention and food!

What’s your weakness?
Chocolate. I hide it away from others so only I can get to it when I desperately need it (which is often).

How do you keep motivated?
Good question. Friendly messages left on my blog or through my shop really boost my confidence as does seeing that people are adding my crafts to their favourite list. The mega motivator of course is when I get a sale, this really makes me want to keep going! I put everything I have into each item I make and I'm very critical of everything I do, but the idea that perhaps someone else will enjoy that item too is the top thing that keeps me happy in what I'm doing.

What do you wish you’d known when you first started out?
That there's such a lot of work that's needed to run a tiny business like mine, it's not just making and selling! I spend more time marketing than making I think.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Persevere. When you think how many wonderful hand-made crafters there are out there selling in cyberland, just to get one sale is truly marvellous, to get more is fantastic. Don't give up, believe in yourself, learn from others and tell everyone about your goods as much as possible.

folksy finds ... flowers

well, as our lovely sunny weather is still with us, the garden is in full bloom now. so to celebrate all things floral, here's a wee selection of flowers from the lovely folksy folk. happy browsing :)

flower pendant from DanielMusselwhite

flower bookmark from MorriganCrafts


flower brooch from greanbea

flower ring from licklekisses

flower cards from BroomheadDesigns

meet a maker

this week we're chatting with kate from bluebell and rosie who makes beautiful textile items, my faves are the floral and gingham cushions :)

Please introduce yourself …
I’m Kate from Bluebell and Rosie on Folksy. I’m 27 and I live in Norfolk with my boyfriend, cats and chickens.

Do you have a website or blog address?
You can find my blog at www.bluebellandrosie.blogspot.com

I don’t currently have a website as I’m not producing enough work to warrant one, but just in case I have the domain name ready!

How did you learn your craft? How long have you been creating?
I’m relatively new to the world of Folksy and blogging (the two sit well together!) but originally I used to make cards for family and friends, about 6 years ago (that makes me feel old!) and then when things got busy with work, moving home etc I didn’t have enough time and only made them occasionally. Last year I decided to have a bash at making candles and decided I quite liked it! My mother in law then gave me her sewing machine which I was terrified of using – it took me 2 or 3 months to pluck up the courage to start using it! The internet is an amazing place and anything I do now that’s craft related is generally inspired (or taught!) via articles and blogs.

How would you describe your work / style? I’m relatively new to the world of making and I’m still finding and developing my style. I have an eclectic mix of things I make. Years ago I started making cards and that faded in to the background. Around about June/July last year I started making candles and then my mother in law gave me her old sewing machine – it took me 2 or 3 months to pluck up the courage to try using it!

Who, or what, inspires you?
There’s a great site called oneprettything that I have been known to spend hours reading. It links to various craft projects, advice and articles and you can see what people create. Some of the things are pretty amazing!

Is there any other craft skill you would like to learn?
I’d love to be able to paint. I’m hopeless at drawing but I recently brought some paints, just to try. Like the sewing machine, I’m yet to pick the brush up ...... I also want to learn to knit and crochet but despite numerous attempts that may be a lost cause.

thanks for taking the time to chat and best of luck with your folksy shop kate :)

folksy finds ... summer

well, summer's here at last - by that i mean it hasn't rained here for a wee while, in fact we've even seen the sun for two days in a row!

here's a celebration of summery related items from folksy for you to have a browse through ...

summer bunting from JuicyFig


looking for summer painting from polymerclaybeads

summer flowers handbag from northfieldprimitives

summer seas brooch from natscraftyshack

summer rose cards from BeggarsBowl

summer garden bracelet from whimsicalwrenjewellery

summer rock fairy from rainbowsandfairies

summer travel wallet from BodkinandBead

meet a maker

well, if you've been reading my blog for a little while, you'll have noticed the 'meet a maker monday' feature has now changed! 'meet a maker' gives me a bit more flexibility about when i publish the feature without giving myself a hard time about being 'late'.

same great interview, same great pics, same great makers, just a wee tweak to the name :)

this week, we're meeting birgitta of birgitta designs who makes charming handmade gifts and homeware from wonderful fabrics ...

Please introduce yourself …
My name is Birgitta, I'm a 36 year old single mum of two boys, Connor (10) and Sam (8) . I'm from Holland but moved to England aged 7, I still speak Dutch and consider myself a happy mix of the two cultures. I recently deferred my final year at university to be home more for Connor who is austistic and as such am braving the world of the self-employed designer maker.

How would you describe your work / style?I guess you could describe it as shabby chic, I love traditional prints like Tanya Whelans Darla range but I also love finding more contemporary fabric for my creations such as Amy Butler or Erin Mcmorris. I'm hoping to design my own range of fabrics at some point and they will probably feature a lot of influence from the colourful but clean contemporary design of countries such as Holland and Norway.

Who, or what, inspires you?
I'm inspired by all sorts - photographs, interior magazines, flowers, I love children's book illustrations and would love to do more in that area. I really enjoy making pictures from fabric using bondaweb and applique techniques similar to that of Poppy Treffry.

Do you sell your work? If so, what helped you decide to start selling your work?
I opened my shop on Folksy just before Christmas after much encouragement from friends and family, it’s scary to put what you’ve made out there for people to see, but also such a boost when people like what you do. Before then I was selling mostly through word of mouth recommendations, friends would come and ask can you make this, and either I could or I’d find out how to.

Where can I buy your work?
You can buy my work through my shop at birgittadesigns or if you want have something specific in mind you can email me at Birgittadesigns@hotmail.co.uk

Do you have a website or blog address?
You can find my blog at birgittadesignz
And you can follow me working at http://www.twitpic.com/photos/artygal73 I try and post pictures everyday of what I'm making or fabric that I've found.

How did you learn your craft? How long have you been creating?
I’ve done bits and bobs over the years, card making etc but could never find what I really wanted to make I only knew that I wanted to create so I went back to college to do a part-time course in Visual Arts four years ago. My tutor gave me some books on textile art and I was hooked, I did well on my course and found myself with an unconditional offer for a place at uni to do a degree in Design & Applied Arts specialising in Textiles – I never thought I’d go to uni so was totally overjoyed. I learnt a lot of basic skills in my first year such as creative drawing, pattern repeats, knitting, felting etc and what I didn’t learn at uni I taught myself, read loads of books and googled myself silly looking at what other artists make and do, what kind of products are popular, read blogs, tried tutorials and basically immersed myself in it all.


Is there any other craft skill you would like to learn?
I’d love to have a go at everything to be honest and I’m teaching myself to crochet at the moment.

Have you had any work featured in magazines/books/galleries?
Not as yet.

If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be …
Probably still be waitressing in a pub, it’s been my saving grace and I feel like I’ve found my ‘thing’.

I couldn’t do this if it wasn’t for …
The support of family and friends and in fact I wouldn’t have started on Folksy without their encouragement.

Describe your perfect day.
My perfect day would be a warm sunny spring morning, having taken the boys to school I get home to search through my fabric and have a morning playing at making new things, then lunch with friends and before an afternoon of hunting round the charity shops for bits and pieces vintage fabric, buttons, patterns etc.

Describe your proudest moment.
My proudest moment doesn’t involve craft at all but my son Connor, he has Aspergers and struggles with group activities and speaking or performing in front of people but this Christmas he did what will probably be his last Christmas play at primary school and though he was scared he did it all and joined in, now I’ve been to all his plays and never cried but this one in Year 6 I couldn’t stop my eyes were just streaming...he came and wiped my tears with his t-shirt sleeve and everyone around just went aaaah, proudest moment ever...

What do you do to relax?
What’s that? I forget too, and I do find it very difficult but probably reading – through my vast collection of books and magazines, actually going to the cinema is probably the only way I properly relax because I can lose myself in the film and can’t be distracted or think about anything else.

Marmite … love it or hate it?
Blah hate it but like stuff other people probably hate, like fresh raw herring and chopped onions a Dutch delicacy which I just love...

What’s your weakness?
Fabric, fabric, and more fabric in fact I need to go to fabric rehab, and online shopping for fabric is my biggest weakness of all, that and Dutch liquorice and I’m in heaven.

How do you keep motivated?
Luckily I love what I do but when I do get demotivated the lovely people on the Folksy Forums are incredibly supportive, as are friends and family and sometimes you just have to walk away from it and have a break get out in the fresh air, talk to another human face to face, being at home working on your own can mean you don’t speak to another person for ages and its easy to become isolated.

What do you wish you’d known when you first started out?
How much fun this could be and that no matter how scary that there is huge support out there you just need to look for it and ask for it. And that networking really does work and is worth every minute that you spend on it.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Take your time and plan, plan, plan, do lots of market research and know your product and know your market , it can be boring and not what you expect to be doing after all we’re artists but it will stand you in good stead later. Network and become involved in the creative community around you, you'll make lots of likeminded friend. Most of all have confidence in what you do.

What question did you hope to be asked but didn’t?
What do you have for breakfast?

What would your answer have been?
A big bowl of sugar puffs – love them!

thanks for taking the time to chat birgitta, where do you find the time?! what a lovely memory of connor's play, he sounds like such a sweet wee boy :)

meet a maker monday

today we meet nikki from nikkis knits who makes lovely knitted items ...

Please introduce yourself …
I am Nikki and I am a teacher. I love to knit. I make up my own patterns mostly or adapt others as I always want my work to be as I see it not as somebody else does.

Who, or what, inspires you?
I'm inspired by everything and often just seeing a colour or a ball of wool gets the ideas going.

Do you sell your work? If so, what helped you decide to start selling your work?
I had been selling to friends and family for a while and just found Folksy so joined. You can buy my work on Folksy: http://www.folksy.com/shops/NikkiJ
or on my website: http://www.nikkisknits.jimdo.com/

How did you learn your craft? How long have you been creating?
My nan taught me at the age of 8 and I have been designing ever since. I used to make clothes and blankets for my toys!!

Is there any other craft skill you would like to learn?
I would like to improve my limited crochet skills.

Anything exciting planned for 2010 you’d like to share?
I am thinking of opening a shop on another website and maybe having a bears only shop!

Has your work won any prizes/competitions?
I have won some school fair competitions.

What motivates you?
If I didn't knit I would crack up!

Describe your proudest moment.
My proudest moment was completing my degree after falling pregnant half way through it!

Marmite … love it or hate it?
I love marmite and my husband hates it.

What do you do to relax?
I relax best with a glass of wine and some knitting.

What animal would you be, and why?
I would love to be an eagle and soar above the world.

What’s your weakness?
My weakness is wool!

What do you wish you’d known when you first started out?
I wish I'd known how hard it was to promote!

What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
I would tell somebody starting not to take it personally when they do not have sales.

What question did you hope to be asked but didn’t and what would answer have been?
I wish somebody would ask me to supply their little shop and I would say yes!

thanks for taking the time to chat nikki, best of luck with finding shops to supply.

folksy finds ... father's day

just in case you need some inspiration for the perfect father's day gift, here is a small selection from folksy ... happy shopping :)

i was really taken with these cufflinks from alibalijewellery, they have the fingerprint of your loved one at the core of the design ...


and loved the idea of these map coasters from
quirkycards

and this handknitted formula 1 racing fan meerkat from NiftyKnits is just so cute

or how about this really sweet and practical love you daddy keyring from JupiterRocks

and then there's this gorgeous shaving set from soapure

or this wonderfully unusual memory stick from TreeGems