meet a maker

today we meet rosemarie from white rose designs who makes beautifully intricate jewellery …

Please introduce yourself …
My name is Rosemarie and I am White Rose Designs. I enjoy making jewellery with crocheted wire and embroidery.

Do you sell your work? If so, what helped you decide to start selling?
I have been doing this for a few years now and have made so much that I had to start selling to avoid drowning in jewellery.

Where can I buy your work?
I have only had my Folksy shop for a few months. I would like to do craft shows, but I work just about full time, so getting the time is difficult.

You can visit my folksy shop here http://www.folksy.com/shops/WhiteRoseDesigns

How did you learn your craft?
I started off by doing some silver smithing courses in the evening at college, but swiftly moved on to teaching myself bead work. Bead crochet and bead embroidery are the complete opposite of each other, crochet is very quick and you can see your work appear very soon, yet embroidery is very time consuming, it takes hours to sew tiny seed bead onto the backing.

Anything exciting planned for 2010 you’d like to share?
In the future I hope to open my own internet shop as well as Folksy. I am also hoping to spend more time beading.

Describe your perfect day.
My ideal day would be spent sitting in front of the fire with my beading and drinking hot chocolate. This is also the way I relax, it is so nice just sitting designing jewellery with beads spread all over the floor.


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

What’s your weakness?
I cannot resist icecream.

Who, or what, inspires you?
I get inspiration mostly from books and magazines.

What animal would you be, and why?
If I was an animal I would be a cat, my cat has a great life, just eating and sleeping, not having to rush around at all.

thanks for taking the time to chat rosemarie and good luck with your plans for opening your own online shop, please pop back to let us know how you’re getting on.

meet a maker (monday) on thursday

this feature has become a little like buses - you wait for ages and then two come along at once!

hope you enjoy meeting vic from careford creations and seeing her lovely photography ...

Please introduce yourself …
My name’s Victoria or just Vic will do. My little business is Careford Creations (Careford’s my maiden name). I’m from north London originally but now live in Hertfordshire with my husband and toddler. I was a primary school teacher until last summer when I decided to look after my son full-time. I do a bit of private tuition and am trying to get back into freelance writing as well as doing all the crafty stuff. Life’s pretty busy!

How would you describe your work / style?
I sell photographs, covering all sorts of things from wildlife to vintage shots. I also make photo gifts such as handbound notebooks and pendants. The other thing I’m concentrating on is polymer clay. I make all sorts out of Fimo: notebooks, bookmarks, charms, jewellery, magnets... I’ve just started experimenting with mica powder which gives a fantastic metallic look to finished creations.

Do you sell your work? If so, what helped you decide to start selling your work?
I do. I decided to start selling photos about 10 years ago, but didn’t do a great deal about it for another few years when I bought a website name. I’ve always been a creative person and the jobs I had at the time were really limiting, so the plan was to see if I could make any money from my hobbies. I make a little, but it’s not enough to live on! Luckily, I enjoy teaching so I’m happy doing both, although I love just being self-employed at the moment.

Do you have a website or blog address?
My website is www.carefordcreations.co.uk,
my blog is www.carefordcreations.blogspot.com
and my Folksy shop’s at www.folksy.com/shops/CarefordCreations

How did you learn your craft? How long have you been creating?
Everything’s self-taught. I get tips and ideas from books and websites and then it’s just a matter of experimenting. I love it when something goes wrong but turns out to be a great idea! I’ve been taking photos since I was 9 years old but creating other things for as long as I can remember. I’ve always loved making stuff!

Is there any other craft skill you would like to learn?
I’d like to have a go at making glass items.

Anything exciting planned for 2010 you’d like to share?
Nothing crafty, but we had our second baby in April, so I’m pretty busy!

Have you had any work featured in magazines/books/galleries?
Not as such, but two of my postcards were printed and distributed around the tourist stalls of central London! It was brilliant to see them on display. You can see them here: www.carefordcreations.co.uk/ under the ‘About’ tab.

Describe your perfect day.
A lie-in while my husband gets our children up and ready and then a walk in the forest or by the lakes and a picnic. My parents and brothers would be there too and it’d be a lovely sunny day, but not too hot! Then I’d come back home, check my e-mail and see I’d had loads of sales!

What do you do to relax?
Little time to relax, but when I do, I like to read or just go for a walk with my family.

Marmite … love it or hate it?
I discovered recently through interviewing for my blog that there’s actually quite a few ‘middle’ people and I’m one of them! I just like it really.

What animal would you be, and why?
I love pandas, but as they’re on the verge of extinction, maybe not! I’d have to say either a golden eagle, soaring high above the Rocky Mountains or a really bizarre deep sea creature! I’m fascinated by what’s down there in the depths of the oceans.

What’s your weakness?
Pancakes. Thin ones, not the thick ones.

What do you wish you’d known when you first started out?
Sites like Folksy and Etsy weren’t around when I decided on my business name, but I’ve since realised through these places that a more creative/fun/inspiring-sounding name would perhaps be better. Too many people know me now as Careford Creations to change it though.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Do lots of research first of all and think carefully about branding. Make sure your shop/business has an identity – a certain look and feel about it.

congrats on the birth of your daughter :) sounds like you really have your hands full now!

meet a maker (monday?!)

ok, it's not quite monday - i'm a little out of sync, having been away for a while!

hope you enjoy reading all about annabella from annabelladesigns who makes the most beautiful petticoats ...

Hi, please tell us a little about yourself ...
Hi, my name is Annabella I am a qualified tailor, pattern maker and cutter. I design and make bridal wear and 50's style petticoats.

Who, or what, inspires you?
I am very much inspired by the 50's and 60's styles.

Do you sell your work? If so, what helped you decide to start selling your work?I decided to start making and selling my work when I started a family and could no longer go out to work, this helped me work around my children's needs as well a giving me an income.

Where can I buy your work?You can buy my work from www.folksy.com/shops/Annabelladesigns or here www.bridalslips.co.uk

Do you have a website or blog address?
www.bridalslips.co.uk

How did you learn your craft?
Apprentice and college.

How long have you been creating?
48 years.

Is there any other craft skill you would like to learn?
Felting and weaving.

Anything exciting planned for 2010 you’d like to share?
I have a contract coming in 2010 to supply a bridal company with my petticoats.

Have you had any work featured in magazines/books/galleries?
Yes I had one of my bridal bags featured in the Valentines/Mother's Day issue of Creative Crafting Magazine, Issue 3 ... www.creative-crafting.com

Has your work won any prizes/competitions? Yes but too long ago to mention!

If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be …
Working on my garden.

I couldn’t do this if it wasn’t for ...
The support of my family.

Describe your perfect day ...
Getting up with the birds and spending the rest of the day there.

Describe your proudest moment ...
Holding my first baby.

What do you do to relax?
Lots of gardening.

Marmite … love it or hate it?
Love it.

What’s your weakness?
Fabric.

How do you keep motivated?
Don't know the answer to this one as I just can't stop sewing so I would say I'm a workaholic.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Believe in yourself and go for it, don't let other people put you off your dreams but be aware that investing money in your crafting can be costly and a lot of thought and research has to go into it. Online selling is the hardest as people like to feel and see your item so get yourself out there into craft fairs,shops and galleries.


thanks for taking the time to chat annabella, i think that's great advice you've given. i'm with you on the gardening too, if i'm not felting - i love to be gardening ... the sun shining, the birds singing, my idea of bliss.

a wee break

from the laptop!

i'm having a self-imposed laptop ban so that i can spend more time at the 'felt mine' (as m calls it!), got loads to do and then there's the housework and gardening that's building up too, i'm sure the ironing pile is about to topple and if that happens i'll be suffocated in my bed!

hope you all have a lovely week or two and the sun is shining where you are :)

baby news from my brother

well after my success posting a video yesterday, i thought i would try a sound file today but somehow i can't seem to get it to work?!

i got an email in work from my brother and it was a sound file of his baby's heartbeat!

when my brother and his partner went for their most recent scan, j managed to record the sound of their daughter's heartbeat on his phone. this is just the most precious sound i think i've ever heard. cue lots of tears all round and my male boss looking bemused!

i know women have been having babies since time began and women have babies every single day but when it happens for someone you love, it seems very different, like this is the first, the only baby ever to have been conceived.

i can't wait to meet my niece when she's born in august, well, i say 'niece' ... j was told it was 90% certainty their baby is a girl but so were their friends who were surprised but delighted by twin boys!

white cottage soundscape

i've never uploaded video to my blog before, so hopefully this'll work ... this is a wee video clip that m made as we were leaving the cottage in peebles, as a momento of our idyllic week, hopefully you have the speakers turned up so you can hear the wonderful sounds.

meet a maker monday

well, a little like my life right now, this feature is all over the place! supposedly a weekly feature every monday but hey, better late than never :)

this week, we meet amy from amyorangejuice ...

Please introduce yourself …
I am Amy McCarthy a stained glass and mixed media artist living in Devon. I make bespoke stained glass windows for commission and sell my items in several art galleries and shops in the South West. I am also an exhibiting mixed media artist working with found objects, waste glass and old and broken costume jewellery. I am also a mum of 2 small children, which means I am very busy and always trying to fit the 2 areas of my life around each other!

How would you describe your work / style?
I tend to make bold, stylized designs often bordering on abstraction. I am very inspired by Art Deco, textile patterns and prints and the beautiful Devon landscape around me. Especially the coast, much of my work has a seaside theme.

Who, or what, inspires you?
I am inspired by the sea, the countryside, my children's amazing expressionist paintings and often found items and old rubbish others would throw away.

Do you sell your work? If so, what helped you decide to start selling your work?
Yes I sell my work. Although I have an art degree I never thought I could make my career from my art (lack of self confidence) then I needed to make money but did not want to put my baby into childcare and it all started from there. Also I am a member of the TRAIL collective and they have boosted my confidence no end by being so generous and open to new exhibitors.

Where can I buy your work?
http://www.folksy.com/shops/amyorangejuice
Otterton Mill Gallery, Otterton, Devon
Spinnakers Art Gallery, Crediton, Devon
MADE, Fore St, Sidmouth, Devon
Pooplefords, Newton Poppleford, Devon
Quayside Crafts, Exeter Quay, Devon

Do you have a website or blog address?
www.amyorangejuice.co.uk
www.amyorangejuice.wordpress.com
How did you learn your craft? How long have you been creating?
I have always been creative since a small child and originally wanted to be a fashion designer, I studied art at Leeds University and have tried my hand at many things, but stained glass and recycled collage art are where I am happiest. In 2003 did evening classes in stained glass techniques for 2 years and I have been in love with it ever since.

Is there any other craft skill you would like to learn?
Would love to find the time and space to start doing some polymer clay and woodcut printing. Kids do leave home eventually, don't they???

Anything exciting planned for 2010 you’d like to share?
I had 2 art exhibitions in March. From March until April, I was one of 4 artists in the Otterton Mill Recycling Exhibition, which is my biggest break and I am in the midst of creating a series of Junk Plankton, from waste glass, broken costume jewellery and found items.

And I also exhibited two pieces at the TRAIL inside exhibition, The Ariel Centre, Totnes, Devon. These comprise a panel with 8 Junk Plankton mosaics and a huge stained glass boat mobile with 45 boats!

In July I am planning to take part in TRAIL outdoor sculpture trail in Teignmouth and I am hoping to make a giant kaleidoscope out of waste glass and old tin cans!

Have you had any work featured in magazines/books/galleries?
See above, I wish for books and mags!

Has your work won any prizes/competitions?
Not since winning the college prize for effort and achievement for being the first person to get an A at A Level textiles and that was a loooooooooooooooong time ago!

If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be …
I spent 10 years working as a specialist mental health worker with homeless people, so that probably.

I couldn’t do this if it wasn’t for …
My amazing husband, who not only is my biggest fan but puts up with endless bits of glass, driftwood and rubbish hanging around the house!

What do you do to relax?
Whats that? Work from home mum with 2 little ones Ha, ha!

Marmite … love it or hate it?
YUCK

How do you keep motivated?
My constant stream of ideas, which keep me up late into the night and the feeling when someone really likes something I have made for them.

What do you wish you’d known when you first started out?
To be selective about where you sell your stuff and ask the price you need to get, not what you think they want to hear.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Don’t think this kind of thing is ever going to make you rich! But you will be happy and fulfilled.

thanks for taking time to chat amy, your stained glass is gorgeous, especially those hearts you've just finished, and i really enjoyed seeing your recycled collage art. great advice too - not rich, but happy and fulfilled (with an understanding other-half!).

how lovely is the sky today?

but i'm safely tucked away in the house, hiding from the horrid effects of hayfever! i'm starting to miss getting out in the garden, everything is finally starting to grow now and i've got lots of seeds to get started. i've always thought i should start a campaign to have gardeners exempted from suffering with hayfever!

still, it's a good excuse to get lots of felting done :)

hope the sun is shining where you are.

home-smoked cheese!!!

thursday afternoon in work i got a call from m, which went along the lines of ...

m: do we have any tin cans?
me: think there's some in the recycling bin, why?
m: do we have a soldering iron?
me: (getting slightly concerned) why?
m: no reason, just wondering
me: what are you doing ... ?
m: nothing. how about a blow torch, do we have one of those?
me: honey, why would you need any of those things, what are you doing?
m: if it works, you'll have a surprise when you come home, bye.
me: be careful .......

of course this lead to great amounts of discussion with my work-mates as to what he could actually be doing. none of which put my mind at rest!

how surprised was i to get home and find out that m had been smoking cheese all afternoon :)))))))

anyone who knows me will know that i could no more live without cheese than i could oxygen. being veggie i think it's an important source of vital vitamins and minerals (or at least, that's my excuse for eating it at least once per day!). the lady in our local deli has got to know us quite well now and she also shares my assertion that there is no meal (at any time of the day) that can't be improved by adding cheese.

our poor old rosemary bush hadn't fared too well during the winter so m chopped it down and used the twigs to make rosemary-smoked cheddar. the pic i took is a little blurry as i was shaking with excitement at the thought of wolfing down the lot! and being the classy little eater that i am, my first meal with it was chips and cheese! heaven :)

meet a maker monday

this week i'm a little early! so, grab a cuppa, put your feet up and lets meet gemma from sugar&rhubarb ...

Please introduce yourself …Hi, I’m Gemma and I’m the owner and designer of homemade goodies and Ninja Kitties sold by Sugar&Rhubarb.

How would you describe your work / style?Ooh I’d probably have to say shabbychic and most importantly fun. Everything I make I secretly want in my own home, I wouldn’t dream of selling something that I didn’t 100% love. Whenever I sell something I want the buyer to open it and be as excited about it as I am; so there’s a lot of care and attention to detail put into each item.

Do you sell your work? If so, what helped you decide to start selling your work?When I first started to learn to sew I used to give most of my products away to family and friends. Then I started to come up with so many ideas, and my skills grew that I thought people might actually want to buy some of my work – thankfully I was right! I was nervous to start with, there’s always that moment of self doubt when you think people won’t like your style or products, but with lots of support from friends and family I managed to get over it and set up my folksy shop. Since then, there’s been no looking back. I keep a notebook with me and I’m always jotting down new designs and ideas, it’s wonderful to be part of that whole process and seeing the final product sell from its inception.

Where can I buy your work?Here at Sugar&Rhubarb we love folksy and this is our main outlet. We also have smaller shops on DaWanda and Etsy: www.folksy.com/shops/sugarandrhubarb. People can also come to us with custom requests through our website www.sugarandrhubarb.com

Do you have a website or blog address?Our website is www.sugarandrhubarb.com and we also have a facebook group. Plus our popular softie Ninja Kitty also documents his plans for world domination on his own blog http://ittybittyninjakitty.blogspot.com/

Is there any other craft skill you would like to learn?I’d love to learn to screenprint. I’ve got so many ideas for cute posters and when I finally find some time I hope to learn and start creating some designs. I have so many prints in my house (I love Bold & Noble) that it would be nice to have some of my own hanging up next to them.

Anything exciting planned for 2010 you’d like to share?We’re hoping to keep on growing, attract local shops into stocking our items and hit those all important craft fairs.

If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be …
Baking cupcakes until the cows come home.

I couldn’t do this if it wasn’t for …
My sewing machine, the support of friends, family and all those other fabulous folksy sellers.

Describe your perfect day.
Eating a bacon sandwich with a giant cup of sugary tea, and then head to the sewing machine for some craft time.

What do you do to relax?
Update my blog, surf other blogs and shops I love, sew and maybe watch a bit of Glee or some other new series on the TV.

Marmite … love it or hate it?
Love it, but hate marmite ricecakes….. eugh!

What animal would you be, and why?
A meerkat, weirdly cute and always looking out for what’s coming next.

What’s your weakness?
Yumyums…… especially Waitrose ones.

How do you keep motivated?
Sales are the thing that keep me most motivated – the thought that someone else actually likes what I’m doing. But mainly coming up with new ideas to make in the future, the day when that notebook is empty is the day when all motivation will be gone – it’s not happened yet, so fingers crossed!

What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Don’t be scared- you’ve got nothing to lose! Start small on places like folksy.com and then market yourself like you’ve never done before – be shameless!


thanks for chatting gemma, your work is beautiful and ninjakitty is fab! lovely to come across another simon's cat fan!

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 sue from homespunwithlove ...

Please introduce yourself …I’m Sue to friends, but still am called Susan by family.

I live and work in Nuneaton, North Warwickshire with my husband, 20 year old daughter and Ellie the cat. Used to be a secondary teacher, before becoming self employed – altering wedding and prom dresses. Still do that but went back to college working with disabled students. My craft sewing is purely for relaxation and pleasure – if I make some pennies too that’s a bonus.

How would you describe your work / style?
I call my craft ‘Homespunwithlove’
- all things inspired by and hand made with beautiful homespun and vintage materials - fabric/lace/buttons etc.”

Who, or what, inspires you?I have always had a passion for sewn items and stitchery.

As the name suggests I was inspired by the wide range of sewn crafts and supplies readily available in craft stores in the States and Australia. I’m like a child loose in a sweet shop in these stores. Just wish they were closer to home – not quite the same as shopping on the internet. Also have always loved the homespun style of fabrics especially the woven checks

Do you sell your work? If so, what helped you decide to start selling your work?Yes - there is only so much you can make for yourself and family and friends. It was a case of selling in order to enable my hobby to continue.

Where can I buy your work?homespunwithlove folksy shop
Goldstraws, Warwick

I will also be exhibiting at the following craft fairs in 2010
Victoria Hall, Oakham – Sat 16th Oct
Hinchingbrooke House, Huntingdon, Oct 9th and 10th
Hanger One, Sywell, Northants, Nov 20th and 21st
Do you have a website or blog address?Not at present other than the Folksy shop. Keep thinking about running my own blog, but shyness and computer technical know how, or rather a lack of it prevents me.

How did you learn your craft? How long have you been creating?Yes, somebody out there does or rather did make those items as demonstrated on Blue Peter. I always had a buzz from making things by hand right from a young age, I always loved toys that encouraged me to make something. Couldn’t afford an extensive wardrobe for ‘Tressy’ (who’s hair incidently no longer grows – she had a hair cut) so designed and made my own. Loved sewing at school, or rather dressmaking as it was in those days. Eventually trained as a needlework/Home Economics teacher – that dates me.

Is there any other craft skill you would like to learn?I think I would like to give needle felting a go.

Kirsty Allsop’s Xmas TV series has also inspired me to give soap making a go – one day!

Anything exciting planned for 2010 you’d like to share?Nothing this year, but hoping to visit brother in Australia in 2011.

Have you had any work featured in magazines/books/galleries?I sell my work in a local art and craft shop in Warwick.

Has your work won any prizes/competitions?Several years ago I entered a patchwork quilt and cross stitch sampler into a local Arts Festival – both won first prize in their categories.

If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be …Wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.

Describe your perfect day.Not having to go to work.

Hubby prepares breakfast – in bed of course, lunch and tea, while I can be left to be creative in my sewing room undisturbed. Cat keeping me company, snoring peacefully beside me.

Describe your proudest moment.The birth of my daughter, Jessica

What do you do to relax?Wish I knew the meaning of the word. Always busy, busy, busy.

Marmite … love it or hate it?Hate it.

What animal would you be, and why?I’ve always said I’d like to be my cat – talk about the life of luxury.

What’s your weakness?Chocolate.

thanks for taking the time to chat sue, your work is really beautiful. your perfect day sounds like my idea of bliss too! nice to know that we weren't the only ones wrestling with cereal packets and double sided sticky tape ... ahhhh, blue peter :)

oh and also this weekend ...

celebrate international dawn chorus day at rspb loch of kinnordy nature reserve

sunday 2nd may is international dawn chorus day, so why not go along to listen to the sounds of spring, learn more about the reserve, and have a sociable breakfast in the hide?

dawn is a great time to get a feel for what is around the reserve as male birds sing to let their neighbours know that they survived the night and ‘no, they can’t have anymore space!' the reserve is full of the sounds of spring, with redshank, lapwing and water rail all making their distinctive calls from time to time so there is plenty for folk to hear.

staff and volunteers are going to be on hand during the day to help visitors appreciate all of the activity taking place at this busy time of year: more birds are returning from africa including sedge warbler, willow warbler, blackcap and whitethroat; ducks (shoveler, gadwall, mallard) are now settling to nest and pairs may be seen with the male ‘on guard’ while the female feeds in a brief rest from incubation. lucky visitors may also catch sight of the osprey fishing on the reserve.

the event starts at 6am and tickets are £3 for adults; £1 for children and free for rspb members.

loch of kinnordy is one mile outside of kirriemuir on the b951, kirkton of kingoldrum road. the reserve is open daily from dawn to dusk and entry is free, although non-members are asked to pay £1 for use of the car park. there are three hides on site which means visitors can enjoy a number of viewpoints across the loch.

fife open studios

is also on this weekend!

from 1st to 3rd may, 60 artists, designers and makers will be opening up their studios to visitors.

my friend l and i went last year and had a great few days out, it was a fantastic way to explore an area which is right on our doorstep but which neither of us were familiar with and it was a lovely opportunity to meet and chat with artists and designer-makers, there's also work for sale and most folk are happy to accept commissions, so remember your purse!

there's an exciting range of work to see from: paint; pencil; charcoal; textiles; glass; mixed media; metal; ceramics and photography plus jewellery, furniture and sculpture.

i'm going to give myself the morning off on monday so i'm really looking forward to finally getting the chance to see aileen's new studio and gallery ... the green door craft studio

you can read all about it here: fife open studios

photo (c)aileen clarke crafts

first craft fair of the year

which has come around very quickly! i never seem to have enough time to make everything i want to but maybe i'm just trying to fit too much in?

if you're free, why not pop out to comrie croft who are hosting their first arts and craft fair from 10am to 4pm on sunday 2nd may.

comrie croft is an award-winning hostel, with eco camping, swedish kåtas, and is also a great mountain-biking destination.

you can find more information here: comrie croft website

the address is braincroft, crieff, perthshire, ph7 4jz.

look forward to seeing you there.

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 ...

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.

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 ...

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!