There’s nothing like an overload of choices to help you work out your priorities. Take my Google Reader for example… It’d be fine if I had a spare evening to curl up on the couch and trawl through the mounting hundreds of posts in there but the chances of an evening like that in the near future are slim to none. My reader has been packed full since my recent (I say recent but it feels like a million years ago now) break down in London. So, since then, any time I’ve had a spare moment to read through blogs I’ve concentrated only on my favourites. You know what I mean. The ones that without fail say something that makes you smile, tells you about something you must check out or just posts an image that sparks an idea.  This filter has certainly helped me identify what are my favourite blogs and I thought I’d share some of them with you over the coming weeks (what with the lack of COTW posts these days!).

So, step up to the plate, Edward & Lilly! I have no idea what/who the Edward & Lilly in the blog name refer to but this great little blog from Brisbane, Australia, never fails to cheer me up. I’m fascinated by Australia (and used to be heavily into the music scene over there) so love seeing what the crafting world has to offer from that side of the world. The great little projects on the site aren’t overly fussy and complicated but are instead executed with such an eye for detail and colour you can’t help but want them for yourself.  (I’ve never been that into softies but Edward & Lilly’s bears and cats are absolutely adorable). However, it’s her latest project that has really grabbed my attention. The grogeous bird decorations are not only perfect for the festive season but, thanks to the floral embroidery, could brighten any room all year round (perfect for any of you too lazy to take down your Christmas decorations!). What’s even more exciting is that Edward & Lilly are offering blog readers the chance to win one in a giveaway to mark the 150th post on the blog.

Posted: December 1st, 2008 under Competitions, Crafter of the Week, Inspiration.
Comments: none

Following a slump in COTW posts I am over the moon about the latest one. Emily of Subu is not only a huge inspiration, but a wonderfully kind and talented individual. If you don’t believe me…read for yourself:

Tell me a little bit about yourself, how old are you, when did you first get into crafting, how long have you been doing Subu inc?
I am turning the big 3-0 this year and am finally doing the things that I want to be doing. I have always been creative in one sense or another. Growing up with a mother as an artist and a father who dabbled in ceramics meant that we were always encouraged to create and play. Having said that, I stated making books about 2 1/2 years ago and have been quietly obsessed ever since. Subu, Inc was the natural progression as a I didn’t have room [or enough friends] to pass along my stuff too.

Tell me more about Sue and Rose. How did they inspire you to name Subu inc after them, what about them influences the way you craft/approach things?
From what I have been told, Subu was an amazing woman by all accounts. She was kind, generous, loving, funny, and downright crafty. She was always working on some project, whether it was a blanket, a sweater or some delightful article of clothing. Rose was a spunky, strong and independent woman. I hope that I am a compilation of the wonderful qualities of my grandmothers and am thrilled to be able to honor their memory is such a fun way. I couldn’t think of a better way to keep them close to my heart.

Do you think that coming from a crafty family has helped you or has made it harder to find your own niche?
I think that the desire to create something has always been in my blood. I loved art in school but never really thought that I could make a career out of it. It wasn’t until a few years ago that my fingers found their niche. I think that for a lot of people it’s about trial and error, about playing around in different mediums until you find the one that fits just right. Does that have anything to do with my family, who knows. I do consider myself to be quite lucky to have found bookmaking though. I can’t even remember what my life was like without it!

What do you love most about paper?
I think the better [and shorter] question is what don’t I like about paper…and that would be nothing. There are so many different variations to paper: color, texture, size, shape…No two sheets are the same. And everything makes a gorgeous book.

Which of your creations are you most proud of and why?
My newest creation is always the one I am most proud of. Sounds lame, I know. But it’s true. I fall in love with each piece that I make. The feeling of accomplishment when I am done is just amazing; I am pretty much beaming after each one. I think my fiance is a little sick of me saying: “Look babe, isn’t this amazing?!” I think he is just humoring me at this point.

What do you feel has been your greatest achievement with your work/designs?
My greatest achievement would have to be that I am able to continue doing what I love and be profitable. I am in awe with each and every sale that I make, each blog feature, write-up or review, and each request I get from companies to create products for them. I am truly amazed at the response I get for my work and relish in every minute that I am able to continue doing what I love.

How important is the internet to you in reaching buyers for your items? 
I would say it’s about as important as food and water. In all seriousness, I don’t think I would be able to do what I am doing. The vast majority of my business comes from online customers, whether they are large companies or individual buyers in places like the UK, France, Italy, Canada, and India. I also wouldn’t be able to reach as wide of a market within the United States. 

Describe your work in 5 words.
eco-friendly, fun, spunky, simple yet sophisticated

What are your goals for the coming year?
To take over the world…oh wait, that’s next year’s goal. This year I am focused on continuing to do what I love and make pretty books. Success is just a wonderful by-product of my passion.
 
Whose work do you feel deserves attention?
There are so many fabulous crafters that I am lucky to connect with on a regular basis that I don’t know if I could pick just one. Here are two current favorites:Lauren Haupt. Her work is amazing. I love the vibe of her jewelry. Carol Lee Designs – she has two fantastic lines of greeting cards [HateMail and JunkMail] that are just amazing. 

 What’s the most rewarding thing about what you do?
I think the connection with other people is the most rewarding. I have the best customers who leave the most kind and uplifting feedback. I have been brought to tears on a few occasions. Also knowing that I am helping to reduce waste and take care of the planet one piece of paper at a time gives me an excuse to continue on.

What’s the most difficult thing about what you do?
Stopping. I am pretty addicted to crafting and feel like I go through withdrawal when I don’t have the opportunity to make things. Oh and walking out of a craft store withOUT purchasing something. That’s really hard.

Posted: May 11th, 2008 under Crafter of the Week.
Comments: none

Tell me a little bit about yourself, how old are you, when did you first get into crochet, how long have you been doing Jay Bird Designs, how did this develop into your current site/store?
My name is Jennifer J. Cirka, aka J, and I am 34 years old. I am happily married to my husband, Ron, of 5.5 years and together we have a beautiful 5 year old little girl named Heather. We are originally from Pittsburgh but have been living in the wonderful Western Slope of Colorado for the past 8-11 years. I learned the basics of crochet from my maternal grandmother when I was really little. It wasn’t until after high school when I picked up a book called “Teach Yourself to Crochet” that I really learned how to do it. Plus, I am still learning new techniques all the time! I started out making baby blankets for all my friends and then in 2003, after the birth of my daughter, I found out about the ebay boutique community. I had always had a knack for sewing and crafts, so I thought I’d try my hands at making children’s clothing. I needed something to make my items stand out more, so I started adding crocheted accessories to the sets. Eventually I realized that my crocheted items sold better than the sewn, so I started focusing my direction towards crochet.
In the beginning of 2007 I started creating my own crochet patterns and have been very successful with them. This has now become the main focus of Jaybird Designs. But I still do love to sew, so you’ll see some sewn items too in my store!

How did you come up with the name Jay Bird Designs?

I grew up in a time where there were A LOT of little girls named Jennifer. I was usually one of 6 in each class. So I had a lot of nicknames growing up….and one of them was Jaybird.

Tell me more about My Pink Zebra Boutique. What inspired you to create the site, do you do it yourself, what do you enjoy most about doing the site?

The Pink Zebra Boutique is an actual boutique in Texas, owned and run by my best friend Trevor. She is also a children’s wear designer who sells under the name Kraftymommas Boutique. The shop has been open since January of 2007. In August of 2007 she decided to open a corresponding website and she asked me to run it for her. The site/shop is AMAZING!! It features designs from over 15 different independent designers from around the US. We make custom and ready-to-ship items for babies, moms, children, and the home. You’ll find just about anything you could want on the site, and if you don’t, just contact us and I’m sure one of the designers would love to work with you to create the perfect item!

What do you love most about crochet?

Crocheting relaxes me, LOL! I can sit there mindlessly and watch a movie while I do it. I also love that it keeps my hands busy and is an excellent way for me to express my creativity!

Which of your creations are you most proud of and why?

That’s a hard one! I love almost all of my designs, LOL! But, I would have to say it is the “In Her Easter Bonnet” pattern in the April 2008 edition of Crochet World Magazine. This design was the first item I had ever submitted to a magazine for publication!! To have my first submitted design accepted is a huge accomplishment and it was a huge boost to my spirit that told me I was headed in the right direction with my business! Then, when the magazine came in the mail and I realized it had made the cover, I think I called everyone I knew!! A COVER!!!! On my first design!! YES, I am definitely proud of this one!

What do you feel has been your greatest achievement with your work/designs?

I feel my greatest achievement has been to get others enthused about crocheting!! I teach beginners crochet classes at my local yarn store and I love seeing their faces when they learn a new art! I love seeing what others have made from my patterns and love hearing their comments on how excited they are about what they have made.

How important is the internet to you in reaching buyers for your items? 

Very important! Without the internet, there would be no Jaybird Designs. There is not enough interest in crochet locally for me to support my business.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Everywhere!! I really love looking at sewn clothing and accessories and then trying to create the same look in crochet.

What are your goals for the coming year?

I would like to have 5 designs accepted for publication in 2009, which means they will be accepted this year. I would also like to create 5-6 designs for self-publication
 
What (if any) crafty sites/blogs do you visit regularly?

Some of my fellow crocheters:

http://kimguzman.bravejournal.com/

http://journals.aol.com/crochetwithdee/CrochetWithDee

http://blog.thecrochetdude.com/

http://www.gocrochet.blogspot.com/

some general crafty and boutique  blogs:

http://ycmt.wordpress.com/

http://www.designersnotion.blogspot.com/

http://dashinfashion.blogspot.com/

http://secretsfromthestudio.blogspot.com/

What’s the most rewarding thing about what you do?

Teaching others to crochet!

What’s the most difficult thing about what you do?

I have a hard time deciding on how much money to charge for each of my items, LOL!!

Posted: May 5th, 2008 under Crafter of the Week, Knitting/Crochet.
Comments: none

Tell me a little bit about yourself, how old are you, when did you first get into art, how long have you been working as an artist, how did this develop into your current works?
 
My name is Deirdre Gill and I am twenty-eight years old. I have always loved art,illustration and being crafty. Growing up I would spend hours upon hours creating some piece of artwork or another. I the decided to major in illustration in college, because I loved creating a narrative in my work. While in college I developed my love of design and pattern.

How did you come up with the name Clever Bird?

When my fiance, who is also an illustrator and designer, and I decided to start our own design studio, we knew we wanted a name that was intriguing and somewhat “organic” sounding. We were so in awe of a scene from a David Attenborough documentary in which the Bowerbird, from New Guinea, creates a sort of gallery or instillation in his nest to attract his mate.  He collects beautiful objects like flowers, beetle wings and berries and meticulously arranges them. This bird is a true artist. We found out that the natives of New Guinea call him “Cleverbird”. So this is how we came up with our name.
 
Tell me more about the Green Guide for Kids. What inspired you to create the site, do you do it yourself, why do you think it’s important to focus on teaching kids green issues?
 
Protecting the environment is an issue that I hold dear to my heart. Last year I decided to write and illustrate a “Green Guide” for kids. Along the way I decided to start the blog as a way to reach out to kids, parents and teachers in order to share ideas and inspiration for protecting the planet. As of now I write the blog by myself, but I would love to get more kids involved sharing their ideas and experiences. I truly think that kids are great agents for change. They have seem to have a boundless energy and belief that they can do anything. Instead of sitting around talking about doing something, they just do it.

What do you love most about working with the materials that you do?

I mostly paint in oils. I love how rich the color is. And if I mess up I can always paint over it.

Which of your illustrations are you most proud of and why?
I would have to say that I am most proud of either The Kite or Alphabet. I think that they both have a strong sense of design and color. I tend to like the work that I had the most fun in doing. And both of these pieces were a lot of fun to paint.

- What do you feel has been your greatest achievement with your work?

I think that my greatest achievements are still to come. Especially with the book I am working on, The Green Guide for Kids. I feel that it has the potential to inspire kids and make a real impact on their lives.

You are based in Brooklyn. The New York scene seems so huge I’d worry about being lost in the crowd, do you find it to be inspiring or intimidating? Tell me more about what the scene is like there for an insiders point of view?

New York scene is a little overwhelming. Artists here are a dime a dozen. But Brooklyn’s art scene is stronger than ever, and a little less mainstream. There is a real creative vibe in my neighborhood. There are writers, illustrators, crafts people and musicians everywhere. People around here are pretty supportive of eachother’s work.

How important is the internet to you in reaching buyers for your items?

The Internet is a great way to spread word about your work. I discovered ETSY only a few months ago and I love it. There are so many talented artists. And it is so satifying knowing that you are supporting artists when you buy from ETSY.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I get my inspiration from many different artist and periods in art. But I am most inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement and Japanese art. I also love to look at patterns.

What do you love most about working with the materials that you do?

 I mostly paint in oils. I love how rich the color is. And if I mess up I can always paint over it.

Which of your illustrations are you most proud of and why?

I would have to say that I am most proud of either “The Kite” or “Alphabet”. I think that they both have a strong sense of design and color. I tend to like the work that I had the most fun doing. And both of these pieces were a lot of fun to paint.
 
What do you feel has been your greatest achievement with your work?

I think that my greatest achievements are still to come. Especially with the book I am working on, The Green Guide for Kids. I feel that it has the potential to inspire kids and make a real impact on their lives.
 
You are based in Brooklyn. The New York scene seems so huge I’d worry about being lost in the crowd, do you find it to be inspiring or intimidating? Tell me more about what the scene is like there for an insiders point of view?

The New York scene is a little overwhelming. Artists here are a dime a dozen. But Brooklyn’s art scene is stronger than ever, and a little less mainstream. There is a real creative vibe in my neighborhood. There are writers, illustrators, crafts people and musicians everywhere. People around here are pretty supportive of eachother’s work.
 
How important is the internet to you in reaching buyers for your items?

The internet is a great way to spread word about your work. I discovered ETSY only a few months ago and I love it. There are so many talented artists. And it is so satifying knowing that you are supporting artists when you buy from ETSY.
 
Where do you get your inspiration?
I get my inspiration from many different artist and periods in art. But I am most inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement and Japanese art. I also love to look at patterns.
 
What are the main characteristics of your work? How would you describe your work in 5 words.

My work today is a marriage of pattern, color, design and narrative. If I had to use five words to describe my work they would be: Color. Curiosity. Pattern. Nature. Wonder.

What are your goals for the coming year?

I’d love to get my book published and to do more of the artwork that I love to do.

Whose work do you feel deserves attention?

My friend and classmate Kristen Branch makes 3-D illustrations with puppets. The final result is awesome!

What (if any) crafty sites/blogs do you visit regularly?

I visit the wedding blog “Something Old Something New” religiously. And not just because I am engaged. Mackenzie, the blogger, has a great sense of design and style. I also like to browse her line of invitations when I need a little inspiration. I also love Print and Pattern.

http://kenziekate.blogspot.com/
http://www.kenziekate.com/
http://printpattern.blogspot.com/

What’s the most rewarding thing about what you do?
 
I love when people enjoy my work. And I get to work from home.

What’s the most difficult thing about what you do?

Maintaining the balance between art that is inspired and commercial.

Posted: May 5th, 2008 under Art/Illustration, Crafter of the Week.
Comments: none

Well, if it isn’t Friday already! Unfortunately this Friday it’s my turn for the commute, so I’m currently trying to summon some enthusiasm for the impending doom of the departure lounge in a couple of hours. However, I leave you with a parting gift in the form of our Crafter of the Week, Sally Fort AKA Tinkering Times.

- Tell me a little about yourself. ie. age, interests, location, what you craft,etc..
I live in Manchester with my hubby, 2 cats and a small baby. My big love – apart from the family – is sewing, and collecting anything vaguely relevant to that, ribbons, bukles, buttons, fabrics, threads and all manner of books about it and boxes, tins, jars and vases to stash it all in. Given my habit of hoarding I’m also very minimalist in my design taste so I have quite a particular preference for textiles which combines clean sharp lines and muted colours with detailed surface design. I make mainly homewares and accessories – bags, purses, cushions, brooches, soft toys, and my new line is cases for lovely little moo mini-cards. I juggle my textile work with working as a consultant for museums, galleries, arts education and contemporary craft / design projects.

- When did you start to be interested in crafting and when did you decide to make this into Tinkering Textiles? I’ve been sewing since I was 4 – my Grandmother was a professional pattern cutter and seamstress and a very prolific maker of all sorts of sewn things. So she instilled the obsession in me from a very early age. I later took a 2 year fashion & textile course after leaving school, then studied design history at university. A couple of years ago the textile passion rose up in me again and Tinkering Textiles has been going just over a year now.

- Describe your work in 5 words.
Sassy, structured, quality textiley goods

- You are part of the Manchester Craft Mafia, how much of a difference has this made to your crafting and what is the scene like down there? I set up Manchester Craft Mafia in August 07 with the help of three other ladies all passionate about crafting in their own ways. It’s early days but we’ve already run some really successful contemporary alternative crafting markets and plan more for 08. We’re also aiming to start a strand of social crafting events, and a strand of workshops, demos etc. Already we’ve had so many emails from local crafters with words of encouragement and support. It seemed the ingredients for a ’scene’ of this kind were just sitting waiting for someone to join it all together. On a personal level I’ve met lots of like minded crafters and we’re all just pleased to be able to share our desire to make things and bounce ideas off one another, pick up new sparks of inspiration, share ideas about resources or help solve one another’s problems. We’re also in regular contact with Leeds and Glasgow Craft Mafias and swap ideas, get the benefit of one another’s experiences so we’re not all re-inventing wheels.

- How important is the internet for your business?
For me it’s crucial, I sell as much work online as face-to-face, and am able to promote my work very quickly and cheaply. I also bookmark lots of blogs and pages with interviews of other crafting women to pick up tips, learn from their examples and just to help keep me enthused and inspired really. And vitally it enables me to get hold of some choice materials I could never gather together if I had to hunt them all down on foot.

- Which of your items are you most proud of?
It sounds dull but anything that’s structured really well – quality and detail really matter to me so getting a seam perfectly straight, or turning a corner out absolutely sharp, choosing the right vintage button or fabric pattern – that’s what I get most fulfilment from. I have hundreds of shapes of things in my mind that I work through little by little – I love the problem solving of it all, figuring out what shape a piece of fabric needs to be, and what to do with it, to turn it into a particular 3-D product.

- What are your goals with your work for 2008?
To find time to make some really beautiful skirts for myself. Even just one would be lovely. I think it’s natural to make things for other people and put what you want bottom of the list, so just finding a bit of time for one perfect skirt is enough for me this year.

- What are the main characteristics of your work?
Exquisitely chosen Japanese, vintage or geometric patterned fabrics; vintage fastenings and findings; sturdy shapes; a good quality finish with an eye for detail, and a realistic price. My work is almost always accessories or homeware, but in the future I’d really like to get back to some clothing design and pattern cutting. It’s really important to me that my work is professional – with each piece I think – would I pay for this from a high street shop or high end boutique? And if it’s not up to scratch I undo it and start again.

- Are there any fellow craft makers you feel deserve attention?
Loads! My fellow craft mafia members of course – Ophelia Button and Guerilla Embroidery . An incredible designer-maker Bombus who creates anything from notebooks to dining chairs and another textiles maker, Francesca Salvini

- Are there any craft blogs/site you visit on a regular basis?
Quite a few – they’re not all exclusively craft, but they all have at least a craft or design element: Craftzine , IndieQuarter, howaboutorange, shimandsons, craftysynergy and various ones from the UK Etsy sellers.

- What is the most rewarding thing about what you do?
Feeling honoured very single time someone buys one of my pieces, however small. The idea that someone else likes what I do enough to pay for gives me a huge buzz every time. The other thing is being able to work out how to make something 3-D from pieces of fabric – it still amazes me how it can be done!

- What do you feel has been your greatest achievement in terms of your work?
That professional designers who’s work I really admire compliment me on my work.

- What is the favourite handmade item you own (doesn’t have to be one of your own)?
Two ceramic wall lights made especially for me by my designer friend CJ O’Neill and a ’sleepy creature’ that my baby goes to sleep touching every night. Just one look at that creature makes anyone feel like nodding off immediately – it’s simple but pure genius, made by QuiltBaby .

Posted: March 14th, 2008 under Crafter of the Week.
Comments: none

 A few months ago, in an attempt to get my ass in gear and start to promote shescrafty.co.uk, I ventured over to moo.com and contemplated splashing out on some Moo Cards for the site. When browing the designer cards I was lucky enough to come across the work of illustrator Susan Mitchell. Her wonderful illustrations may have graced a number of childrens books but her lightness of touch and eye for detail makes each of her pieces a delicious visual feast for older readers too. When not working on her illustrative work Susan also likes to indulge her creative side in making crafty items for herself so is, of course, a perfect candidate for our new crafter of the week.

When did you start to produce your illustrations, when did you decide that this was something you wanted to turn into a career and how easy was it?  I didn’t do any illustration until I moved from Scotland to Montreal in1993. I got a contract illustrating a yearly line of Christmas card designs for a Montreal company called Pierre Belvedere, and I did that for about  eight years. Once my son was at school and I had more time, I wanted to branch out a bit and get more illustration work. My husband also got laid off from his job around that time and it kind of forced us to take a new direction. My husband had always wanted to write and I had always wanted to illustrate children’s books, so it was a kind of a now or never situation. A good friend of my husband very kindly designed a website for me so that I had something to show to publishers and a friend of ours who worked at Simon and Schuster Canada sent my website to Simon and Schuster in New York and I got my first job!

Describe your work in 5 words. Whimsical, sweet, warm,  five words is hard! Sometimes quirky and funny.

You mentioned that you also do other craft related things on top of your illustrations, have you ever considered making a career from these too? What do you make?  I love to make little stuffed creatures. I make them to entertain myself and haven’t really got to the point of selling them. I have thought about possibly selling them in between book contracts when I am not so busy, but so far I have never found the time to make enough.

Do you find it’s important for you to be creative? (Is like an itch you have to scratch) Absolutely. I am lucky enough to have a job where I get to be creative every day,  but it’s nice to work on my own things, making things for their own sake. I am happiest when I can find a balance between work that I do for publishers and my own  projects.

How important has the internet been for you in terms of building a profile for yourself, being part of the creative community? Hugely important. Previously, I didn’t know any other illustrators and I work from home, so I felt a little isolated at times. Since I started my blog, friendships have blossomed, I take part in on-line activities such as Illustration Friday and I am now part of a group of illustrators called Illustration for Kids. We have a forum where we can talk about our work, share ideas and support each other. I now feel like I am part of a big, friendly community of artists and it is great that we can stay in touch and encourage each other, yet we are from all over the world. It has really enriched my life.

Which of your illustrations are you most proud of? I am really happy with my book illustration. I get a great feeling when I look at the books I have illustrated and still can’t quite believe that I get to do this for a living. I also love the little tags I have been making for the Illustration Friday challenges. I pushed myself to work on a small scale and not spend too long working on them. I really enjoyed experimenting with text and collage and love how they turned out.

What are your goals with your work for 2008? To keep improving and trying new techniques. I want to do more collage and  experiment a little with some digital art programs.  I would also love to illustrate more picture books (especially one written by my husband http://www.pjbracegirdle.com )

Are there any fellow creative types you feel deserve attention?Of course, Illustration for Kids comes to mind! All the members are not only really talented illustrators but very nice people too. (www.illustrationforkids.com). All the folks over at www.illustrationfriday.com  and there are too many illustrators/creators to mention that inspire me.

Are there any creative blogs/sites you visit on a regular basis (include links if possible)? I have a huge list of blogs that I visit. Here are some blogs that I visit almost every day:http://marmeecraft.typepad.com http://theblackapple.typepad.com http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com

http://ericorchard.blogspot.com

http://elista.typepad.com

http://happydoodleland.blogspot.com

What is the most rewarding thing about what you do? That our son has seen that it’s possible to make a living doing what you love.

What do you feel has been your greatest achievement in terms of your work? Getting published. It was a dream for so long, so I still get a thrill when I see something I illustrated in a store, or even better, in a child’s hands.

What is the favourite handmade item you own (doesn’t have to be one of
your own)?

Here are a few: My necklace made by Tiffini, a collage made by Lou and a Gocco print from Julia.

Posted: March 9th, 2008 under Art/Illustration, Crafter of the Week.
Comments: none

So, it’s been a while since we last had a COTW, there’s plenty in the pipeline, it’s just that us crafters have very little time to be answering questions and I don’t just ask any ole crafter you know.

In the limelight this time around we have Megan from Creative Outlet Designs, I came across Megan and her creations through her new blog at Brassy Apple when she posted a pretty wonderful tutorial for making some fabric fortune cookies (yet another thing to add to my list of things I want to get round to this weekend!). I then trawled around the blog and found some more adorable items, fun advice and generally knew I wanted Megan to be a COTW.

Thankfully she was more than willing to answer some questions:

Tell me a little bit about yourself, when did you first get into being creative/crafting, how long have you been crafting, how did this develop into your current works?

I’m a wife, mommy and designer. I am 29 year old design at home mom. I have 3 kids and a hubby who is pretty well “trained” so he’s been bumped out of the category of being one of my “kids”. We’ve been married  ten years – Yeah! – and currently reside in Idaho in the USA. I’ve always been categorized as the crafty/artistic one of my family if you ask my sisters, although my littlest sister seems to follow suit in the creative arena. Maybe it has something to do with me being left handed. My interest in drawing and sketching goes back as long as I can remember. I loved to create my own clothes for my paper dolls and love to do that still with my daughter’s. I studied the arts – all aspects from painting, sewing, dance, etc – through all my years of schooling up through college. Jumping from different mediums as my interests changed and developed. After getting married and then settling into motherhood a few years later, I re-discovered the spark to be creative and re-invent myself again outside of being a mommy all day long. I grabbed my paint brushes and created a full scale mural in my daughter’s bedroom which encased all 4 walls and the ceiling. That led into décor which stemmed out to custom orders for others. But I was getting antsy with the same medium when fabric and clothing jumped into my view. After several months of playing around with different types of designs I finally discovered my style and where my niche was – My signature Shaggy Mosaic jeans were born! Now about 4 years later, my style and direction continues to change as my passion and ideas evolve. That’s what I love about what I am able to do and share with others is that it is constantly changing. Always fresh, new and exciting. 2008 holds even more change for my business which I am really excited about! But that is still a secret for a bit longer.

What do you love most about working with the materials that you do and having your blog/sites?

I love blogging! I’ve “met” so many great people from sharing my quirky ideas, photos and insights into my personal life.

- How did you come up with the idea for Flat Betty and, for those not in the know, please explain what Flat Betty is all about

Flat Betty is my alter ego! She gets to pursue her passion for fashion/design/being a social butterfly, etc without any strings attached like being home in time to make dinner, attending meetings, paying bills, etc.

She is a paperdoll that measures about 12 inches in height. She may be small but she’s got a BIG heart! Flat Betty travels the globe via snail mail meeting up with other bloggers from all walks of life! (mommies, designers, families, etc) For each mile she travels, a sponsor donates a certain percentage of money towards Flat Betty’s current project/cause. Her project for 2008 is to help raise money and awareness for the Pajama Program which provides pajamas and books to children in need. Most waiting for adoption who don’t have the simple comforts of being tucked into bed at night with warm pajamas and a bedtime story.

The idea for Flat Betty struck one day while out taking photos. I wanted to reach out, help out and do it in a fun unique way. The ideas, details and specifics came together like magic and Flat Betty was born!

Flat Betty would love to attend some great events in 2008 like craft fairs, blogging events, fashion shows and see the sites of the world too! If you’d like to host Flat Betty please visit her blog

You seem to be a creative whirlwind, which of your items are you most proud of and why?

LOL!!! The “whirlwind” probably comes from my creative “tick” to create something new and the need to switch projects and mediums to keep things fresh. I would have to say I’m most proud of my Mosaic Jeans. They were so widely accepted when they debuted and such a personal expression of my colorful personality. The feedback I get from customers is heartwarming as they have what I call “rock star” experiences when wearing them. (lots of attention, compliments and even having paparazzi type photos taken of them) I’m also proud of my apron line for women. I discovered my inner apron diva and how much fun she could be to have around and realized that others were longing to find their own diva as well. And lastly, I’d have to say my tutorials that I share on my blog. I love to do projects that are quick and easy and that hopefully capture a little something that is “outside the box” in the finished product. I love pouring over other peoples photos so I also love to take them and post them on my blog too. It’s amazing how much someone can learn or be inspired to do with a simple snapshot!

- How important is the internet to you in getting your ideas out there and becoming involved with fellow crafters?

Wow! HUGE! The internet has really exploded the crafting/handmade scene! It’s amazing and truly a blessing. There is so much information being shared on a daily basis, inspiration and the availability to search for opportunities to get my personal work “out there”. It’s great to be able to find out you can connect with people all over the globe and share tips, give advice and learn from.

- Where do you get your inspiration/ideas? (I’ve heard the shower is common source of brainwaves, it’s never worked for me) 

Most of my ideas come in the quiet moments. Now, the quiet moments don’t last long around my house, but they are just enough for the idea to strike and then while I go about my day the supplemental inspiration and details start popping into my head. I find it’s handy to carry a small notebook or sketch book but I grab receipts, napkins or whatever is close to jot down an idea or two. It’s wonderful to take a short minute each day and listen to what’s inside you.

- What are the main characteristics of your work? How would you describe your work in 5 words

Ooooh. That’s tough. 5 words – eclectic, functionable, fun, fresh and wearable

Posted: February 28th, 2008 under Crafter of the Week.
Comments: none

I was most upset today to get my invite to this year’s Glasgow Art Fair as it falls while I am in Paris and will make it the first year I have been unable to go. Thankfully my disappointment was lifted by contact from the wonderful artist Lucy Campbell. I first discovered Lucy’s work at the Art Fair in 2006 and within weeks became the proud owner of one of her paintings. Many may try to argue that art is not craft and therefore Lucy would be stretching the limits to be heralded as our Crafter of the Week, but I see craft as creation involving creativity and this lady has it in spades. Her paintings have a magical quality and often combine elements of fairy tales and fables. A key feature is the character of Molly, an elfin girl that captures the spirit and curiousity of youth with attitude..Lucy was born in Perth and has travelled the world before returning to Scotland to paint and raise her family. It is truly an honor to have her take the time out to answer some questions and I hope you all enjoy her work as much as I do…..

You mentioned that you never studied art so I wondered at what point did you decided to try and make a living from art and did anything in particular push you into taking that leap?

I always believed at the back of my mind that i was going to make my life out of art… when I was six I wrote and illustrated a book and I remember wanting to do that for a living when I grew up.  i then kind of forgot about that, strangely ‘rebelled’ against the expectation of all (minus parents) that I’d be an artist, wanted to prove (most of all to my Dad) that I was capable of anything, even being a scientist - I just couldn’t really conceive of being anything nearly as sensible as a doctor which is what would have really impressed him - I could only see myself as a zoologist or marine biologist and both of those things were in a way as unrealistic as being an artist.  At the bottom of it all though, was the knowledge that I was unavoidably an artist and that this was somehow an enormous disappointment to a revered and feared father, and for years I was very lost trying to find something ‘proper’ to do with myself.  I did a degree in Sociology and International Development, during the second year of which it was very clear to me that what I wanted was to paint… I tried to communicate this to my father and was repeatedly met with total negativity, dismissal and eventually three years of silence.  Which answers another question below I believe!  My mother is also an artist, and she has been more supportive but on the whole always ’stood back’ when it came to my career/life choices – she never displayed a great deal of enthusiasm for my decision to ‘follow her footsteps’ but neither did she try to discourage me in the way Dad did.  

Did living in Barcelona and it’s cultural differences from Scotland have any impact on your work and what made you return to Scotland?

Certainly.  How exactly I’m not sure, just the city itself is wildly inspiring in a way that the UK never has been for me – clearly it’s also inspired many other artists and continues to do so.  One obvious difference between the two countries that had a big impact on my creativity is the culture of mural art/graffiti.  Apparently during the civil war (when Barcelona was a centre of resistance against the march of Fascism), wall art was a very important medium of political expression and communication.  It was alive and very much part of people’s lives, and continues to be so today and that acceptance of living, vibrant art covering every large wall surface all over the city makes for some fantastic graffiti, not something to be painted over at the earliest opportunity by the council… artists painted and sprayed their work in broad daylight.  Some of it was political and some of it purely aesthetic, but all of it colourful and alive and hugely inspiring to me as i walked my daily 45 min trek from my flat to my studio. 

I’m fairly convinced that I’d still be living in Barcelona today if I hadn’t had my son, Troy.  Having a baby changes priorities.  My family is in Scotland and to be able to work and be the kind of parent I want to be I needed the support of family, which I didn’t have in Spain.  I also believe that having some sort of extended family is really important for children, so I decided to move back for that reason really.  

Is Molly part of you? If she is does how you are feeling come through in your work?

Very much so – it’s all completely personal… not to say that she is meant to resemble me in a physical sense (i wish!) as some people have bizarrely suggested. but yes, when I’m feeling dark and twisted, the paintings are darker, although I try to portray light rather than dark on the whole.   

Many of your paintings tell as story and I feel they would make a wonderful storybook, have you ever considered publishing a book of stories about Molly with your work?

Many times, all the time… in fact, there have been a couple of attempts, but nothing as yet finished or worth publishing.  She has appeared on the cover of a few books though, and as illustrations to short stories based on her character by an Argentine writer. 

How do you find time between being a mum and a painter?

That’s a big struggle… since moving here I count on a lot of help from my Mum.  Then there’s a childminder one full day a week… and I have two and a half hours each weekday morning.  It’s pretty horrible really, finding the time between them both because they both demand a lot of time.  My husband works full time and wants to relax at the weekend, when I’m desperate to do some of my work.  When I have a lot of deadlines I become an insomniac, which is actually quite helpful.  And I let a lot of stuff slip that I shouldn’t, like updating my website and keeping my books.

When you decided you were going to persue art as a career were your friends and family supportive?

See above!  My friends generally yes have always been supportive.  Would they be friends if they weren’t?  And other members of my family, my sisters, also supported my decision, and tried to help me find ways to make a living as an artist. 

What is the hardest thing about being an artist? .
For me, it definitely used to be the money bit.  Knowing how to ’sell’ and how to charge for what I do – learning that the material side of it is as important as the creative side of it was really tough.  I’m still pretty rubbish at that, but getting better.  Then there is another nasty thing about being an artist, which is putting yourself ‘on show’ with your paintings.  It’s like baring your soul to a bunch of strangers … I find my working ‘process’ quite schitzophrenic, quite mad, and sometimes very lonely, despite being quite a hermit type naturally – as I work from home since becoming a mum, I find I miss the contact with other human beings I had when I worked in collective studios.  I guess the biggest occupational hazard of being an artist is that it’s not great for one’s mental health! 

Would you ever consider doing commissions or is it important for you to chose your subjects?

Oh, I’m an art-whore, I do commissions and I have even copied my own work for people.  I’ve never been commissioned to paint a subject other than my own, though, if you see what I mean… usually when I get commissions the client wanted a painting that was already sold, and requests that I do them something similar (when I say I’ve copied my own work, this is what I’m referring to), or else they tell me who the painting is for or where in their house they plan to hang it and I’m free to do whatever I think might fit the bill.  In fact I like doing commissions because it takes out the aforementioned ‘baring my soul’ anxiety!

Do you only work in one medium of have you considered other artistic outlets such as photography?

I’m a painter… I love photography, and would definitely like to explore other mediums, but for the time being I’m pushed for time as it is!!  When I find the time, next on the agenda is the medium of story-books/comics, animation and print-making. One day.

Which of your paintings are you more proud of and why?

They come and go out of my life very quickly, I don’t get much of a chance to dwell on any particular one after it’s finished… there are some (like The Wolf’s Eyelash) that I really love because they illustrate certain stories/themes very dear to my heart, or very meaningful to me at the time I painted the painting.  I did a series recently based on a story about a lonely seal-hunter who kidnaps a seal-woman to make her his wife, and they were very powerful to me but probably fairly meaningless to the majority of people!  I guess though that the ones I’m most ‘proud’ of are the two original 2m high canvases of Molly, from the very first exhibition I put on in Barcelona, because they were the first… the first leap into a completely different style and approach, and also my moment of realisation that I had to let go of any preconceptions of what ‘art’ is and just do my own thing. 

Many may argue that a lot of art is about hype and waffled explanations rather than real talent. How do you feel about the state of British Art today?

The Argentinian writer I mentioned before, who has written a series of short novels based on Molly, recently said to me that I was lucky to be living in the only place on the planet where art is consumed like sweeties.  He’s right: compared with much of the rest of the world, the UK is fairly unique in having a large number of inhabitants who can afford and want to own original art.  That’s one aspect of British Art today: it’s possible to ‘be’ an artist here.  Then there are the super-artists, like the supermodels, the celebrities, and that’s a completely different kettle of fish, a kind of modern-day phenomenon of marketing and globalization that I find totally fascinating and absolutely nothing akin to what I do.  I think that some very high profile artists do have a huge amount of talent, say Damien Hirst to give an example, but that their massive success also definitely rides on a wave of mega-hype.  Other Brit Art really transmits nothing to me and to my mind relies completely on hype, but I think that in a way is an art-form in itself and always has been, in the sense of the Emperor’s New Clothes, a kind of illusionism, and if people fall for it, well, congratulations to the perpetrator of the illusion!
Why did you choose to have your own website and do you feel it has been successful in introducing your work to a wider audience?.
I learnt to make websites during that time when I was wanting to be an artist but not knowing how I wanted to be one… trying to find a meaningful and creative way of making a living that I’d be able to enjoy.  I don’t mind doing them but I’m not a very techy person and I get bored of sitting in front of a computer screen.  So I put this knowledge to some use and made my own site, because it never occurred to me to pay someone else to do it for me, but it’s not very well done and one day I’ll have to redo the whole shebang.  If it were better-made it’d probably get my work out to a much wider audience, but for being homemade it’s not done too badly - I do get work through the site from people who’ve never seen my work in the flesh, and it’s also been a very handy way to showcase myself to galleries.

If you could spend a week working with any artist (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
I really don’t know… perhaps Joan Miró, because his work blows me away and is so completely different to what I do.  It seems to me that he had a lot of fun with what he did.  I also know that he had an amazing huge studio in Barcelona as well as one in Marjorca, and I fancy spending a week in either… 

As a creative person do you have any other outlets for your creativity – sewing, creative writing, musical instrument etc?

Used to have many – before I actually started to focus properly on what I was doing I did all sorts of crafty/creative stuff: I made candles and cards that I sold, I wrote a lot, many moons ago I played the violin and I find dancing a wonderful outlet of some sort…

Do you feel it is important for artists to experiment or should they concentrate on an identifiable style?

Experiment to the heart’s content.  Having an identifiable style is important for an artist in as much as creating a corporate identity is important for a brand to be recognisable in the market… but no one should ever feel trapped inside an identity or that they must stick rigidly to their ’style’ in the name of artistic integrity – change is very important and after all we are evolving all the time.

What advice would you give to anyone considering a career in art?

Don’t get hung up on any preconceived idea about what it is to be an artist – do your own thing and enjoy it, be it.

What would you consider as successful in the world of art?

I consider myself successful because I do what I love, and I live from it.  My father (who incidentally is fully supportive of me these days) always wants to know what percentage of work submitted to an exhibition, sells.  As in, out of x number of paintings, you sold y, which is, say, 60%… I think he does it to wind me up, but he also just can’t get it in his head that to my mind, having ’survived’ just painting random stuff out of my imagination, to sell one painting is a success… it doesn’t matter numerically, it’s the fact that I’ve made it this far that counts.

What are your plans for 2008?

Probably way too ambitious, given that I’m about to give birth to a second baby… but the plans are to do the AAF in London and the Glasgow Art Fair in March; various group shows in Scottish Galleries through June to September, a solo show in Frames in November and to send work to a gallery in LA for the first time, also in November.  It may all come apart at the seams though, as the baby will take priority.  Hopefully in 2009 I’ll do a solo in LA as I’ve always been curious to put my work out in the US, and at some point i want to make it back to Barcelona.

Well, I for one, wish Lucy all the best in achieving these goals and thank her once again for taking time out for shescrafty.co.uk.

Posted: February 3rd, 2008 under Art/Illustration, Crafter of the Week.
Comments: none

This week’s loverly COTW has been selected as much for her contribution to online craftiness as her lovely creations. We are talking about the lovely Cat Morley who is the crafting mastermind behind the wonderful Cut Out + Keep website and Snippets online mag. Suffice to say with those two things to oversee we were tickled pink when she took time out her busy schedule and dragged herself away from her new iphone (jealous? moi?!) long enough to answer some questions as our Crafter of the Week.

When did you first come up with the idea for cut out + keep?
I started blogging back in 2003 and I titled my blog Cut Out + Keep. I started suffering from the problem, that all new bloggers seem to get, of not knowing what to write about, so I started blogging about the things I had been making. This was everything from last minute gifts I had crafted to recipes I had invented while cooking dinner. Having the blog made menial everyday tasks fun and because it had such a great response, especially from the tutorials, I decided to focus my blog entirely on craft. 

After a few years, I had met so many other creative people through my blog, I decided that it would be a great idea to make Cut Out + Keep in to a site for everyone. It was such a great experience running it,  that I felt a bit greedy to keep it all to myself. By the end of 2007, my partner in crime, Tom and I, had turned Cut Out + Keep from a mere craft blog in to a website where everyone could post projects and socialize with each other.

Why did you also decide to do Snippets (do you ever sleep girl!)?
Snippets was a really gradual thing. I started craft writing for ReadyMade magazine’s blog a few years ago and while there, I realized that I really enjoyed writing and journalism. I later took up journalism jobs for Venus Zine and then Clash Magazine, where I was also doing photography. At the start of 2007, I decided that I wanted to find a way to combine everything I was doing with Cut Out + Keep and so Snippets was born. I was lucky to have a great bunch of writers offer to contribute and they’ve made it really fun and a lot easier to make ever since.

And I do sleep, sometimes.

When did you start to be interested in crafting?
I’ve always loved being crafty. My mum is very crafty too, though she wont admit it. She was an award winning quilter and when I was little, she would help me to make my own clothes and bring my fashion designs to life. Every Halloween, she would take me to the fabric store to pick out fabric for whatever Disney princess I wanted to be that year. I thought it was amazing, I just wished Halloween would happen more than once a year.

I was always amazed by people who could make things, though I didn’t believe I could do it myself. Everything looks so complicated until you give it a try and when I finally did try things out, I’d realize that I could do them and that would inspire me to try out different things. Now, I want to try out everything!

What do you feel has been your greatest achievement in terms of the site and snippets?
Oooh, that’s kind of a hard one to figure out exactly, I don’t think there is one specific thing. I guess it would be when I realized that people actually liked the site, wanted to use it and share their own creations and how-to’s. It’s one thing thinking up and idea that people might like and it’s another having something that people actually want to use. I guess there’s always a big assumption that if you build it, they will come and use it straight away, but it’s never like that. It took a while for people to come, create profiles and then to start posting projects. I’m so lucky that they do now and there’s new content on the site everyday.

What is the most rewarding thing about doing them?
The most rewarding thing has always been hearing that you’ve inspired someone. It’s such a great thing to see when someone else has made something that you originally created and shared the tutorial for. It’s nice to think that there are lots of different versions of your project, all around the world, in different colours or altered to someone else’s taste. It also feels like you’re doing a good thing, so I like to think I’m being rewarded with good karma whenever I share a how-to.

With so many things on the go, how do you manage your time? Do you ever get the chance to relax?
I find organization really interesting, I don’t consider myself to be very organized, but I really really aspire to be. I keep long to-do lists and I love my Filofax to bits. So it’s really thanks to my Filofax, to-do lists and my new iPhone (which is amazing) that I manage to stay on top of everything.

I do try to relax a lot, but doing what I do can get really addictive, so it’s hard to slow down and shut off from it. I find crafting really relaxing, so if I have any extra time at the end of the day, I’ll defiantly be making something. I don’t really like sitting around doing nothing, so if I am in front of the TV, I’ll be doing something else – like scribbling, emailing on my phone or crafting. I also make sure to give myself time off to watch movies, go for coffees, see gigs and hang out with my friends.

What blogs/sites do you visit regularly?
My RSS is stocked full with craft, fashion, art & cooking blogs and websites, so I’ve always got hundreds of creative entries to read everyday. Some of my favourites include Craft Zine, a great magazine and craft blog; The Handbag Lady, a fashion blog with loads of gorgeous products to oggle at and Bento Yum, a blog where readers post photos of their bento lunches, they look so yummy and it’s great cooking inspiration.

I check my LiveJournal on a regular basis, though I don’t usually blog there anymore, to check what my friends have been up to and I have a Facebook and MySpace, though I try to stay away from them as time flies when you’re on them.

The rest of the time I spend on Cut Out + Keep. Now that our member list is growing, there’s always loads of great new projects, blog entries and board posts for me to check out and reply to. It keeps me busy, but I love it!

What’s your favourite handmade item you own (either made by yourself or someone else)?
This is such a tricky question because I usually give most of the things I make away. People who visit my flat expect it to be a mini museum of the things I’ve made on CO+K but I don’t have many of them left. However, at the moment, my favorite project is my blinging name choker that I made a few nights ago. It’s so sparkly and I’m so proud of it. I’ve been wearing it ever since.

Tell me a little bit more about Cut Out + Keep and Snippets:
ie. : how long have you been doing them, what are your aims for them in 2008, why do you do them?
Crafting became a bit of an addiction for me, so I was so lucky to have a place where I could let it all out. I’ve had CO+K for over 4 years, but right now, it’s more fun than ever. It’s filled with creative and talented people who post fantastic things everyday, I’m always amazed when I wake up in the morning and see all the new things that people have posted while I’ve been asleep.

Snippets is lots of fun to make too. It allows me to branch out from craft and explore exciting new areas. I guess curiosity is why I keep doing them while taking on new projects all of the time. My aim for 2008 is to work a lot more on the site and get it to a stage where I can stand back and know that it will look after itself if I go away and leave it. I’d really say that my aim was to get it finished, but ideas come flooding in much faster than I could ever work on them, so I guess there will always be new things to add and improve upon. I just never realised that something that started as a fun pass-time would grow in to something as big, and as interactive, as it is today.

Posted: January 25th, 2008 under Crafter of the Week.
Comments: none

So, it’s all been a bit quiet on the site front of late but that doesn’t been we’re sitting on the couch, scoffing sweets and drooling over property programmes (well, maybe a few nights of the week!).

No, in fact, we’ve been super busy and have a whole slew of posts to get up here but first of these is in fact our new slot – Crafter of the Week. The honor of being shescrafty.co.uk’s first ever COTW goes to the wonderful Flapi (aka Mariana Dias). But I’ll let her introduce herself…

My name is Mariana Dias and I’m a 20 year old Law student, living in Coimbra (Portugal). When I was younger, I was terrible in arts subjects at school (those were always my worst marks and the ones I didn’t like the most), so I’ve always thought I didn’t have any talent for the arts&crafts. Then, around 2005, I started to use the internet more often and found lots of blogs, websites and communities dedicated to crafting and showing off the work of people who enjoyed crafting. I thought everything was so beautiful and fun and felt sad about the fact that I wasn’t too artistic or keen at crafting, so I couldn’t make pretty things like that as well. Then, in the summer of 2006, I was in need of a new hobby and, when passing by a crafts store in a local shopping mall, I noticed an ad saying they were giving workshops about the basic techniques of making jewellery. I signed up for one, really enjoyed what I learned and decided to make some earrings with the knowledge that I had just gained, which I then offered to my friends. They all liked them and complimented my work, so that was when I thought I might actually be good at making something craft related. After learning some other jewellery techniques, I thought it was time to move on to something else, so I asked my mother to teach me how to work the old Singer sewing machine we own (that belonged to my great grandmother!). All the women in my family have been very crafty, so I have stored in my house a number of things that have gone through generations: fabrics, trim, ribbon, thread, wool, etc. I then started making small pouches with those supplies I had and offering them to friends, family and sending them in online swaps also. People continued to be happy with what I gave them and complimenting my work, so that gave me the confidence, practise and skills I needed to start selling it. I had been selling some second handed clothes on the internet since 2005 as well, so I was already familiar with how the transactions online are dealt and the business related stuff, so it was easy for me to then create my Etsy shop in February 2007.

- What do you love most about working with the materials that you do?

The possibility of creating an endless amount of unique pieces with the same type of material! I really like to work with plastic and I mostly use measuring tape or vintage flower beads in my creations… and, even though I’ve already made dozens of them, there are always new combinations and ideas about them that pop into my mind and make me want to make many more. All of my items are one-of-a-kind, so I love that I am making so many unique pieces out of those materials!

- Which of your items are you most proud of and why?

My measuring tape cases, because it took a lot of practise and work for me to make them and get the right way of sewing the tape. And because it’s a concept entirely thought by myself: I’ve never followed any pattern to make the cases, I was the one who “designed” them in my head and put that idea and scheme on paper, then turning it into a real object by assembling all the materials I’ve figured together. Also, the fun that is to go to all the haberdasheries and general stores I step by and search for tapes (I never thought there were so many and so colourful around here!) and give a new purpose to this material, which is normaly used in a different context. Furthermore, these cases always catch other people’s attention and when I use mine people always ask about them, so they’re a great conversation starter about my shop and my work as well.

- What do you feel has been your greatest achievement with your work?

The fact that I’m being able to sell it so well and reach to so many people! I’m very proud of the fact that lots of people from all over the world now wear and use something I’ve made on a daily basis. Also, I think it’s so cool that someone with no artistic background like me could be successful at setting up her own crafty business and developing a line of work<

- You are based in Portugal. What is the crafting scene like over there and what is your involvement in it?

Recently (in the past couple of years) there has been a crafting boom here in Portugal and this activity is getting more and more recognition every day. It’s growing among us the habit of having craft fairs, opening crafts shops, publishing reports about artists in newspapers and magazines, creating a great number of online communities and blogs as well, etc. Crafting is very popular here nowadays! Though, the only local crafty event I usually participate in is a fair that takes place monthly in my city, where we can go and sell our work. I’ve been going there almost every month (if I don’t stay to sell, at least I go and take a look around) and it’s lots of fun.

- How important is the internet to you in reaching buyers for your items / fellow crafters?
Very important! I’d say 90% of my sales come from the internet and most of the publicity and promotion of my work that I make is there too. It’s my #1 way of reaching buyers. It’s also due to the internet that I’ve bought the work of other fellow crafters and became familiar with artists I didn’t know about.

- Where do you get your inspiration?

Mostly, from looking at the materials and imagining things I could do with them. Everytime I go to haberdasheries and craft shops and see something that catches my attention or that I like, an idea of how to use it immediately pops into my mind. Or sometimes I’m in the bus or walking distracted and start thinking about my work and new stuff I could make. I’m very inspired by colours too, I love colourful items! Sometimes I see something with a colour combo I love (it can be a traffic sign or a person’s outfit) and think about making something joining those two colors together and then a new idea for an item pops up too.

- What are the main characteristics of your work? How would you describe your work in 5 words.

Functional, colourful, unique, happy and affordable.

- What are your crafty goals for 2008?

Right now I plan on maintaining my shop (http://flapi.etsy.com/) and and keep having many orders and customers, update my Livejournal and my Portugese blog regularly. Then, in the summer, I’m going to close my shop and put my crafting hobby to rest for a while, as I’ll be studying in Spain and travelling around Europe for the following year (thanks to the people who have been so supportive of my work and to whom I’ll send postcards of the places I’m visiting)

- Whose work do you feel deserves attention?

There are many artists I’ve met through Etsy and Flickr whose work I admire, so I’ll just give a shout out to:
 Paraphernalia
a Portuguese lady living in England, whose work is so creative and unique.
Pirilampo Riscado:
beautiful works in felt from another Portuguese lady.
Yael Frankel:
from Argentina, whose paper crafts are delightful.
Kit Mit:
… an American lady I’ve had the pleasure to also already interview and that has the most unique arm/wrist warmers I’ve ever seen.

- What (if any) crafty sites/blogs do you visit regularly?

I mostly wander around Etsy and Flickr, but I sometimes check the following:
http://community.livejournal.com/craftgrrl
http://www.craftster.org/

- What’s the most rewarding thing about what you do?

Being able to make things people like and will wear and running a business of my own and by myself from home, doing something I love. Having this hobby that allows me to invest even more in my creativity and will furthermore allow me to travel abroad a lot is just great!

- What’s the most difficult thing about what you do?

The time and dedication I have to put into it. Sometimes it’s hard to co-ordinate my shop’s responsibilities with me being a full-time student, so I can’t be as lazy as I often feel like being hehe. But, at the end of the day, I manage to have time for everything and the effort is so rewarding!

Posted: January 16th, 2008 under Crafter of the Week, Jewellery.
Comments: 2