featured seller - kitsch kitten

Today's seller is Kitsch Kitten, who makes fantastic kitsch jewellery - v cute!!
Tell us a bit about yourself

 

Hi I’m Rachael a Scottish jewellery maker/craft lover with a love of all things kitsch and retro. I’m really into the 1940s and 1950s in particularly. 
My home is filled (some would say cluttered...) with pretty and colourful pieces. I’m a real magpie for unique things and keepsakes. I share it with my cat Jumper who is a dark tortoiseshell and so named because she jumped up against me when I went to the animal rescue centre to get a cat. The cat is my logo is the family cat I grew up with called Scampie and she lives with my folks. 

What do you make? 
In a nutshell, I make kitsch jewellery such as sweetheart swallows, nautical necklaces and perfect pin ups. I always used to buy these things when I found them, but that was few and far between, so I decided to start making my own. I’m really inspired by fairytales, 1950s kitsch and I love whimsical things that make me smile. You wouldn’t believe the amount of time and energy I spend scouring the internet and unique shops to find the charms I use in my items! 
I’m not nearly as talented as so many of the crafters on Folksy but I love what I make. I wear my jewellery all the time. 
I also make shabby chic cake stands from unwanted and unloved spare pieces. I really like how you can recycle otherwise pretty useless bits and make something new. I had an afternoon tea party at my home using all the cake stands and it just looked so pretty and was marvellous fun! 

Why do you use that medium? 
I think my type of jewellery is very accessible, you don’t need a lot of tools, just a lot of ideas! I’d love to do more complex things but I don’t have the space. I’d encourage everyone to get involved in whatever craft they fancy and not to get scared off by it. 

When/ how did you start crafting? 
Since as long as I can remember I’ve been using my hands to make stuff. As a kid, all my Christmas and birthday presents were craft related and I would sit with paper, scissors and sellotape and make things. My home is generally covered in little bits of felt – I’m currently making a gypsy caravan sewing box, as you do! 

I got into making jewellery as I said because I couldn’t find what I wanted easily. Now that I’ve joined Folksy, there’s tonnes of choice but hopefully I can offer something unique. 

When did you start selling your stuff - where do you sell? 
I started my website when I was out of work in 2010. Then when I found a job again, it was in the middle of nowhere with no regular access to a post office! That meant I couldn’t give customers the service I wanted so I didn’t take any sales. Now I have finished that contract and looking for my next one, which hopefully will be nearer a post office so I’m really kick starting Kitsch Kitten. I have my own website www.kitschkitten.com and also sell on Folksy which has such a great community feel. I really want to start selling at craft fairs soon too. 

 

Do you also have a day job, or is this your main job? 
Oh yes unfortunately! I doubt I could ever make Kitsch Kitten full time. I work in HR which I love but I love how Kitsch Kitten gives me an opportunity to get properly creative. 

What do you love about your medium, what do you hate? 
I love what you can do and how these can reflect your ideas, but I hate how hard it can be to get the charms I want! I have much more success with the images I use and I’m doing more of these as it’s a really interesting opportunity. 

Where do you get your inspiration from? 
Everywhere!! I love fairytales, romance, vintage styles and obviously kitsch things! I love fashion and clothes and watch what’s in style but I don’t limit myself to that. I have definitely found my niche and just hope that others like what I do. 

What is your favourite music to craft to? 
I am a huge Bob Dylan fan and a bit of an indie girl at heart, love Mumford & Sons at the minute but I’m also quite eclectic so I love pop and girly songs too. 

What is your favourite piece of your own? 
The 1930s travel pendants are my current favourite, I have a Havana one which I’m currently wearing (as I type this!) I just love what the resin can allow you to do and the colours just pop! 

 
Where do you do your crafting (specially built studio - sofa??) 
I wish! I live in a small flat so I work in the living room, watched by Jumper who sits in her radiator bed (well away from my work!) I’d love to have a proper studio.

Featured seller - Baggie Aggie Too

I love the Folksy shop Baggie Aggie too, which stocks phone and kindle covers, and other accessories in gorgeous fabric, all handmade in Wales, and ideal for a gift.

So over to you.....

My name’s Rosie, originally from the Home Counties in England, and now living in Wales with my partner and cute cat. (I’m now in Wales because I met an old schoolfriend through Friends Reunited. He’d moved to Wales years before, and returned to our old stamping ground on a business trip. We met for a drink, fell madly in the love, and the rest is history!) 

What do you make? 

For BaggieAggietoo I make a variety of fabric-based items – phone cases, business card / credit card wallets, wrist key fobs, eco-friendly loot bags for kiddies parties, and anything else I’m asked for. I welcome custom orders, so if a customer wants an iPad or Kindle case for example, I’m their man (so to speak!). I have another Folksy shop too (BaggieAggie) for which I make bags (felted and fabric). It’s looking rather empty at the moment as I’ve spent the last few months building up BaggieAggietoo and couldn’t manage both, mainly due to unexpected time constraints. But that should be remedied soon, I hope. 

Why do you use that medium? 

Now that’s an easy one to answer – I adore fabrics! I used to make all my own clothes and soft furnishings, so, long before I began selling online, I’d amassed quite a large fabric stash. Now of course it’s even bigger! 
 

When/ how did you start crafting? 

I can’t remember a time when I couldn’t knit and sew. My mum taught me both skills before I started school, so crafting’s always been a natural part of life. 

When did you start selling your stuff - where do you sell? 

In early 2010, while searching the ’net for interesting yarns, I stumbled across a fantastic US knitters site called Ravelry. I saw that designers were uploading their patterns to Ravelry’s database and selling them, and thought: I can do that. So I began designing and making knit-and-felt bags, and writing and uploading patterns. To my surprise, they sold (and are still selling) quite well. Then I discovered Folksy, through a writer friend who’d begun buying there in preference to Etsy. I’d never heard of either, and had no idea such crafting sites existed! Selling the felted bags I was designing seemed the logical next step, so BaggieAggie was born on Folksy in the spring. I began making fabric bags too. Then, in the summer, I decided to make smaller fabric items and opened a second Folksy shop, BaggieAggietoo. I also have a shop on Etsy, mainly for felted bag patterns, which for some reason sell much better in the US than the UK. 

What do you love about your medium, what do you hate? 

What I love the most is sourcing the fabrics and ripping open the packages when they arrive. It’s almost orgasmic! (I know, I know – I need to get out more, lol!) I don’t really hate anything, but I do worry about the sewing-machine breaking down! 
 



 

Where do you get your inspiration from? 

Well, my wrist key fobs, for example, came about because of the difficulties of juggling car doors, kids and shopping. The answer was to wear my keys on my wrist so there’d be no more dropping them in puddles, or searching one-handed through pockets and bags. Surprisingly, I couldn’t find wrist fobs in the shops so decided to make my own. When a complete stranger came up to me in Tesco’s car park and asked where I’d got it, I realised they were saleable. And that’s actually how BaggieAggietoo came about. It was a similar thing with my card wallets – I couldn’t find anything that I liked enough or that would hold a decent number of business cards. Otherwise (and I think it goes without saying!) I’m inspired by colour and pattern. 

What is your favourite music to craft to? 

It depends on my mood. Anything from Mozart to Metallica, though I more often listen to non-music radio or audio-books while crafting. I’m currently listening to Dawn French’s novel ‘A Tiny Bit Marvellous’. 
 

What is your favourite piece of your own? 

My favourite changes with the weather, but at the moment – in BaggieAggietoo – it’s ‘Earth’, this gorgeous card wallet:  I love the retro look of the fabric and the earthtone colours. 

Where do you do your crafting (specially built studio - sofa??) 

At the dining-table and ironing-board! I’m planning to turn the spare bedroom into a workroom (currently used as office, storage space and junk room). It desperately needs doing as, through necessity, my materials and tools are kept in so many different areas of the house. I’m worn out with continually running from room to room, and charging up and down stairs!

Featured Seller - Oakwood Soaperie

This time my featured seller is Oakwood Soaperie - Ceri makes fantastic soaps which look beautiful. I love  her beautiful photos of her goodies in her Folksy Shop. Wouldn't these make a great gift?

Tell us a bit about yourself
Hi, My name is Ceri. I live with my hubby and my cat in the North East of England. 

What do you make? 
I make all natural soaps and bath goodies by hand using only natural ingredients. 

Why do you use that medium? 
I use only natural ingredients because of their skin benifitting properties, The oils and botanicals I use all feed the skin with vitamins and minerals while the essential oils also treat the skin as well as lift the spirits. 

When/ how did you start crafting? 
I have been crafting in one form or another for years, I started with art at school, then College, I have also have a Fashion Design Degree, but it was around 5 or 6 years ago I started making soaps and skin balms etc. I gave them as presents and made them for myself. I soon became hooked.

 




When did you start selling your stuff - where do you sell? 
I started selling last year once all the official stamps and seals were completed :O) I sell on Folksy and also at some local craft fairs and some small retail outlets. I am looking to start selling my wares from farm shops and local deli's as well. 

Do you also have a day job, or is this your main job? 
I work part time as well but would LOVE it if this was my full time day job. 

What do you love about your medium, what do you hate? 
I love it all, what is there to hate? 

Where do you get your inspiration from? 
It comes from all around me...sometimes it is as simple as an idea which brews away until I can 'see' the product in my mind, then other times I'll sit down and think of the effect I want something to have on my skin and build the product from the effects of the ingredients and tweak it to make sure it also looks pretty. 

 


What is your favourite music to craft to? 
For now I am loving Folky stuff, like Lisa Hannigan, Kate Rusby, Heidi Talbot, Mumford & Sons, Roddy Woomble (ex idlewild), but also love Florence & the Machine, Marina & the Diamonds, Muse, The Smoke Fairies and Imelda May. 

What is your favourite piece of your own? 
I have just made a glorious red & blue swirled soap which I am calling Red Sky @ Night which I am particularly pleased with. Also a Moroccan Hamam soap which is a very unassuming putty colour from the Rhassoul clay but which is loaded with exotic incense fragrance and has a gold paisley stamped design into the surface. These are curing but will be ready very soon, keep an eye out on my Folksy site. 

Where do you do your crafting (specially built studio - sofa??) 
I have commandeered the Dining room for now but would love a full workshop at some stage. I have prettified it with bunting and floral wall transfers so it is a restful and inspirational place to be. I have a large pin board where I put up photo's, objects, pieces of ribbon etc that inspire me. The rest is given over to storage shelves, computer desk and work table etc. 
One day I'd love my own place in the Northumberland Hills, a bit of woodland and a workshop or two to create in, my idea of heaven.

Featured seller - boy in park

Have you seen the fantastic Folksy shop - Boy in Park? If you haven't you should go and take a look.... now. Their work is beautiful, and thought provoking,  inspired by travel, politics, culture, and art.

Tell us a bit about yourself
Boy in Park is made up of me (Emma) and my boyfriend Mark. We currently live in Oxford but are aiming to move up to York in the next few years. We love Yorkshire (the Dales, Moors, Coast) and can’t wait to move. We are both passionate about travel, art, politics and beer! And we hope this is reflected in our work. We both produce photographic art but the painting side of the business is all down to Mark (Mark Edward). 

What do you make?
We produce photographic art & contemporary paintings in acrylics. 
We draw a distinction between Photography and Photographic Art. We call our work Photographic Art as we don’t try to provide an accurate photographic reproduction; instead we manipulate our images to evoke emotions and to communicate our experiences of a place. 

Why do you use that medium? 
When trying to capture a moment, or a detail, that will not be the same just a few minutes, or even seconds later, there is nothing like the flexibility of a camera. As long as we capture the moment we can then edit it on a computer to transform it into a Photographic Art piece or interpret it in a painting. Using a combination of painting and photography to create our discourse really gives us the best flexibility. 

When/ how did you start crafting? 
We started crafting properly after Mark created a number of prints using photographs from our European road trip (including ‘Love Locked’ which can be found in our folksy shop) as a present for my birthday. 

 When did you start selling your stuff - where do you sell? 
We started to sell our art about 6 months ago. We sell at craft fairs, through our own website, www.boyinpark.com, and through our Folksy shop. We also have a Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/boyinpark) which we advertise through. 

Do you also have a day job, or is this your main job? 
I’ve spent most of my career working in the charity sector, predominantly for Oxfam. I’m currently unemployed but only looking for part time work so that I can spend a big chunk of time making Boy in Park and our other business, Gold Star Bear, a success. Mark works in IT as a functional developer (don’t ask!). 

What do you love about your medium, what do you hate? 
Photography: I love the flexibility of photography and how you can capture a moment that lasted seconds and freeze it in time. The only thing that I dislike is the growing view that technology means anyone can produce a good photograph. Whilst digital cameras and software such as Photoshop make it easier for people to produce decent photographs this doesn’t always translate into great art. Creating an inspiring composition involves skill and an artistic eye, just like any other medium. 

Painting: I love the way so much can be communicated through a painting, not just through the subject but through the style of the painting, the texture and brushstrokes. I hate the cleaning up after painting and the paint stains throughout our flat! Mark gets the paint everywhere! 

Where do you get your inspiration from? 
We love to travel, whether it’s on a road trip across Europe or a weekend trip to the seaside. Travelling to new places and finding that one thing or event that defines a place, or just makes you wonder, is a real inspiration. We believe art should provoke an emotional response from the viewer or spark interest, otherwise it’s just wallpaper. 

What is your favourite music to craft to? 
Personally I like silence when I’m working; I can’t concentrate with any noise! Ironically, Mark’s the opposite and likes to turn up the volume. He often listens to punk music when painting- the louder the better. The bands we both love are Two Gallants, Okkervil River, The Thermals and Micah P. Hinson. 

What is your favourite piece of your own? 
Our best seller is ‘Love Locked’ but my favourites are ‘Penny Pusher’ and ‘My British Seaside.’ Mark’s favourite is ‘Incandescent Dom’. It’s hard to choose because they are so different from one another.

Where do you do your crafting?

The computer and printer are in the study so most of our work is done there. However, Mark tends to paint at the dining table with a view of the television (It helps to keep him from wandering off and not finishing what he’s started).

*******************

Thanks for taking part Emma!!

Featured Seller - Falling Dew 2010

Today's feature is on Falling Dew - a gorgeous and original shop with beautiful crochet jewellery, with gemstones, and sterling silver findings. Just stunning!

Tell us a bit about yourself - (where do you live, what's your name etc..) 

My name is Rasa and I live in London at the moment but in the very near future I'm planing to movie to Plymouth:) 

What do you make? 

I am designing, creating and making crochet jewellery with threds and different fabrics, with a mix of natural stones or gemstones. 

Why do you use that medium? 

I was graduated with a BA degree in design arround four years ago.. Creativity relaxes me, I love the feel of being closer to and becoming part of what I create. I hope not to lose that connection with my soul. . I want to create and I want to learn more. 

When how did you start crafting? 

As jewellery was always my passion, I started to experiment with my ideas trying to mix and match them together. 

When did you start selling your stuff - where do you sell? 
I've opened my own website arround two months ago. So, I sell not only on my website I do have a shops on Folksy and Etsy:) 

Do you also have a day job, or is this your main job? 

At the moment this is my first and only priority:) 

What do you love about your medium, what do you hate? 
I don't really hate anything...I love designing it : choosing colors for the threds, matching the stones up, just mixing everything together. 

Where do you get your inspiration from? 

I started my artistic journey when I was a little girl, has always was interest in nature (which inspires me to new ideas), also I loooove to walk near to the sea and find a beautiful stones witch have history and uniqueness. 

What is your favourite music to craft to? 

When I'm crafting my children are sleeping, so that music just to hear myself and I love to be in silence:)) 





What is your favourite piece of your own? 

I really like them all because each has a peculiar charm. 



 
Where do you do your crafting (specially built studio - sofa??) 

I have my small room with table and chair, with small window and lots of beautiful materials:) where I keeping and creating my masterpieces (lol)

Go and check out this beautiful folksy shop

Featured seller - HanconWhite Handmade Homewares

I've just moved house, and so can't stop looking at all the lovely things out there for my new home.... so it seems perfect to be featuring HanconWhite on the blog today.  Go and take a peek at the folksy shop I'm loving the spring feel!

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Claire, I was born a Hancon and married a White so it seemed an obvious choice for the brand.

I live with my husband and 2 young daughters in the lovely market town of Olney in Buckinghamshire.

What do you make?

Currently I make aprons and peg-bags, with a range of cushion covers and appliquéd tote bags coming soon.

When/how did you start?

My mum has always sewn and her mum is a knitter so I suppose it was always in my blood. I did a textiles GCSE (many years ago!) but I didn’t think at the time that it was something I could make a living from. I was given a sewing machine for my birthday last year and I got the bug again. Since having the girls, I’m spending a lot more time at home and by chatting to other Mums, I realised that the products we wanted weren’t available in the fabrics / colourways we wanted - so, with help from my mum, I dusted off my skills and set to making!

When did you start selling – where do you sell?

I set up my shop on Folksy.com in November 2010. I also plan to hold mini-shopping events at my home in the future.

Do you also have a day job?

I have my youngest daughter at home with me 3 days a week so I guess that could be called my day job! I get time to sew when she is at nursery.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I tend to work backwards – I will find a fabric that I cannot resist and then find something to make with it. I’ve quite a collection building up and am brimming with ideas for it all…I just need to remember to write them all down…

What is your favourite music to craft to?

To be honest, as long as there’s music on in the background I’m happy but I have Scott Matthews on the iPod at the moment.

What is your favourite piece of your own?

My favourite piece is my flowers apron – it was one of the first fabrics I found for HanconWhite and I love it! The colours, birds and butterflies are so pretty.

Where do you do your crafting?

I’d love to say that I have a light and airy converted loft space for my studio (a girl can dream!) – in reality, however, it’s my sewing machine on the dining table when the kids aren’t around!

If you'd like to check out hanconwhite some more, here are some links

www.folksy.com/shops/hanconwhite

www.hanconwhite.com

Follow me on Twitter @hanconwhite

Thanks so much Claire for taking part!

Featured Seller - Fourteen Candles

Candle making is one of the few crafts I've not got around to trying, but looking at the lovely shop Fourteen Candles  makes me want to give it a go.... they are gorgeous, but in the meantime, I know where to stock up on my candles!

Tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Tanya, I’ve just turned 23 and I currently live in Bridport, Dorset with my fiancé and beautiful little cat. 

 

What do you make? 
I make lovely handmade candles and candle gift baskets. 

Why do you use that medium? 
I make candles because I have always loved candles in my home. It seemed the obvious choice for me. 

When/ how did you start crafting? 
I started crafting when I was 21. I found an old candle making kit that my mum had bought for me when I was a child. Typically, I didn’t find it a very interesting gift at the time so it stayed in its box for years. I eventually tried it out when I was bored at home one day and was so pleased with what I had made that I have carried on since. 

 

When did you start selling your stuff - where do you sell? 
I first set up my own website in January 2010 (www.fourteencandles.com). In November & December 2010 I started to attend craft fairs and Christmas fetes, in December 2010 I set up a folksy shop, and in Feb 2011 finally had my first sale from my website!! 

Do you also have a day job, or is this your main job? 
I work in the head office of a well known fashion retailer Monday to Friday. My candle making is weekends and holidays only. I would love to have enough candle orders coming through to become self employed and work from home permanently making candles. 

What do you love about your medium, what do you hate? 
I love the easiness of candle wax – if you go wrong just melt it down and start again. I’ve just invested in a large amount of container wax which I am particularly enjoying using. Although I hate the fact it comes in large slabs rather than beads – makes it much harder work and messier in the kitchen. 

Where do you get your inspiration from? 
Ideas just pop into my head most of the time, sometimes it works out, other times it only works in my mind! My mum is also a great inspiration, we chat for hours about candles and what I could make next, she also helps search through charity shops for vintage teacups and containers. She has the patience of a saint and has helped me so much; I think I would have given up if it wasn’t for her support. 

What is your favourite music to craft to? 
I mostly listen to my local radio station (Wessex FM) when I am making candles as it gives a good mix of music to bop along to. 

What is your favourite piece of your own? 

 

Currently, my favourite item I have made is my chocolate scented tea lights in gift box. They’re fab – they look and smell great. 

Where do you do your crafting?
In my kitchen, much to my fiancés horror as I make quite a bit of mess!

Thank you Tanya for taking part! Good luck with your shops!!!