What do you make?
Everything! Well not quite everything but I am addicted to crafting so I find myself trying lots of crafts. At the moment I am making a lot of books and journals, felt brooches and button hair slides. My newest products are kits for making your own felt brooches.

What got you started in this field? Were you always a creative type?
We have always been creative in our house some of my best childhood memories are of my mum and I making things and being crafty, I think it was inevitable that I would be a crafter!
I started in business gradually, one Christmas I made cards for everyone at work and then come Valentine’s day and Mother’s day some of my colleagues asked if I could make cards for them and that’s where it started, I realised people wanted to buy the things that I was making.

When and how did you learn?
Like I said I did a lot of arts and crafts with my mum as a child, my dad is artistic too so it was encouraged in our house to be arty and crafty. I loved art at school and then went on to study product design at college and went on to get an MSc in Product Design and Development at Uni. After Uni I found that the jobs were all in the computer side of product design and I was more interested in the creative thinking, idea generation and making the products. When I want to try something new I learn from books, other crafters, classes and YouTube is a great way to learn things there are so many people sharing their skills and techniques.

Do you make things by hand?
Yes, pretty much everything is hand made, I have some cool gadgets to help me along, a bind-it-all a crop-a-dile and a corner chomper.

Do you believe that being creative is good for you?
Oh yes, you get so many warm fuzzies from crafting; when you successfully complete a project, when someone buys something you have made and showing people how to make things themselves is also good feeling.

Is there anything that frustrates you about being a creative type?
Sometimes you can be misunderstood and people don’t get you! Trying to differentiate myself as a craft business and not a craft hobbyist.

Do you believe the internet has had an effect on your creativity?
If anything it has made me more creative as it has created avenues to sell and an infinite resource of information, tutorials to learn new crafts and there is the buying not just of other crafts but tools and materials.

Thanks Lucy for doing this interview and thanks again to all of our crafters who agreed to be featured this week! If you’d like to find Lucy online, here’s where to look:
Lucy Jackson Designs
Lucy’s blog
Twitter
Folksy
Etsy

So Lucy, tell us what you make?

I make soaps, bath bombs, bath salts and lots of other wee pampering treats.

What got you started in this field? Were you always a creative type?

I wouldn’t say I have always been a creative type. I actually began making soaps on a whim, as I was looking for something a bit different for my wedding favours. It has just kind of snowballed from there. I realised I was quite enjoying myself, and the experiment hasn’t stopped from that point. I am still looking for new ways to do things, improving my techniques and so on

When and/or how did you learn?
When I ordered my first mould! I bought a few things off the internet to get me started and to see if it was something I could do. Like I said, totally on a whim! I spend a lot of time on some great websites such as http://www.teachsoap.com/ for some great ideas to help me get started.

Why do you make things by hand?

I really enjoy it. I love it when people come round to my house and comment on how good it smells, or how much they like the soap in the bathroom. It gives me a real sense of accomplishment when I create something that other people will like! It’s a good feeling!

What is your craft ”philosophy”?

Handmade and not mass produced! I know it only too easy to step onto the high street and pick up a hugely over-scented eye-wateringy strong bath bomb, which is technically handmade. However I think its a bit nicer when you get a product that’s made for you at your request, or one that is slightly unique, as all handmade things inevitably are!

Do you believe that being creative is good for you?

I believe it is certainly good for me personally. It is nice to have an outlet, and something I can go away and work on when I can’t be bothered with the rest of the world, or when I need to chill out.

Is there anything that frustrates you about being a creative type?

Only that people want handmade items, but they want to pay mass produced prices. To be entirely honest, I was a bit like that until I realised the amount of work ad effort that goes into handmaking something individual.

It makes it very hard to price your products accordingly, as you don’t want to sell yourself short, but you also don’t want to intimidate people with high prices. Its a toughie!

Do you believe the internet has had an effect on your creativity?

Yes, its distracts me from the Soap Kitchen! However its such a valuable marketing and networking tool that it seems to be essential to very business these days!

Profuse thanks to Lucy for taking the time to do this interview when she’s just arrived home from holiday. Lucy can be found online in the following places:
Folksy
Facebook
Twitter
Lucy’s blog
Flickr
Email

So tell us a bit about Leigh Shepherd Designs – what do you make?

All of the things I make involve upcycling tiles, papers, and resin. I create a range of jewellery using upcycled games pieces. My brooches are made with vintage draughts and domino pieces. My pendants are made with Scrabble pieces presented in matching Teeny Tiny Tins and Mah Jong Tiles with matching Glass Keepsake Pots. I also create Tiny Tile Paintings and Collages featuring vintage imagery. All of my pieces are then finished with resin.

What got you started in this field? Were you always a creative type?

I have always been creative. I went to art college and have a Fine Arts degree, I’ve worked freelance in animation for films for television. After working for eight years in education and with children on the horizon I sat down with my husband and mapped out what we wanted from life. This mainly involved both of us working from home doing things we loved we also wanted to be around the kids as they grow up. So with a few sacrifices, a few risks and alot of work we are now doing just that.

When / how did you learn your craft?

I have always played around with jewellery making and I have continued painting and drawing since college, even when teaching I made things for friends and family.When I had decided that I wanted to do this full time I made up a few sample pieces (after alot of experimenting with different types of resins and papers) and took them to a local craft gallery. The owner placed an order which sold out very quickly and has continued to re order ever since. Approaching shops and galleries can be a hard thing to do and I think this is the step many new makers are afraid to take. For many creative people marketing themselves is the most difficult yet essential part of starting their business its an area I find challenging but its the only way to move forward.

Why do you make things by hand?

When I decided to set up my own business rather than return to teaching I really didn’t consider anything other than this. Making things by hand is a natural way for me to work. It is rare today for one person to be able to take a product from initial idea, through the design and making process and marketing, making by hand allows me to do this and I get a real buzz from that. I love sourcing my materials, especially the vintage finds that I use in my brooches and Tiny Tile Paintings.

Do you believe that being creative is good for you?

I can only speak for myself, but I do believe that being creative has been good for me.

I previously worked as a primary school teacher and special needs manager, this was at times very stressful. I found that to express myself creatively helped me to relax and look at situations more positively and think things through more clearly. I find working for myself much more satisfying. Whilst running a business can have its own frustrations working on a new design is an exciting process.

Is there anything that frustrates you about being a creative type?

My biggest frustrations come from not knowing how to do things that are outside of my creative field. They are usually connected to the day to day running of business or are techie related!

Do you believe the internet has had an effect on your creativity?

The internet has been key to helping me to keep in touch with other makers, its really helped to see how many other people are working in a similar way, and stops me feeling isolated when I’m working by myself. I love to read blogs and I find this is very supportive. Whilst I do use the internet alot I don’t spend much time in the many craft forums, I find time runs away from me when I do. It’s been an essential tool to track down materials and resources. So the internet probably has had an effect on my creativity, helping me to move my business on.

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into another indie maker. Thanks to Leigh for doing this interview, you can find her online in the following places:

Leigh Shepherd Designs
Folksy
Facebook
Flickr
Twitter
Leigh’s blog

Tell us about Konnie Kapow! What do you make?
We make offbeat greeting cards from original artwork either by Mr Kapow or myself. Jamie has a degree in Fine Art from Bath Spa University whereas I have a degree in weird doodling from the University of Colouring in Books!

Our focus is on vintage styles, cowboys, rockabilly, pop culture, silly jokes, and lists of things we like, good drawings (and some bad!), birdies and custom artwork.

What got you started in this field? Were you always a creative type?

Jamie is a natural born artist, he’s really talented (and handsome!) but after he finished his degree his confidence in his own abilities plummeted. When we met it had been quite some time since he had done his last painting. In fact, I witnessed him selling off one of his big abstracts at a car boot sale for £3.50!

I am an avid craftsperson who loves making things, especially knitting! I have a really strong desire to learn new crafts all the time however; my talent for art is that I have no talent for art! It’s long been a joke amongst my family (a creative bunch, both my sister and dad are talented artists) that I can’t draw to save my life! During my ‘horsey’ phase I would churn out sketch after sketch of strange beasts with long necks that looked like dog/giraffe hybrids and name them “Trigger” or “Swift Wind.”

Ever since I was a little girl I have had an unhealthy obsession with stationery and made my own in various forms since school. I was always sending stuff to one friend in particular who really ‘got’ my sense of humour. I figured I’d probably offend anyone else who received it! I used to “illustrate” letters to Jamie when we were doing the long distance romance thing and he saw their er… potential?

Then last year I went through a period of suffering badly from anxiety which meant I was off work for about 6 weeks. I’m never at peace, always got 5 or 6 things on the go at once (making a terrible mess) but I found I didn’t have the concentration to knit or read or even watch telly and I was SO BORED but too scared to leave the flat. We had hundreds of card blanks left over from the wedding so I started turning them into silly and or quirky cards and they went down so well with friends and family that I searched online for a UK equivalent of Etsy (where I had purchased a lot of stuff for my wedding) and came up with Folksy where I opened my shop!

Why do you make things by hand?

For me! Because there’s nothing quite compares to the feeling you get when you’ve finished something – whether it’s a card or a hand knitted lace scarf, or a cake for that matter – you hold it out and look at it and think (or shout depending on company) “I made this!” Being creative and making things by hand gives me a sense of achievement like nothing else, “look! I made this! ME!”

What is your craft “philosophy”?

This ties in quite well with what I was saying about the sense of achievement thing. I personally don’t like greeting cards! (gasp!) Well, I don’t like manufactured ones (phew!).

When we got married for example we got hundreds of congratulations cards and I would say that they were mostly about 5 or 6 designs in duplicate. No offence to anyone who sent us a wedding card intended but you send a card because of a life event, something important, every individual is different and I think that this should be reflected in the card. I’m the type of person who has kept practically every letter I’ve ever received and I love it when I get a card that someone has picked because it’s unique, or even better, relevant to me!

At the same time, I am aware that there isn’t much choice out there, particularly if you don’t want (insert name of well known greeting card company) style sentiments so this is why we make cards in the style that we do. One of our favourite things to do is custom cards, we’ve done T-Rex (the band) 40ths, T-Rex 25ths (the dinosaur), dogs sailing boats, elephants in socks, Bruce Willis, rock chicks and are currently working on a Star Wars 40th!

Do you believe that being creative is good for you?

I know it is! Like I said earlier, I was at a very low point when I started Konnie Kapow. I opened my Folksy shop on 10th September 2009 and had my first sale on the 24th which was probably the most exciting thing that ever happened to me! By the end of the month I had notched up a few more sales and my confidence was growing. I started encouraging Jamie to get involved too as it was something I felt we would work well at as a team. He was a bit apprehensive at first but after some of his designs started selling too (everyone loves Owlvis!) you could see his confidence starting to come back and he’s doing a lot creatively now with his painting and photography.

Before I started all of this it was so easy to come home from work and slip into familiar habits of eating dinner in front of the telly and then before you know it it’s time for bed and then you do it all over again! Crafting keeps me sane, literally!

Is there anything that frustrates you about being a creative type?

Yes, the frustrating thing about it is I still have to work full time! Although I’m one sale away from 80 in my Folksy shop and regularly do craft fairs as well as selling in The Maisonette, I couldn’t possibly survive on my craft alone at the moment which is very frustrating! Every second I spend not crafting is doing something I don’t really want to do (with the exception of eating and sleeping, they’re my favourites!).

Do you believe the internet has had an effect on your creativity?

Yes both negatively and positively!

Positive: there are so many tutorials and how to guides available it’s very easy to get free resources and cheap materials using the internet. There is also a really welcoming and strong online crafting community to get to know and lend support when you need it! It’s like being part of a big family! (Incidentally, I wrote a wee article on the sense of community for online craft mag Indie Smiles!)

Negative: the internet can be a hindrance too though, you go on to do a quick blog or update twitter and something else catches you eye or you get into a conversation with someone and before you know it you’ve wasted a whole day!

Many thanks to Connie! You can find Konnie Kapow online in the following places:
Their website
Folksy
Facebook
Flickr
Konnie Kapow’s blog
Konnie Kapow’s twitter
Mr Kapow’s blog
Mr Kapow’s twitter

Anyway, one of the benefits of cutting out the deadwood is that I’ve actually been able to keep up with my favourite blogs and I’ve recently discovered a new one that I think my sewing friends are going to love. Zoe (who actually reminds me a lot of Melissa from All Buttoned Up) is participating in “Me-made-May” which does as it says on the tin – participants are going to spend the month of May clad in clothing they’ve made themselves. Which I think you’ll agree is quite an audacious feat and one which I am green with envy over. Can I just show you some of Zoe’s stuff?

Click on the image to go to Zoe’s blog post about it.

So I’ve decided now that the Business Plan of doom is finished and I have a Bona Fide Fashion Design Graduate working for me that I have no excuse anymore. It’s time I made my first garment for me. Bearing in mind that I’m a bigger lass (UK16 on top and UK16-18 on the bottom) have any of you got recommendations for flattering dress patterns that I could attempt?

I have fallen in love with Zoe’s bird blouse, made from this pattern which was in Burda 01/2008. I can’t seem to work out how to buy back editions on the Burda website, I can’t locate this edition on eBay and nobody on twitter has a copy to lend me. Can any of you lovely lot help me?

As a Mum of sons I do feel frustrated at times because all of the super-awesome crafting and sewing projects seem to be directed at girls or little boys, so I’m excited to see what will come out of this idea of “Celebrate the boy” month, run by Dana and Rae. They’ve set up a Flickr group for inspiration and showing off your spoils too.

Let me know if you join in!

Those of you on my twitter friends list will have seen me bemoaning Nairn’s clear lack of ability but overwhelming interest in learning to knit. Thinking back, I don’t think I was much older than he was when my Nana taught me to knit and I am assured I was not the most calm and settled of children so my Nana must have had the patience of a saint back then. I’m sure he’ll pick it up in time – I may well have a nice little vodka habit by then right enough!

Anyway – a question for the knitters out there. One of my friends (who shall remain nameless until after Christmas!) asked me to recommend a knitting kit for an adult and one for an 8 year old child. I offered to put one together for him but I’m now not sure of the patterns I had in mind to recommend. The adult recipient has learned to knit but that is about the sum total of her skill right now, the child recipient can’t knit at all.

For the adult, I had thought about making up the kit with supplies to enable her to knit Branching Out from Knitty but I’m thinking now that for a beginner that is maybe a little advanced? For the child, I was simply going to make up the kit with instructions for knitting and purling and enough yarn to make a decent length scarf.

What would you suggest? Links to free patterns are especially welcome although I have a few Debbie Bliss books that I’d be happy to send up to the recipient. I’ve been a knitter for so long that I don’t really have the hindsight to see what a good starter pattern would be.

A few weeks ago on facebook, I pondered buying this awesome pettiskirt for Erica to wear to Greer’s christening. Opinions were divided amongst my friends and Amanda emailed me offering instead to make Erica a dress. Which she did, and what a dress. Not only is it made from the most awesome bird fabric ever, but it’s REVERSIBLE! It has a massive 60 inch circumference hem which went down very well with my little twirler. Did I mention it’s reversible?

Awesome side 1

Awesome side 2 (she was not impressed at this stage. Also, I’d crossed the ties accidentally which is why the dress isn’t sitting quite right.

When I was last through visiting Amanda, she got a fabric delivery from the States which gave me instant first dibs on the frankly stunning prints new to the Kitschycoo range. Having recently realised that Erica’s wardrobe consists of dresses, dresses and dresses I asked if Erica could have a couple of tunics made from the two prints that really caught my eye. And look what arrived yesterday!!

and

Needless to say I’m thrilled. Erica’s thrilled. And there’s a kind of smug satisfaction gained from supporting another Mum rather than a faceless corporation. Thanks again Amanda – you’re a star!

So as I mentioned in my last post, Ecover’s PR people approached me and asked if I’d like to do a side-by-side comparison of their products against some leading brand petrochemical-based cleaning products. At first I was a little bamboozled – surely they’d read this blog and my varying mentions of hating housework and my lack of cleaning prowess? Why on earth did they want the world’s most apathetic Mum blogger to test their products? Then of course, my interest was caught because I’ve always been a fan of Ecover’s philosophies but my concern was that being plant-based and “green” would mean the products wouldn’t be up to much. I should also mention here that I have hideously sensitive skin and contact dermatitis and as much as I’d like to be cautious, I don’t have time to go searching for rubber gloves every time the kids spill something you know? So the more I thought about it the more my interest was piqued and I agreed to test them out.

When the trug arrived with some serious-looking  cleaning products I was even more curious. Ecover’s PR people pulled no punches, they were requesting that I test Ecover against the big guns – Cillit Bang, Flash and Mr Muscle. By this point I wasn’t sure what to think. Were they serious? An ecologically friendly, plant-based real alternative to less-than-environmentally-friendly cleaners that may not be green, but get the job done? Sounds amazing in theory but I just couldn’t see how it was possible.

My first test was on the windows. Nairn and Erica had drawn on the windows with crayon which I’d left as a sign of their independance and artistic creativity. Crayon is a pain in the patootie to get off of most surfaces at the best of times so I didn’t hold out much hope. I gave each window a skoosh – one with Mr Muscle and one with the Ecover – and both worked straight away. No real win for either… until I realised the Mr Muscle had smeared the wax rather than lift it straight off. Plus one for the Ecover brand, there.

My second test was with the all-purpose cleaners. I’ll confess here that we usually use a fair amount of bleach to clean the floor in the hall, bathroom and kitchen because quite frankly we have a lot of children who walk muck from one end of the house to the other. The problem being that the bleach irritates my skin and I can’t walk on the floor barefoot even once it’s dry, so I was really hopeful that the Ecover product would do the job. My gripe with this product though was that when I (stupidly) opened the cap and had a sniff it nearly blew my nostrils inside out, BUT once I’d diluted it in water the smell was a lot less grab-the-back-of-your-throat than I’m used to with other cleaning products. Plus two for Ecover.  The back of the bottle mentions using this one neat for stubborn stains but I found simply mopping with it diluted was enough to lift everything the kids/cats/goblins had traipsed in. This one I wouldn’t say was particularly better in terms of cleaning ability than the Flash, but it was comparable and had the added benefits for me of not irritating my skin.

Showing myself up here, but the kitchen is really Bob’s domain and so I handed over the degreasers to him so the hob could be given a once over. He used the Cillit Bang on one half and the Ecover on the other, then promptly forgot which side was which. But this in itself was a success because the hob was spotless with no ‘giving it a bit more welly because it’s eco-friendly and therefore not likely to be up to much’. The simple fact is, this stuff is good. My hob was pretty grotty and Ecover’s power cleaner managed to stand up to that against a product that is seriously strong.

The final product I tested was the multi surface cleaner (which I tested against Flash One for All spray). Stupidly, I used the flash on the first day and wiped down the table without wearing rubber gloves. Within an hour, I had a sore red rash in between my fingers which immediately hacked me off so I switched to the Ecover and it has now been my go-to product for everything. I’ve used it to clean the bathroom, I’ve used it to clean the table and I used it in the car to clean up after Erica spewed everywhere last week. In cleaning terms I found I preferred the Ecover immediately because it wasn’t irritating my skin but still getting the job at the same time.

So – I have to admit I’m surprised. I was worried about writing this review because I thought if I was honest and the product was crap that a) People that read this blog would stop buying eco-friendly products and b) Ecover’s PR people would send a hitman in an electric car to make my body into worm food. Luckily for me the Ecover range stood up to all the crap a family with four grotty kids and two less-than-tidy adults could throw at it. Would I recommend it? I’d do more than that – I’ve already replaced the multi surface cleaner and I’ll be moving over to an Ecover household. I do like it when I feel like an ethical and responsible consumer!

Ecover have kindly donated for a giveaway the complete set of the products tested by us. Please click here to enter.