Friday 27 November 2009

Fabulous Friday... The Interview ~ Mad about Bags

This week's Misi Crafter is Tracy from Mad about Bags... Wow, you really need to take a look at this ladies store, seriously stunning bags.



How did you get started in your particular craft and how long have you been doing it?


I've been crafting since I was a little girl, knitting, sewing, cross stitching and much more but I started making bags back in 2005 when i made a bag for my daughter Rachel -a pink parisian cat design complete with beads and marabou trim, I then started making them as gifts for her friends and it just went from there.

Are there any negative aspects to doing your craft and if there are how do you work around them?

Buying fabric/being given fabric - I just can't stop or say no, it doesn't stop at fabric unfortunately as i have cross stich kits, wool, buttons, and trims too. I think even if I lived to be 150 years old I'd still never finish all the projects that I have. I can't believe when I first got married I only had a couple of small boxes of fabrics and crafting materials. My solution to this problem was to have a workshop in the garden its huge 24"x12" but I've still managed to fill it to the rafters with fabric

What tips would you give to anyone thinking of starting your craft?


Buy an overlocker I love mine and it gives a professional finish to you bags (always remember though not to phone your husband whilst he is in a meeting and you're in the sewing machine shop to ask if you can buy said overlocker as while its a most important decision for you he's really not that bothered which one you buy)
Use good quality interfacings again these give your bags a smooth finish and a firm bottom!!!
Dedicate a room to your sewing that way you can start and finish when you have the time rather than having to pack away each time, and if that's not possible use the dining room table and eat off your lap!!!
Marry a very understanding man who doesn't mind you stealing his shed, filling your house with crafts and spending money on sewing machines and fabric!!!

How did you find Misi?
I was searching for UK based handmade websites and after hours of trawling the net found MISI and was hooked straight away.

What is your favourite item in your own Misi shop?

I love the Pink Ribbon Handbag - I've had this fabric for a little while and couldn't decide what to do with it, and then it was Breast Cancer Awareness month last month (Oct) so I teamed it with some hot pink fabric and made this bag.

What is your favourite shop on Misi (besides your own)?
oohh! that's really hard as there's so many fabulous shops to choose from
I've just had a look in my favourite shops and my top three would have to be
Badge the Badger
Rosy Tint
and Katianne
but if I had to choose one it would be Rosy Tint as I've bought a couple of knitted toys from Rachael and they're just fantastic.




Random Facts about you:

What is your favourite season?
I love the Autumn when all the leaves turn golden

What is your ideal vacation?
New England in the Fall (autumn)

What is your favourite chocolate?

I'm a white chocolate kinda gal, the milky bars are on me!!!!

What is your favourite colour?
green with red hair it couldn't be anything else!!!

What actor/actress would you NOT kick out of bed?
I always find these questions kind of hard as I've like films but not really in terms of who's in them just whether i like them or not but if I had to choose then it would probably be Kevin Kostner in the bodyguard

What is your favourite band/singer/type of music?

I like lots of different music and can't really say I have a favourite, as long as its got a catchy tune and good lyrics so that i can sing along (badly) then I'm happy.





Please stop by Tracy's shop ~ Mad about Bags. I'm sure you'll find something gorgeous for a friend, daughter, niece, granny...



xxx

Friday 20 November 2009

Fabulous Friday... The Interview ~ All that Glitters

Today's lovely Misi crafter is Shona from All that Glitters. Obviously you can probably tell from her shop name, Shona loves sparkly, glittery stuff ~ a woman after my own heart. Let's find out a little more about her...



How did you get started in your particular craft and how long have you been doing it?

My jewellery making began with Fimo back in the early 1990s. My poor suffering Mum still has some of the fetching fluorescent Christmas earrings and day-glow broaches I made. The colour pallet expanded in 2007 when I enrolled on a 6 week beginners jewellery evening course. Where I fell in love with jewellery making all over again.

Are there any negative aspects to doing your craft and if there are how do you work around them?

Chipped nail varnish and a small bank balance! Luckily the two things cancel each other out! Buy cheap nail varnish as you need to redo it quite often and then you have more money left to buy beads!!!!!!!!! (It doesn’t work like that at all! But as I have no will power to resist lovely beads I tell myself it does!)

What tips would you give to anyone thinking of starting your craft?

Give up dreaming of ever having nice nails again! Also go along to your local bead shop and sign up for a class. Bead shop people are usually madly passionate about beads and will try and help you as much as they can.

How did you find Misi?

I met Emma at a craft fair in December 2008 and signed up when I got home!

What is your favourite item in your own Misi shop?

The Brilliance Bracelet in Crystal Silver is one of my all time favourite things! It’s just so sparkly! I also love the teacup pin cushions. I only made them because I wanted one myself ;)

What is your favourite shop on Misi (besides your own)?

Now that is a difficult question!!! I love shops which have items which are a bit unusual. Anything sparkley usually also gets my attention!



Random Facts about you:

What is your favourite way to travel?

Train

What is your favourite chocolate?

Peanut M&Ms

What is your favourite time of day?

Late afternoon. I have no idea why! Maybe it’s because it’s the perfect time to eat cake?

What is your favourite website (besides Misi)?

I love Dooce.com (I’m going to go to America and steal Chuck!)

What is your all-time favourite movie?

Beetlejuice or Jack & Sarah or Lilo & Stitch – a bit of a selection there!

What actor/actress would you NOT kick out of bed?

Alan Davies, Wentworth Miller or Seth Grogan! Got to keep my options open



Thank you so much for chatting to us Shona. For more of Shona's glittery creations, take a peek at her Misi shop All that Glitters


Helen
xxx

Friday 13 November 2009

Fabulous Friday... The Interview ~ LoobyCrafts

Misi crafter of the week... Louise from Looby Crafts.
Welcome, let's learn a little bit about Louise.


How did you get started in your particular craft and how long have you been doing it?

5 years ago my OH suggested we make our own Christmas cards, so we trundled off to Hobbycraft, bought some stuff and settled down at the dining table. Well he made 1 card and was bored, where as I was completely hooked and sat there all day! It’s just grown from there really – one small box of stuff to a whole room full!

Are there any negative aspects to doing your craft and if there are how do you work around them?

Not really, the biggest thing is having so many ideas in my head and not enough time to get them all done – so I make myself lots of lists!

What tips would you give to anyone thinking of starting your craft?

Just play around and experiment! Don’t get hung up on if your stuff is as good as other peoples’ etc. Just find your own style and embrace it – the whole point of a hobby such as papercrafting is to ENJOY it!

How did you find Misi?

Last November I did my first ever craft fair and I did so well I came home all fired up and googled “sell handmade” and there was MISI! I loved the look of the site so I registered and Looby Crafts was born!

What is your favourite item in your own Misi shop?

It would have to be this desk tidy, I don’t normally get too attached to the things I make, but I wouldn’t be too sad if this didn’t sell!

What is your favourite shop on Misi (besides your own)?

I can’t possibly choose just one! There are so many talented people on MISI, but I would have to say Sprinkles Sparkles for fabulous jewellery and accessories, Carolyn's Creations for personalised embroidery and The Pink Fairy Cake for all sorts of wonderful stuff!


Random Facts about you:

What is your favourite time of day?

I am so not a morning person! So definitely about 10pm, sitting in my craft room creating and watching a DVD – bliss!

What is your favourite chocolate?

Definitely a Wispa – so glad they brought those back!

What is your favourite colour?

PINK!

What is your all-time favourite movie?

Gone in 60 seconds

What actor/actress would you NOT kick out of bed?

David Boreanaz – swoon!

How many DVDs do you have?

Embarrassingly far too many to count, but probably around 400




Thank you Louise. Louise's shop is Looby Crafts, go over to Misi and take a look at more of this talented crafter's work.


Helen
xxx

Friday 6 November 2009

Fabulous Friday... The Interview ~ Sprinkles Sparkles

This Friday we have a sparkly lady named Avril and her store Sprinkles Sparkles.



How did you get started in your particular craft and how long have you been doing it?
I started out by making key rings, which I would hand out to my friends and relatives as little gifts. That’s where the obsession started!
I would pop into the local bead shop, buying glass beads that were bright and colourful, where I then made my first pair of earrings!

I have been making jewellery for four years and beaded accessories about six months.


Are there any negative aspects to doing your craft and if there are how do you work around them?
Making jewellery can be very expensive, if you don’t limit yourself to a budget. I have learnt my lesson to only buy what I need, when I need it! I can then spend more money on booking craft and trade fairs, that I absolutely love doing.


What tips would you give to anyone thinking of starting your craft?
Do your research!
Go online, pick up books from the library about beading or buy magazines. Find out what interests you, like bead jewellery for example then find out about the tools you will need, the beading wire that you will be using, and how much it’s all going to cost you!


How did you find Misi?
I found out about MISI while browsing a fellow crafters website! I saw the link at the bottom of the page, clicked it, and signed up to MISI almost immediately!


What is your favourite item in your own Misi shop?
It has to be my ‘Fairies in the Garden Bracelet’. It’s very bright and colourful, made from glass, hematite stars, coloured freshwater pearls with a huge blue glass heart, with a hanging fairy charm.


What is your favourite shop on Misi (besides your own)?
It has be Looby Crafts! Her work is fantastic. Not only that, but Louise welcomes commissions through her shop. I have had a fair few bespoke cards made by Lou, and they have all been fabulous!






Random Facts about you:



What is your favourite place to visit?
It has to be my childhood holiday town of Burnham-on-sea, in Somerset. It’s about an hours drive from Bath, on a good day! We try to get down there as often as possible, just spending the day down there walking along the road by the beach (I don’t like sand!), browsing the shops, eating ice cream, and going to the arcade to spend my 2p’s!


What is your favourite chocolate?

Easy! It’s got to be Maltersers!


What is your favourite time of day?
Just after my evening meal! When it’s getting dark, then ‘pop’…. the wine bottle is open!


What is your favourite website (besides Misi)?
I have so many!
But at the moment it has to be Creative Connections. I can easily spend the day chatting away to my crafting comrades, and checking out everyone’s new makes of the day!


What actor/actress would you NOT kick out of bed?
Haha!
Thanks Helen for this question…. But it has to be Jude Law! Phwooooor!


What is your all-time favourite movie?
Can I have 2?
I love Titanic, and The Holiday! I cannot remember how many times I have watched both of them! Maybe too many!



Thanks for chatting to us, Av. Go and have a nosy around Sprinkles Sparkles ~ beautiful stuff.


Helen
xxx