Hello Everyone! it's finally Friday, and today, I have an awesome artist to present, who is full of colour and great energy. Emma is a knitter, jewellery maker, cross stitcher and MORE! She is a living example of unlimited possibilities. You don't only have to be good at one thing to stand out and start a shop, you can try everything! She is the owner and maker of The Candy Tree 125.
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| Hi Emma! |
I bought a pair of handmade earrings online many years ago and decided to give it a go myself. From there I taught myself how to make earrings, bracelets and necklaces and especially loved to use glass beads and freshwater blister pearls for their vibrant colours. I created my own website to try to sell my designs, but with little knowledge of marketing and SEO, I didn’t receive a lot of traffic. However a couple of years later I discovered Etsy and decided to set up shop. It made sense to use an established site which was already bringing in a lot of traffic – all I had to do was learn to market myself!
I’ve always had a crafty nature and decided I also wanted to give knitting a go. With the help of my mum I started to knit scarves and as time went on the patterns I used became more complex as I built up my skills.
My next craft after that was cross stitch and I found it very therapeutic to stitch up designs I’d bought – the natural next step for me was to create my own patterns to stitch and sell. I have also combined two crafts to create cross stitch earrings!
I also dabbled with patchwork and created a limited range of mini patchwork cushions which are perfect for brightening up the room or even sitting in the back seat of the car!
2. What inspires you? Is there a special place that you like to go to get inspired? What is it? Any favorite galleries or exhibits that inspire you?
I am inspired by colour and nature – especially trees. I like to go walking through the countryside and this often inspires me to try a certain colour of yarn depending on the season. I also gain inspiration from crafty magazines and blogs.
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| find item here |
Supporter may be the wrong word but my partner certainly puts up with my craft! We currently rent a small bungalow and my various crafts require a lot of materials – so I have taken over more than my fair share of the space! Saying that, he always congratulates me when I make a sale J
4. Are you part of a crafting group?
I’m not part of a crafting group – working full time and then running my Etsy shop in the evenings and weekends (which feels like another full time job!) means that even if there was a group in my area, I would struggle to make time. However, having my shop on Etsy feels like I’m part of a crafting group as there is a wonderful community feel and plenty of help and support whenever I need it.
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| this item is on sale here |
As a multicrafter I go through phases of what I enjoy making the most at any one time, but at the moment I love knitting – especially cabled scarves which involve a more complex pattern. My best seller is my Green Ruffle Scarf- probably because it’s a wonderful colour and full of layered texture.
6. What is the story behind your name choice?
I studied illustration at college and created a drawing of a tree trunk with a lollipop on top, and named it The Candy Tree. When I started crafting, this name seemed to tie in well with my love of colour and nature, and my beaded jewellery seemed to look “good enough to eat” – so it all seemed to fit!
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| find item here |
I love going on walks in the countryside and sitting in a nice bar with friends and a big glass of wine! Other than that, crafting is what I do for fun – even a lazy night in front of the TV will be spent knitting or cross stitching.
8. Do you have a crafty room?
Unfortunately not at the moment, however one day I would love to have a spare room dedicated to my crafts. For one thing I would be able to keep all of my materials contained in the one place! My ideal crafty room would be light, airy, colourful and comfy. I would love to have a big bookcase full of materials and pin boards filled with inspiration.
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| find this fabric ring here |
My friends, family and colleagues keep up with my shop through Facebook and I sometimes send a cheeky email round the office on the run up to Christmas – this gave me a lot of sales and success last year. Saying that, I’m not very good at promoting myself in person and think I prefer selling online as I can hide behind my computer!
10. Do you have any tips for people who want to start making their hobby into their business?
When I first opened my Etsy shop I only listed a handful of things to see if anything would sell, before making a heavier financial commitment. Although it can be a good idea to test the waters and take time to set up your shop, take good photos and get your policies in order, I didn’t see much success until I started filling up my shop. The more listings you have – the more you will be seen. It will take time, effort and money to get your business off the ground – but it is definitely worth it in the end!
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| find item here |
Make sure you follow Emma and her shop The Candy Tree, for more fantastic designs, and colourful gifts:
Website/Blog
Etsy shop
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