Interior design inspiration at liberty

Liberty - full review here - is full of inspiration especially on the interior design front. The design of the place itself is worth looking. The setup of their furniture and decor section is also laid out nicely. Here is a short post that gives you a little interior design inspiration. 

The arranged frames of various sizes and illustrations is a cool idea for any wall in the living room, the office room or the corridors. 

I liked the mix of shabby chic and vintage pieces with the ceiling arches. 

The paper looking ceiling lights give the space a contemporary look. 

House of Hackney - full review here - had their own little corner there and their still is very distinctive and adds a rich feel to the place. 

There was an injection of colour in the crafts section that reminded me of interior design colour palettes 

finger licking colours

The colour combination of black and white, yellow and small pops of red is trendy and adds a mysterious feel to the space. I like how they pulled it together.  

The spring paper flowers and the old tiled fire place are a cool example for bringing old and a new in a stylish way. 

Stuffed animal heads! a little scary, but at least these ones are made with fabric which makes it an interesting idea. 

Lots of pinks! 

fun and quirky wall clocks. 

More yummy colours that could make the space lively and brighter. 

and of course the 2014 main colour, MINT! with a touch of other pastels. 

Hope this post gets you inspired and gives you the kick you needed to start your interior design project!  

Feature Friday: GoHeyJudy

Yay Friday Feature time again! and this week I have one adorable shop to share with you. It's full of really cute handmade dolls, and an even cutter start up story. It is a mix of imagination, childhood memory and determination. read on! 

find item here

Tell us a little bit about your shop, how did you start? How did you learn your craft? Why did you start? What do you sell?

Well first of all, I want to say thank you for this interview!  What a great opportunity!  I'm very appreciative.  

The seeds for the idea of GoHeyJudy were planted around 2004 or so when my eldest daughter came home from preschool with the most adorable drawing she had done during class that day.  Now granted I'm "the mommy" so my opinion is rather biased, but there was something about this little picture that ignited a spark I couldn't quite - at the time - put my finger on.  It was this little pink girl with no body, a rather large pointy head, and the most awkward yet endearing smile. To top it off, she had these large hands with large fingertips dotted in pink polka dots.  It was immediately drawn to it so I placed it in a dresser drawer of mine to be marvelled at from time to time all the why saying to myself, "This is something, but what?" I just didn't know.

find item here

If I may backtrack, when I was a small child my father would, at bedtime, orate "The Judy Stories" to me which were about a girl who got into the most adventurous yet believable antics. They were of his own creation - off the top of his head - and absolutely hilarious. I would beg for them nightly until he relented but found myself visiting "the potty" on numerous occasions so as not to dampen the pyjamas. This would, of course, wind me up so that bedtime was always far too late much to my mother's chagrin as we often ran on the Naval Clock. I'm so glad she relented nightly as he passed suddenly when I was ten. I only wish he had taken the time to write those stories down.

One day a I pulled out that little drawing my daughter had done and the idea hit me like a velvet GloveSmack. I said, "Hey!  This is JUDY!!!"  I realized at that point that this was the character I had envisioned nightly as a child and set to work on making her into a doll although I hedged.  I originally started with a very VERY big doll which was, for some reason, almost life-sized.  I also reached out to numerous artisans as well as manufacturers in order to have the doll produced for a mass market.  Nothing worked.  Nothing seemed to fit.  The prototypes were abysmal as my ideas simply weren't translating to a final product.  In the meantime, I refused to be deterred and went about the legal process of forming a business and establishing copyrights and trademarks.  It's now around 2009 when my landlady, a fine artist proper, said to me, "No.  See? This is small.  Look at the picture.  She's small."  At that point the lightbulb went off and realized she was exactly right and that if I was going to see this project through the way it needed to be done, I would simply have to do it myself so I re-learned how to 

sew along with re-learning how to embroider and set to work on creating her from my kitchen table.  As someone said to me from the beginning, "She's not for everybody, now is she?" At first I was a little disheartened, but took that as my cue to run with something different. If I was going to do this, why on earth would I want to copy what's already been done?

This also took some time as I wanted to ensure I would be putting forth a quality product.  Besides that I just couldn't get those limbs right!  I finally came up with something I'm more than pleased with, is definitely different and quirky which is what I wanted, and then set out to sell her to Brick & Mortars, but by that time it was severe unemployment and those B&M's closing by the dozens.  One of my lovely local shop owners suggested I try Etsy which I'd never heard of, went home, GoogleStalked it, and jumped right in. That's how it all began!  I decided at that point to simply wing it for lack of a better term.  Everything at that point fell right into place from the name, to the shop name, to the hats, and the product titles along with Judy's name, calling them "Little Charmers" and her tag line of "She's all you imagine."  

I LOVE this one with the spun hair, how unique, find it here

What inspires you? Is there a special place the you like to go to get inspired? What is it? Any favorite galleries or exhibits that inspire you?

My children are my biggest inspiration.They're amazing with their creativity and energy and can always be counted on to keep me on path when I veer off-track toward the more mainstream which isn't what Hey, Judy! is about.  My girls are at two ends of the spectrum, however, so it's a wonderful balance between the three of us. My eldest daughter is, after all, the original creator of the image so I take what she says to heart. My blog is another one of my biggest inspirations or rather my readers. They're a daily jolt of humor of honesty, and I have had the distinct privilege of getting to know them. They're an amazing group of people and are my

motivation to jump out of bed and get the daily post up so that it's readable for those overseas.  I love hearing they look forward to the three minute morning with their first cup of coffee. It doesn't get any better than that. It motivates me to improve daily on all levels. Not just for my product. They're also my best customers.  I am so appreciative of them. Words cannot express just how much.  They're my biggest supporters. I can't imagine life prior to them all anymore.  What started off as a whim with the blog in 2011 has taken on a life of it's own.  I love it.

find this lovely doll here

Are you part of a crafting group?

I'm not as I've never considered myself a crafter or artist as they say.  My prior career was refurbishing houses and did that for 20 years before abruptly leaving the market on purpose at the beginning of 2006 to which people 

thought I was a little nuts.  I doubt I would have much to contribute in a crafting group format.  I'm also more of an introvert with very limited time so socializing is just not on my radar screen at the moment.  Unfortunately.  

What do you enjoy making the most?

Anything crazy or offbeat.  The more conceptual the better as far as I'm concerned.  LOL.  I especially enjoy throwing literary references into the titles and descriptions which has a propensity to harm me as far as the search

engines are concerned, but I sure do have fun with it.  It makes my day when I get an email or a tweet or other commentary saying how much someone has just ROFL'd reading and/or getting it.  it's the best feeling.  Besides a sale.  

My two favorite "Little Charmers" are probably "Back In Seattle Again" along with "Ariel Maneuvers" which I'm sold out of for now.  I need to get working on that as I've redesigned her.

find this fun and upbeat doll here

What do you do for fun?

There just aren't enough hours in the day - or funds -  for the amount of fun I want to have such as travel to all the ancient sites I've only read about.  I'll start with that!  I'm a prolific reader of all things ranging from Ancient Alien theory and ancient history, to politics and finance. I run the gamut. Creating my dolls and the blog are huge sources of fun for me, but any spare chance I have I sit down with my bass guitars or the keyboards and will get lost in music for sometimes twelve hours at a time. I'm looking forward to getting into housing again but am waiting until the time is right. I just finished the first Judy Story. That was fun to write.  It's off to the editor tomorrow.

Do you have a crafty room?

I don't even have a music room right now as we've just moved into temporary digs.  We're awfully cramped, but if I had a studio, it would look like this.  Definitely.

the perfect studio vision

Do you have any tips for people who want to start making their hobby into their business?

I'm not sure if I have any tried and true tips for newbies as I consider myself one, but I will say that the most valuable lesson I've ever learned in any business venture is to listen to and only to the people who are a success and whose lives and success you wish to emulate in theory. I stick to this and value it mightily as everything else would be hot air.  It's one thing to learn from someone who has failed at something - haven't we all! - and to learn from their and our own mistakes, but we often run the risk of taking these mistakes to heart and convincing ourselves through negative talk that we're practically guaranteed to fail especially if you're trying to do something a little different. I enjoy constructive and informative criticism such as my learning Hey, Judy! needed to be small and I was on the wrong track. It's another when you try to emulate what others have done or are doing. That's a surefire failure in my humble opinion.  

I would also say that moving from a career in housing to selling a retail product online has been one heck of a learning curve.  It's been both challenging and enlightening.  I'm so glad I jumped in as there are things I've learned I would have never even considered had I not done this such as changing the hair for Hey, Judy. I didn't know, for example, that people actually could spin their own yarn at home which I found amazing!  Had I not jumped in I would have never discovered that and adapted the dolls.  I think determination in anything is key along with a willingness to stick to your guns - along with smarts and wisdom to know what's not working - and go for it but realize you're going to have to put in the hours.  I can't remember the last time I slept.  There just isn't enough time to balance all I want to accomplish so I'll just have to grow at a sensible and conservative pace until I can.  At times I think I should have studied the market a little more before opening the Etsy shop and learned more about SEO and photography prior to that, but in retrospect sometimes I think perhaps not.  It's a personality quirk of mine.  No one way works for everybody.  Microsoft isn't Apple and vice versa.  You just have to find that niche, and do what you love.  If you don't love it, don't bother doing it.  It's the best way to stay on track with anything you ever want to tackle in life.  It really is that simple.  That was the hardest lesson to learn but the well worth it.

find it here

wow,, I really enjoyed this feature! and the tips are very valuable,, I hope it inspired you all and fuelled your creativity for the weekend! :)

Keep in touch with GoHeyJudy through her links! 

Main Website

Etsy shop

Blog

Twitter @GoHeyJudy

Feature Friday: WellRavelled

Happy Friday! 

This week I am featuring a fellow crocheter, Melissa. It is always nice to meet other crocheters and their fabulous designs. She has ready made products, and crochet patterns in her Etsy shop WellRavelled. She has a lovely range from infinity scarves to hats and many creations in between. 

Melissa crocheting

1. Tell us a little bit about your shop; how did you start? How did you learn your craft? Why did you start? What do you sell?

I started crocheting in 2009, when a new friend introduced me to it. Before long, it was impossible for me to sit anywhere without my hands busily working!  I decided to start my shop in 2011 because I didn't know what else to do with all of my creations.  I never dreamed it would become a full-time business.

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?When I'm feeling uninspired, I love browsing the treasuries on Etsy. They remind me of the beautiful items that human hands can create, and how we can tell a story through handmade items.

lace collar here

3. Who is the biggest supporter of your craft/Art & business?Without question, my husband Kyle has been unfailingly supportive since Day One.  Not only does he do the photography for my shop, but he spends his time on weekends helping me buy, organize, and inventory my yarns. That's real love!

4. Are you part of a crafting group?
I'm not, and it's honestly because I don't have the time! But one of my goals this year is to learn to knit, so I'm considering finding a local group to help me take on the challenge.

5. What do you enjoy making the most? 

My passion is big, big, BIG scarves. There's nothing cozier than a soft, luxurious, enormous scarf. Unfortunately I live in a tropical climate, so I only get to wear them when I model for my shop!

find this awesome cowl here

6. What do you like to do for fun?I am absolutely in love with Tampa, so our favorite activity is to leash up the dogs for a walk, and explore! We enjoy seeing new neighborhoods, parks, and beaches.  There are so many beautiful places waiting to be discovered.
7. Do you have a crafty room? 
I don't have the space for one in our current house, but I often dream of what my future room will look like! I want wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling open shelving for my yarn. When I walk into the room, I will be greeted with yarn in every color of the rainbow.

find this pompom hat here

8. Do you have any tips for people who want to start making their hobby into their business? 
Hobbies are fun, but a business is work. Sometimes, you have to forget about what you love making, and focus on what sells. And if it sells, you need to keep making it 5, 10, or 100 times in a row, even when you're tired of it.  My business is hands-down the most fun and rewarding job I've ever had, but this is also the hardest I've ever worked!

Thank you Melissa! that's a great tip and great answers!

keep in touch with Melissa and her cozy pieces through these links:

Etsy
Facebook
Pinterest 

Feature Friday: Fairy Shadow

Good morning everyone and happy Friday! wow this past week was so short! I wish all weeks had a four day weekend! :D Hope everyone is ready to rock this coming weekend.

Today, I will present a hair accessories designer, Tania Prosser, who uses upcycled fabrics to create her lovely pieces. So not only to beautify the hair, but to keep this Earth lovely too. She is the brains and the hands behind Fairy Shadow. She also has a very touching story that encouraged her to open her shop, read on and find out!

Hi Tania

1. Tell us a little bit about your shop; how did you start? How did you learn your craft? Why did you start? What do you sell?

I have been a handworker since my teens, first making quilts inspired  by my great grandmother’s work and then making waldorf inspired natural fiber dolls that I sold through a small mail order
catalog business with my sister. I sell a line of floral hair accessories  that are made from recycled t-shirts made in bright cheery colors as well as a few dolls also using upcycled fabric. In addition to
Fairy Shadow, I wholesale my work to small boutiques and do local craft shows.
I opened my Etsy shop, Fairy Shadow, shortly after my sixteen year old daughter successfully completed treatment for cancer. I needed find another income stream to help pay our medical expenses
and an Etsy shop is very simple to set up. It has been an educational experience. Setting up shop was simple but making it viable is as much work as any other aspect of business.

some of the upcycled fabric Tania uses

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 find inspiration in my garden. Gardens are amazing teachers. One learns that things don’t always turn out as planned but not all surprises are unpleasant. I am in awe of the compost heap, that it
takes the wastes of the garden and transforms them into wealth for the soil. This is what I want to accomplish when I work with upcycled textiles, to turn cast-offs into beautiful new things that
enrich my life and make people smile. I want people to see first the beauty of the flowers I make and then be pleasantly surprised that they are make from reclaimed materials.

3. Who is the biggest supporter of your craft/Art & business?

My biggest supporter is my husband. He is ready to help when I need him and is very tolerate of my collection of “material” which as taken over a large portion of our storage space.

yellow headband, find it here

4. Are you part of a crafting group?

I have been a part of a small co-op in the last year. We have shared booths at a couple of local fairs and we support each other in promoting our businesses. We hosted a children’s crafted corner at
regional event as part of an outreach to our community, which was very successful.

5. What do you enjoy making the most?

I love making my flowers. I harvest t-shirts from charity shops, sorting out textiles with rich color and good texture to build blossoms from. It is so pleasing to find just the right color combinations and to have a stunning flowerbed spread across the worktable at the end of the day.

Flower Ponytail Tie, find it here

 6. What do you like to do for fun?


I spend time with my husband and two daughters. We enjoy playing at the ocean and trips to San Francisco, 60 miles to the south, to take in a little culture. When last we were there we visited the
Asian Art Museum and had lunch in Japan Town.

7. Do you have a crafty room? 

I don’t have a crafty room. I have a spot in the attic for my supplies but it is too cold to work there. I tell folks I am a kitchen table crafter and you should never let lack of a designated space stop
you from being a creative person. I enjoy being in the thick of family life and have always wanted my children to see how to get a job done and all the messes that go along with it.

8. Do you have any tips for people who want to start making their hobby into their business?

The best advice I can give is to begin. So many people find reasons not to, building barriers to stop themselves. You don’t have to be big all at once. Find a venue that feels manageable and be brave
and begin.

gorgeous girls headband, find it here

Keep in touch with Tania and be updated with latest news from Fairy Shadow by the following these links:

Website

Etsy

Facebook

Pinterest 

Feature Friday: Alex's Canvas

Greetings Creative World! 

Hope you all had a creative week! mine just went by SO fast, I can't even believe it is Friday! I still got many projects to do and work on :O too much work, so little time. Enough about me!

Today, I am presenting Alex's Canvas, a painter from Greece, who makes the cutest personalised canvasses. Over to Alex,,

  

1. Tell us a little bit about your shop; how did you start? How did you learn your craft? Why did you start? What do you sell?

I sell original paintings for the nursery, birth canvases and personalised /custom paintings for kids and grown-ups. I create my pieces the old-fashioned way: it's just me, my brushes and my paints from beginning to end (no print-on-canvas stuff). I've been drawing and painting ever since I can remember myself, so it's what comes natural to me! My mother is a self-taught artist and I used to watch her paint in our balcony when I was a kid. There's nothing more mesmerizing then colours being mixed in order to produce entirely new shades... And a rough sketch slowly taking an almost 3D shape in front of your eyes! People and animals were always my favourite subjects -I was known at my primary school for making portraits- though sometimes I would paint landscapes too.

I knew from very -very early on that I would paint my whole life, so it made sense that I would study fine art, rather than anything else. I trained in charcoal, oil and acrylic nudes and landscapes for a year, in an art school in Athens, and then I moved to Bristol, UK, where I studied for a BA degree in Fine Art. After I graduated and returned back home, though, the jobs awaiting for me had little to do with my studies. They offered wonderful experiences, however! So, fast forward almost a decade -during which I paint mainly for myself and few selected friends- I find myself married with a child, living in a farm (oh yes!), having just resigned from a kick-butt job as editor in Chief of a well-known magazine in the city.

Once I settled into motherhood, I start to feel restless, I turn our conservatory into a studio and begin to paint more regularly. And then, one day, a friend asks for a “birth certificate” canvas. A painting that would capture the name and birth stats of her daughter. That was the first one I ever made and from then on, Alex's Canvas took off! I set up a facebook page, opened a shop in Etsy, amongst wonderful artists and crafters, and have now regular sales (most of them off Etsy, as my shop there is quite new). I mostly make nursery paintings, personalised art for children and birth canvases of different sizes and shapes (my mini triangles are a big hit!). However, I've also had customers commissioning other kinds of paintings from me, such as personalised home “signs” and fine art paintings with their own personalisation on. I absolutely love making all kinds of custom and personalised paintings, whether it's for little ones or grown ups. It's magical!

Find item here

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? 

Nature and everyday life provide a great deal of inspiration for me. My studio is actually a tiny conservatory with glass all around, allowing me to look at endless green fields (and -occasionally- sheep!) while I paint! We have hedgehogs and turtles around, as well as a family of owls which I like to spy on in the evenings. Animals at the local zoo are also a great inspiration. So is travelling: new places, new colours and change of scenery often give birth to a new idea for a theme or colour combination. Last but not least, there's the museums and galleries, the big ones around the world with artwork you are in awe of, but also those cute little galleries in some remote Greek island – a small haven of wonderful art when you least expect it! If I have to be totally honest, though, life itself is where I get the biggest part of my inspiration from. One of my little boy's toys. A phrase in one of his storybooks. A cute photograph of a baby seal in a magazine. Anything that sticks to my mind and makes me obsess about it, until I take my brushes and paint it on a canvas!

3. Who is the biggest supporter of your craft/Art & business? 

I have to say my husband (without his support and understanding it would be impossible to find any time to paint), my mother (who is my biggest fan) and my 2 year old son, who gets totally excited when he sees my canvases and has a habit of blowing kisses to his favourite ones!

How cute is this! Find item here

4. Are you part of a crafting group? 

I recently became part of Etsy, an amazing global community of artists whose creativity can blow your mind! And I'm really happy to be a small part of it, and of some great teams on there!

5. What do you enjoy making the most?  

Hmm... I feel like I have to choose between my “children” and I can't really answer that! I love painting for small babies that just came into this world, but painting for older kids and grown-ups is great fun too! Theme-wise, I go through periods of falling in love with a specific kind of animal, colour or motif, till a new one sweeps me off my feet! Currently I'm loving woodland creatures, owls, foxes, hedgehogs, the lot, but I'm also preparing a new “line” of some other pretty cute creatures that children love. Stay tuned, they are coming very soon!

I LOVE the big eyes <3 find item here

6. What do you like to do for fun?

Painting is what I do for fun- I'm just incredibly lucky and thankful that I get paid for it! And, of course, spending time with my family, whenever that is possible. There's probably nothing better in this world than the three of us hanging out, at home or at the seaside. I also tend to spend quite a bit of time on the internet, keeping in touch with the world “out” there (you know, the one away from diapers, green fields and the sound of sea). Oh, and I love watching Modern Family. There, I said it!

7. Do you have a crafty room? 

Yes. It's a very tiny space at the moment, but does the trick for now. I love the view so I can't complain.

8. Do you have any tips for people who want to start making their hobby into their business? 

Oh, I don't think I'm the one to give advice as it's only just recently that I turned my passion into my business. The only thing I can think of is a big cliché, but obviously there is a good reason it became one: Believe in what you do. It's very easy to start doubting yourself -especially at the beginning- but it's so important that you don't give up. If you don't believe in yourself, who's going to do it for you?

Oh, and if you work from home (like lots of hobbyists -turned- into- business people do), try to establish a clear schedule of working times. Otherwise you may end up working 24/7 (neglecting all other areas in your life) or you could end up slacking, as there is no boss to crack the whip.

Make sure to checkout Alex's Etsy shop and FB page for more awesome paintings! 

Etsyshop

Facebookpage

Feature Friday: WoodsyWools

Today is really awesome I decided that we need double the inspiration, so here's another feature, and it's for OWL lovers (MEEEE!) It's a gorgeous American handmade shop with lots of adorable owls (I am dying to buy them all!), say hello to WoodsyWools!

find it here

1.Tell us a little bit about your shop; how did you start? How did you learn your craft? Why did you start? What do you sell?
WoodsyWools is my on-line collection of little hand knitted owls. Each owl is one of a kind and knit with lots of love. My shop was really born out of my love for giving handmade gifts to my loved ones. One year, I added a little owl to all of my Christmas gifts, and everyone loved them! So, these little hoots became my favorite way to add some cheer to someone’s day. My knitting craft all began a few years ago when my grandmother taught me the ‘basic’ knitting stitch. From that point, I self-taught the rest. After a good year of knitting too many ‘baby’ blankets for my sweet tuxedo kitty, I came up with my owls. I don’t knit from patterns, so there was a little trial and error before I produced an owl that resembled what I was picturing in my mind. Knitting free-hand without patterns has really allowed more room for the creative process. I also hope that this technique keeps my hoots all looking unique! I always attached the heart buttons and called them ‘love owls’ because what I wanted most was for the recipient to feel loved! It was really the positive
response from family and friends that led me to open my shop on Etsy. Over the years my owls have evolved, and I get so much creative satisfaction in this process. I love to come up with new ideas for them.

find this  couple here

2. What are the main uses for your gorgeous owls?
These little hoots are so happy to nestle on book shelves, mantels, bedside tables, anywhere one might desire. They are so warm and cozy to hold and make a perfect little gift of love…a great way to warm up someone’s day!
3. 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 highly inspired in general by nature and my love for animals. A walk outside, listening to the birds is a wonderful way for me to clear my mind and get the creative juices flowing! Sometimes new ideas will pop up late in the night, just before I nod off to sleep. I am also simply inspired by my collection of yarns and buttons. I find that just looking through my supplies, I come up with new ideas and yarn combinations.

find this owl here

4. Who is the biggest supporter of your craft/Art & business?
My friends and family are a huge support. They are always encouraging me to find new ways to ‘grow’ my little business.
5. Are you part of a crafting group?
I am not part of a crafting group at this time. I do envision this in my future someday when I have more free time to devote.
6. What do you enjoy making the most?
My little owls. I get so much satisfaction from start to finish with each one. I really love to make them!

how can you resist these eyes! find it here

7. What do you like to do for fun?
I love to walk outside, and observe the beauty in nature. I also enjoy painting, cooking, and getting together for coffee or dinner with friends and family as often as possible. Of course I find great enjoyment in my craft!
8. Do you have a crafty room?
No I don’t have a room. However, my dining room table has been fully devoted to my craft for about a year now. Dinners are eaten at my coffee table in my living room! I sit on a giant yoga ball, and I have even moved some storage pieces into my dining room to accommodate my craft. So perhaps this IS my crafty room after all. I would love to have a room with more space. More work tables and storage. A place to really let the ‘mess’ of creativity go. I am always tidying up my dining table!

get it here

9. How do you find selling offline? How is it in comparison with selling online?
I don’t have a lot of experience selling offline, other than a couple B&M shops that I wholesale to. I think being able to sell online is wonderful. I mostly love the fact that I have a world-wide audience to sell to. I have shipped my little owls all over the world!
10. Do you have any tips for people who want to start making their hobby into their business?
Yes. If you have creative talent, and you find something that you like to produce, just go for it! It is so easy now to set up shop on the internet. In my opinion, Etsy is a great host website to get started. Just be aware that it does take time and work to run your business no matter what it is. And not everyone is an overnight or even an over many years success. I am still working my day job, but the bits of extra money I earn selling my owls is quite satisfying!

Make sure you checkout WoodsyWools shop for more gorgeous owls <3

Feature Friday: The Candy Tree 125

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. 

Hi Emma!

1. I see a lovely mix of different types of products in your shop, tell us more about it, and tell us how your shop started! how did you start? How did you learn your craft? Why did you start? What do you sell?
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.

find item here

3. Who is the biggest supporter of your craft/Art & business?
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.

this item is on sale here

5. What do you enjoy making the most? & what is your best seller?
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!

find item here

7. What do you like to do for fun?
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.

find this fabric ring here

9. How do you find selling offline? How is it in comparison with selling online? 
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!

find item here

Make sure you follow Emma and her shop The Candy Tree, for more fantastic designs, and colourful gifts:

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Etsy shop 
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