Friday 28 August 2009

Fabulous Friday... The Interview ~ Talking Beads

This Friday's Fabulous crafter is Jean from Talking Beads...



How did you get started in your particular craft and how long have you been doing it?
I booked to go to a craft retreat in Devon 8 years ago and I was taught how to make a single spiral bracelet, I then taught it to two of my two friends and that is how we started Three Jays Beading. Last year Three Jays ran out of steam and so Janice and I started Talking Beads. My husband came up with the name as ‘that it all you two ever talk about’ . Talking Beads is seed beading and large feature beads, pearls and crystals.

Are there any negative aspects to doing your craft and if there are how do you work around them?
No negatives really, except the cost! We are devils at going out for a few beads to finish off an idea but before we know it the bill can be nearly £100 between two of us. The other side is the inspiration. Sometimes we sit in front of our respective beads boxes (yes, plural) and nothing works. I can make and unpick beads all day and not make anything worth keeping. Other days the beads almost jump together onto the mat and arrange themselves. So, the negatives are always turned into positives. Luckily we both have day jobs and husbands to pay the bills.

What tips would you give to anyone thinking of starting your craft?
Go slowly and listen to advice. We rushed in and bought everything in StitchnCraft because we thought we needed it. For seed beading you really do only need either one of our kits (plug-shameless) which will include all of the materials you need, or go online for a free pattern and then just go and buy the ingredients list from the pattern. Join a beading group to learn new stitches and tricks of the trade. Buy as few books as you can in the first year. The best one we found was the Bead Workers Guild Bracelet Book. After a short while you will know if you like it or not. By the way, we always tell our pupils that the first inch is the worst, in any stitch. Seed beading is VERY fiddly and until you have the first inch or so it is hard to get the tension right as you have nothing to hold onto. Main advice is buy little and go to a group. The large crimping beads we also use, the advice is the same, go to a class and buy for a project. Otherwise it is costly and you buy a lot of beads you do not need.

How did you find Misi?
Emma sent me an email, I was so excited, I don’t know how she found me. I have picked up a lot of useful advice from girls on the forums and bought some lovely items.

What is your favourite item in your own Misi shop?
This Red Coral... Janice, who is the other half of Talking Beads, made this and I think it is fabulous. If it is not sold by the beginning of Dec it may have to go off to Australia for my daughter’s mother-in-law. It is just her sort of thing. (if it does sell, we have another stunner for her, so feel free to buy it!)

What is your favourite shop on Misi (besides your own)?
Can I have two, Hennie and Little Scruffs. I have one of Jean’s bears, his name is Tomas and I want to cry whenever I look at him, he is so sweet. He is really for my grandaughter Alice, but as she is too little now he is living with me. Hennie has made an elephant for Alice and written a story to go with it.



Random Facts about you:

What is your favourite colour? Red

What is your favourite food? Can it be cake, most sorts

What is your favourite season? Spring, we live in Wiltshire and so the parks and gardens around here and the hedgerows are wonderful in the spring.

What is your favourite time of day? Morning, early. People you meet before 9 am are so much happier than the ones you meet after 9am

What is your favourite website (besides Misi)? Google News ( I only have enough room in my head for headlines!) and Emma Ralph ( I love her beads so much I can not bear to make them into jewellery, they are just GORGEOUS)

What is your favourite TV programme? At the moment, Dragons Den



Thank you for chatting with us Jean. Please visit Talking Beads and see some more of her gorgeous creations.

Helen
xxx

Friday 21 August 2009

Fabulous Friday... The Interview ~ Cutie Pie

Today's Misi Crafter is Michelle from Cutie Pie.



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

I've always loved making things. Every since I can remember, if I needed something, I would try to make it. I hoarded so much stuff when I was younger, fabric, ribbons, paper, stickers etc and I still do. My mum used to sew a lot and made most of my babies dresses herself, she encouraged me, showed me the basics and bought me a manual singer sewing machine for Christmas when I was about 8. I've still got it and am now teaching my daughter to use it. I decided to try and make some money after lots of my friends came to me if they needed things and kept telling me to sell what I make. So I took the plunge, found a name that suited and started to make.


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

Not having a dining room anymore!!! I've taken over it. In the summer its ok as we don't use it that much, but in the winter we have friends over and light a fire in there and I have to pack everything up and hide it somewhere. For the past year, when I've been making things for stock I've had my youngest at home with me, so having to entertain him and try to make things has been awkward at times, but he starts school in September, so hopefully I'll have more time for me.


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


Make sure its a passion of yours. Don't try and do something like this if you've not passion for it otherwise it will show in what you produce. If you love sewing & creating, then play, practice, make things for yourself and friends which will be seen by others and let it all grow from there. Don't ever worry about not being good enough, if people like what you do they will buy it. Sometimes we are too critical of our work, we forget that the buyer sees something they couldn't make themselves but really wants.


How did you find Misi?
A girl I used to go to school with is now a textiles teacher in a local school. I met her at a local craft fair and we got chatting. She had opened a shop, Handmade Perfection, and recommended Misi. So I looked MISI up and opened my shop in October I think??

What is your favourite item in your own Misi shop?
I think it would be the crochet jug cover. I made one for me, for my pimms, and thought it turned out rather well. So made some more, its lovely to see them taking shape as I don't use a pattern, they confuse me!!

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

Its hard to choose between Tinymoments - She makes fantastic, individual pieces or The pink fairy cake - She has in her shop, everything I wish I could do myself.




Random Facts about you:

What is your favourite colour? - Pink

What is your favourite food?
- Roast Beef

What is your favourite season?
- Winter, log fires and wooly jumpers

What is your favourite time of day? - night

What is your favourite website (besides Misi)? Girlguiding UK - I'm a Brown Owl too.

What is your favourite TV programme? - Harry Hill's TV burp.



Thank you for chatting to us Michelle. Go along to Michelle's Cutie Pie shop to see more of her beautiful creations...


Helen
xxx

Tuesday 18 August 2009

Random Misi Spots

There is a label at the top of the Misi page called "Handmade spots". Spots are a selection of items from across the store picked at random. There are 20 items per page and a refresh creates a completely new 20 items. I think most of us have spent a good few hours just cruising through the Spots, marking favourite items onto our wish lists. Well, that's what I did this morning. I'd like to share a few that caught my eye.

This funky ring from Jelly Belly Jewellery



A gorgeous t-shirt from The Pookey Boutique



Simple but stunning from Gem Jewelz



Handmade silk embroidered bag from Absolute Accessories



And finally Stress Relief Rag Dolls from Funny Banana



Hope you enjoyed my random finds...


Helen
xxx

Friday 14 August 2009

Fabulous Fridays... The Interview ~ Hennie

My plan is to interview a Misi crafter every week and post the interview up on a Friday ~ hence Fabulous Fridays...


Our first Misi Crafter is Hennie, an amazingly talented knitter and sewer (sewer being a person who sews, not a place that dirty water goes)
Hennie also writes enchanting stories for her story bags, worth a look...



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

I have been knitting and sewing since I was about 6. Almost 44 years now.OMG that's scary.

I taught myself to crochet about a year ago.

My grandmas were both crafters. One a knitter, the other a sewer, I think it's always been in my blood.

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

No negatives really, apart from not having enough time to put all my ideas into fruition. (I'd like to spend my time crafting and not a lot else lol) My head is full of ideas,my craft room full of supplies, but as soon as I complete one idea, a dozen more take it's place.

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

Have a go. If you can't knit or crochet, there are excellent teaching videos on the net. I have managed to teach over 100 children to knit and sew, it can't be that hard.lol
Sewing - start with a cushion, basically 2 squares same size. Put the squares, right side of fabric together, machine or hand stitch round 3 sides and ¾ of the fourth side. Turn the cushion right side out. Stuff (Pillow stuffing is okay for practising) Then sew up the gap.

How did you find Misi?

I received an email (via Busymitts website) off Emma. Thank you Emma

What is your favourite item in your own Misi shop?

It's sold now, but I think Bonnie Alice, the elephant complete with her story and sack, were my favourite things. I really enjoyed writing the story.

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

Oooh so many to choose from. Jewellery- would be Lisa and Designs by Isis, or Jo - Lej jewellery. Or Karines - The Pink Fairy cake, because she has so many different crafts on there, the woman amazes me!!



Random Facts about you:

What is your favourite colour? Yellow

What is your favourite food?
Lemon Meringue Pie

What is your favourite season? Spring

What is your favourite time of day? Morning

What is your favourite website (besides Misi)?
Www.busymitts.co.uk www.weightwatchers.com

What is your favourite TV programme?
Don't watch telly!! CRAFTING!!!



Thank you very much for speaking to us Debbie. If you would like to see more examples of Hennie's talented work, visit her shop on Misi.


Helen
xxx

Tuesday 11 August 2009

Introduction...

Hi, it's me ~ Helen aka The Beading Lady :-)

Hope you are all keeping well.
Emma has very kindly accepted my request to write for the Misi Blog.
I feel very strongly that Misi is a fab place to sell craft items, buy craft items and generally get to know some very friendly, helpful crafters and I'm hoping to express that in this blog.
I plan to interview a few Misi crafters and showcase a lot of Misi creations.
I would love to hear your suggestions and comments about what you'd like to see on the Misi blog... ideas for themes, interviews and anything else that you want to hear about.

Chat soon...

Helen
xxx