Fabulous Friday... The Interview ~ Victoria Burnett Designs

This week's crafter is Camilla from Victoria Burnett Designs ~ a shop she runs with her sister, Claire...



How did you get started in your particular craft and how long have you been doing it?
The idea for our business really came from our grandmother, who decided to create some wooden mice characters for her daughter (our mother’s) wall. Mum really loved them and decided to take the idea and run with it, setting up a small business that she ran from home. She created a whole range of characters including foxes, pheasants and frogs, and was a regular, along with our father, on the charity fair circuit. Her work was enormously popular, and she was featured in a couple of magazines as well as on the local news. One of her mice even took up residence in Buckingham Palace! This was all achieved with absolutely no advertising and no access to a computer, so no internet, no Facebook, Twitter, or even MISI, just plain old word of mouth.
Very sadly, Mum was diagnosed with cancer, and after a remarkable 6 year battle, we lost her in 2003. In the meantime, I was (and still am) working full time as a scientist in London (studying ageing) but realized that this was not the ultimate career for me. I wondered about the practicality of restarting Mum’s business, and discussed the possibility with my sister, Claire, who is based in Wiltshire and who was also looking for a creative output. Together we decided that we would see if we could replicate Mum’s work. This turned out to be a steep learning curve, as although we had grown up surrounded by these pieces, we had absolutely no idea what techniques she used to make them! Consequently we had to start from the beginning and learn firstly to use a fret-saw in order to hand-cut each piece, then work out what types of varnish to use, in what combination and how many layers, and then see if we could create an antique finish. After a lot of trial and error, we felt that we had a product that we were happy with, and launched the business in October 2009, making us the third generation in our family to produce these pieces. We named the business Victoria Burnett Designs in honour and remembrance of our mother, and in acknowledgement that at the moment we are using her original designs (although we are working on new ones to add to the collection as we go).

Are there any negative aspects to doing your craft and if there are how do you work around them?
One difficulty is sourcing the wood for the pieces as we buy in 8x4 foot 6mm birch-faced plywood. This varies a lot in quality from piece to piece, as one piece may have a perfectly usable face, whilst the next may have knots, plug-holes and random discolouration, making it useless for our purposes. This means that when we go to the wood suppliers, we have to go through their entire stack of plywood to pull out maybe one or two sheets that we can use. As you can imagine, this is not always a popular request as more often than not the 6mm ply happens to be stacked right near the ceiling, so it can take a while, is dirty work, and requires one or two strapping young men to help (ok, so maybe that’s not altogether a negative aspect…)!

What tips would you give to anyone thinking of starting your craft?
Make sure you have a lot of space, time and patience!

How did you find Misi?
Through the wonder that is Google.

What is your favourite item in your own Misi shop?
For me it would have to be Poppy or Prudence. I have a particular fondness for them as I have Mum’s originals at home.

What is your favourite shop on Misi (besides your own)
I really love the products in Moon Cat – perfect for my next house!





Random facts about you:

What is your favourite season?
Got to be summer – sun, wine and plenty of bar-b-ques.

What is your ideal vacation?
Anywhere that involves the first two items mentioned above, combined with great food and plenty of trashy novels.

What is your favourite food?
Err, what isn’t my favourite food? I must confess to a terrible weakness for gherkins and wine gums.

What is your favourite animal?
Orcas, dugongs and dogs (sorry, that’s three).

What actor/actress would you NOT kick out of bed?
I have always had a great fondness for Guy Pearce. And as a lover of Gray’s, McSteamy would be welcome to stay…




Thank you so much for chatting with us. Visit Victoria Burnett Designs on Misi to see more of their adorable characters...


Helen
xxx

The Misi Awards!!

The Misi Awards...
A bit of fun on Misi to find the "Newbie of the Year", "Looniest of the Year", "Cutest Make of the Year" Award, amongst others.

To vote, please read this thread on Misi and find the Admin listed next to the award. Pm the admin with your nomination.



Helen
xxx

Fabulous Friday... Chelly's Gems

This week's Misi crafter is Michelle from Chelly's Gems... let's get to know her a bit...




How did you get started in your particular craft and how long have you been doing it?
I'm generally a crafty bug, I'll try most things, jewellery making seems to have lasted the longest . It started about 4 years ago when I was stuck for an idea for christmas present for my mum. I found a jewellery kit in Ward Graphics and I've been hooked ever since.

Are there any negative aspects to doing your craft and if there are how do you work around them?
The only negative thing I can think of is when I get an idea for a piece of jewellery and it looks really good in your mind, but then I try to make it and it doesn't work, I generally go away have a cup of tea and a piece of chocolate and try again a different way.

What tips would you give to anyone thinking of starting your craft?
Enjoy your self! I find making jewellery very relaxing and destressing (that's when beads don't fly off the table).

How did you find Misi?
Through Google search

What is your favourite item in your own Misi shop?
Do I have to choose just one? I like every thing in my shop, but if I was pushed to choose just one it would have to be the crystal bracelet, I love the colour and the way it sparkles.

What is your favourite shop on Misi (besides your own)?
I can't decide, but I really do like Artbymimi, I especially love her campervan cards, very funky





Random Facts about you:

What is your favourite time of day?
In the morning when no one else is up.

If you could go anywhere in the world, money no object ~ where would you go?
I would love to go back to Hong Kong, when I went there for my honeymoon I felt very at home there.

What was your favourite Christmas present this last Christmas?
It would have to be my fluffy slipper boots that my two girls brought for me

What is your favourite animal?
Chocolate labrador no competion.

What actor/actress would you NOT kick out of bed?
Can I have 2? Well I am any way, I would have to say Daniel Craig and David Tennant, I'm all for sharing :))



Thanks Chelly ~ a very enlightening interview. For more examples of Michelle's high quality creations visit Chelly's Gems on Misi.


Helen
xxx

Fabulous Friday... The Interview ~ Joyknitt

And today we are meeting Joy from Joyknitt.



How did you get started in your particular craft and how long have you been doing it?
I started knitting at age 5, when my mum taught me. that was 56 years ago and I have been knitting on and off ever since. it only occured to me a couple of years ago that I could actually sell my creations and earn some money to buy more yarn.

Are there any negative aspects to doing your craft and if there are how do you work around them?
I dont think there are any negatives to the way I do it, these days I knit in the evenings while watching tv so I dont attempt to do anything that requires a great deal of attention. over the years I have done quite a few intricate designs to make clothes for myself or my family, but I dont tackle these to sell, as one tiny mistake could devalue a months worth of work.

What tips would you give to anyone thinking of starting your craft?
Start simply and work your way up by learning as you go along.

How did you find Misi?
I saw a link to misi on one of my friends facebook pages and followed it. prior to that I had sold a few items on ebay, but not for anything like what they were really worth

What is your favourite item in your own Misi shop?
This yellow hat

What is your favourite shop on Misi (besides your own)?
This is a really hard one, as there are so many talented craftspeople out there making really lovely stuff, but I guess my favourite is artbymimi, mimi has such a fantasticly unique style



Random Facts about you:

What is your favourite season? spring, after a long few months of short days and cold weather it is lovely to see everything starting to turn green, to see gardens full of yellow daffodils and things bursting into life

What is your ideal vacation? walking in the wonderful lake district (without the rain that usually accompanies this exercise)

What is your favourite food? potatoes in any way, shape or form

What is your favourite animal? I love all animals, but my favourite of the pets I've had has to be barney, the greyhound, a huge great thing but as soft as they come.

What actor/actress would you NOT kick out of bed? robert redford (I think that shows my age!!)




Thank you Joy. Beautiful knitted items found at Joyknitt on Misi.


Helen
xxx

Guest Blogger ~ Joyknitt

The Veg Patch
by
Joyknitt

You may (or may not) remember from my last guest blog that rog and I moved about 18 months ago away from busy, noisy outer london - sorry, postal address was surrey, but still really outer london - to wiltshire. the house we bought was attractive to us for two main reasons, the first being a really well-built, but unfinished, outbuilding designated originally as a billiard room and now on course to become separate workspace for each of us, and the second being the garden which, while not being too big, is a nicely enclosed blank canvas for us to work wonders on.
we already have plans in hand for the renovation of the outbuilding, so I'll be blogging about that in later months, but for now as we wont really be able to do a great deal in the garden until the builders have been and gone, I have decided to take a small area of our very rough grass (I hesitate to call it a lawn) and turn it into an organic vegetable patch for use this coming season.



I have spent about three or four hours on and off over the past few days out there so far, and have double dug a small area and partially filled it with my own compost, made in a compost bag using kitchen scraps, fruit peelings, leaf rakings etc, and the contents of last years grow bags. I hope, as long as the weather continues to stay dry and not too cold, to have the entire area dug and filled before the end of march, so I can start planting in april.



what really motivated me to get going on this was something really silly. I have been buying organic desiree potatoes grown in bromham, which is only five miles from here, at the weekly market and the other day I read in the newspaper that gordon ramsey recommended that particular variety as the best one for making home-made chips. I found a few potatoes in the bottom of the bag which had gone past being ok to peel and eat, so rather than throw them away (call me cheapskate if you want to) I thought "why not plant them in the garden".



Rog has promised me a greenhouse, but that, again, will have to wait until after the builders have been and gone, so I have started off a few seeds in a seed tray which sits next to a lovely big east facing picture window in the dining room.



So over the next few months I'm hoping to have the opportunity to show you how the veg patch is coming along, and possibly the renovations to the outbuilding as well.

Fabulous Friday... The Interview ~ ArtbyMimi

I love our next crafter's bold style ~ introducing Amy from ArtbyMimi.



How did you get started in your particular craft and how long have you been doing it?
To tell you the truth I can't remember when I first started. All my childhood memories are of: apron on, paintbrush in hand and just genially having fun making a mess. The amount of times mum has come home to find the kitchen in a mess because I’ve decided to do paper and mache after school. Even now, some random idea just pops into my head and I’m there till early hours in the morning painting and drawing away.
But the first time I tried my hand at doing art professionally was in 2005. I first sold my paintings on Ebay and then I got into craft fairs and still fully enjoy it.
It’s literally in my blood, my Granddad painted and drew and so does my dad. For all it’s worth, I would never turn my back on it, as it’s all I’ve ever known.

Are there any negative aspects to doing your craft and if there are how do you work around them?
The blocks! It can be very frustrating when you’ve got an idea and you just can't get it down onto paper or canvas.
To get around it I turn to something else but if that doesn’t work, then take a break. It’ll return in time.
A few years back I used to draw and draw and draw. Dragons mostly. But then a lot of things happened in my personal life, one after another and it flew up a huge brick wall. I found myself not able to get anything onto paper.
So after a few frustrating months I turned to painting and found after a little while, I found my escape from this cell. Instead of drawing fantasy, I painted landscapes.
It’s been 5 years since but I am now finding as I’m moving on in my personal life, my drawing and painting are as well. I am pleased to find this year; not only my old style is returning but it is also evolving. I have produced 4 paintings so far this year and I love it!

What tips would you give to anyone thinking of starting your craft?
If your heart is in it and feel it’s the right thing for YOU, do it!

How did you find Misi?
I was told about it one day when my mum came home from work, telling me she found an interesting site at lunchtime.
I have been searching for a site where I could sell my work, not have to battle to get my work noticed but also UK base as the exchange sometimes put people off. So Misi was a fantastic solution.
I have been on another site before Misi and I didn’t get half the views and not one 10th of the sales as I do on Misi. The friendly community and strong support is an added bonus. So glade I was introduced.

What is your favourite item in your own Misi shop?
Hmm…that’s a hard one as it changes but right now I couldn’t bare for anything horrible to happen to my first painting created in this new year, ‘Mother’s Love’. I’m no mother but it just says a lot to me and I hope, for anyone else who sees it.

What is your favourite shop on Misi (besides your own)?
Again another hard question…I use a variety of shops for friends and family’s cards and gifts but if I had to choose it’ll be Spratsie. She did a brilliant sculpture of Ginny (my black giant rabbit) and me and I will treasure it for many, many years to come.



Random Facts about you:

What is your favourite place to eat? There’s a small, traditional café down in St.Ives called Bumbles. Sadly there are not many cafes like Bumbles left now in St.Ives but I hope Bumbles never disappears.
Or a BBQ on the beach is always fun.

What is your favourite chocolate? I like all chocolates but I just found fruit and nut Toblerone recently. YUM!

What is your favourite time of day? About 10pm

What is your favourite place that you have lived? I have lived in two places in my life: Bromsgrove and St.Ives in Cornwall, so defiantly Cornwall as I’m a country girl at heart.

What is your all-time favourite movie? I have only just seen Avatar and it was AMAZING! I only wish I could go see it in 3D now.

What actor/actress would you NOT kick out of bed? Hmmm…this is even harder than all the questions above combined! LOL! David Tennant, Jensen Ackles or Will Smith? Hmmm….LOL!



Thank you Amy. Beautiful paintings by the talented ArtbyMimi on Misi.

Helen
xxx

Guest Bloggers?

I've just realised that I've run out of guest bloggers!!
Please could any of the wonderful volunteers who previously wrote a guest blog or anyone new, please contact me through Misi.
The only requirement is that you are a Misi Member.

Thanks,
Helen
xxx