Fabulous Friday... The Interview ~ Pennydog

This week's crafter is Kerry and her shop is Pennydog. Kerry works with resin and the effects that she creates in her work are just so unique, well worth a second look.



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

I've been making jewellery in general for over 10 years since I was 12, but specialising in resin for just over a year now. I've always wanted to do more than just string beads so I tried beadweaving (much more intricate- and too time consuming!), polymer and silver clay and finally settled on resin. I like making pendants from scratch!


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

Yes! I used to have Asthma and it seemed to go away during my teenage years. Within the last month the toxic styrene fumes have brought it back with added lung pain too. It can also make you dizzy and nauseous. I really should look after myself and wear a mask more often!


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

Apart from read the mixing instructions thoroughly, ventilation is key- don't run the risk of giving yourself lung cancer. Also it will not come out of your clothes, carpets, etc so it can be quite expensive in that respect! It is very fun though.


How did you find Misi?

I joined very early on so I struggle to remember! I think I joined when other people in the crafting community were talking about it on the Etsy forums and also Crafteroo. Emma also came onto Crafteroo and introduced herself a short time later.


What is your favourite item in your own Misi shop?

I like the coasters I've started to make. They're not cheap, they use a lot of resin but I do like the end result and the fact that they can be matched to your own decor and tastes.


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

Soapy Chica's shop! We've worked together on soap and soap dish gift sets.




Random Facts about you:


What is your favourite colour? Orange


What is your favourite food? Curry- any kind but not too coconutty


What is your favourite season? Autumn


What is your favourite time of day? Early evening when I've come home from work and the real work begins!


What is your favourite website (besides Misi)? Crafteroo forums: www.crafteroo.co.uk


What is your favourite TV programme? I like comedies, so probably would say The Big Bang Theory at a push though there are so many other great shows (Mock the Week, Argumental, etc anything that makes me laugh)!



Thank you for chatting to us Kerry. You can see more of Kerry's gorgeous items at Pennydog on Misi.

Helen
xxx

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Don't forget...

... to enter the Amazing Autumn Misi Blog Giveaway...

Some fantastic handcrafted prizes including; bags, charms, earrings, bracelets...

Enter here.


xxx

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Fabulous Friday... The Interview ~ Carolyn's Creations

This week's Misi Crafter is Carolyn from Carolyn's Creations... or Sewembroidernut as she's known on the forums :-)

Carolyn is amazing with custom orders ~ she creates exactly what you have asked for and it turns out 100 times better than you could imagine yourself.



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

I started sewing at school when I was 11 years old and have been sewing ever since. I made all my children's clothing until they were teenagers and they decided that home sewing was no longer "cool". I might add that they are now asking me to sew for their children because everything is so expensive!! Precisely the reason why I did it in the first place! I knit, crochet and dabble in all things "crafty"! I own 7 sewing machines which is a bit over the top I have to admit, BUT I use them all!! I started with machine embroidery in 2003 when we were commuting between Holland and London, spending more time in UK than Holland. I could not manage without a sewing machine in London and had always wanted an embroidery machine so bought one that could be used for either normal sewing as well as machine embroidery. Machine embroidery is addictive, fun and very rewarding. Every project I undertake is so different and I love the challenges MISI members throw my way.

Are there any negative aspects to doing your craft and if there are how do you work around them?
The only negative thing about my craft is not being able to get to places to get supplies so I rely heavily upon the internet. I always research places we visit to make sure I get to see the fabric and craft shops in the area. My OH is very supportive and encourages me in my hobbies. I am not happy unless I am creating something, and that does lead to a surplus stock and the problem then is, how to move it on. No matter how big my stash is I NEVER have the right piece of fabric when I want it!! AND there are never enough hours in a day!


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

Start with small projects and then slowly get into bigger things. I started my granddaughters off with sacking, doing cross stitch and then I made them into oven cloths for them. Machine embroidery is an expensive hobby as there are so many hidden extras that are required,so if you are contemplating buying an embroidery machine I would suggest you do what I did and get a combination machine and then you have not wasted your money if the embroidery side does not work out. The internet is an amazing place for resources and it pays to check out all the tips and free designs available. If at first you don't succeed - Don't give up - try again and again. You will win in the end.

How did you find MISI?

I saw a link on "The Sewing Forum" and decided that MISI looked very encouraging. I joined right at the beginning and it has been good for me.

What is your favourite item in your own MISI shop?

These little trinket bowls are lovely on dressing tables. I have one in my spare room which I fill with chocolates for guests. Whatever colour they are done in, they all look so different.

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

That is a really hard question but I have to say I love Jane's jewellery and the choker at suzidoo has also taken my eye . There are so many talented people using MISI, that it is difficult to choose, just ONE! Overspill for supplies too! There are a lot of shops I have not even had a chance to look at so there could well be others I have missed.



Random Facts about you:

What is your favourite colour? Bright Pink

What is your favourite food? Apples - fresh - straight from the tree!

What is your favourite season? Summer

What is your favourite time of day? Uninterrupted crafting time!!

What is your favourite website (besides MISI)? www.thesewingforum.co.uk , www.virginiaquilter.com

What is your favourite TV programme? Holby City & Casualty - sorry cannot choose between the two!

Thank you so much for chatting to us Carolyn. Take a look at Carolyn's Creations to see more of her talented designs...

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The Amazing Autumn Misi Blog Giveaway!!

Yipeee! Autumn is here! Ok not so much, yipee, as ~ oh where did summer go?
But never mind, it gives me an excuse to name the giveaway ~ The Amazing Autumn Misi Blog Giveaway.
And why is it amazing?
Because some of the wonderful, generous crafters at Misi have donated some AMAZING prizes!!



In no particular order we have the following prizes donated by lovely Misi people...

*A beautiful bracelet from Designs by Isis

*An adorable angel charm from Jolicious

*Stunning earrings from MornieG Jewellery

*A pretty bookmark from Talking Beads

*A delicious candle from The Pink Fairy Cake

(uh oh, I'm going to run out of AMAZING adjectives)

*A fabulously fluffy bag from Peggy's Knits

*A lovely lavender heart from Neate Crafts

*A heartwarming scarf from Pickled Pumpkins

*A helpful first aid kit and scissor holder from Carolyn's Creations

* A gorgeous Hair accessory from Julies Booties

* A funky flower keyring from FairlyGirly

* A pair of useful magnetic pegs from Made by Val

* A beautiful Hair accessory from Fairyqueen Jewels

* A fun fridge magnet from Kelso Kreations

* A cute little bunny from My Funny Bunny

* An adorable little bag from Mad about Bags

* A branded, very rare Misi bag from MISI

* A lovely shopping bag from Cutie Pie

* A beautiful bracelet from Delicate Sparkles

* Plush Purple Wristwarmers from Knitwits

* Very special Birthday Gift tags from Stitching for You

* A gorgeous little parcel of goodies from Looby Crafts

All these amazing (do you think I've said Amazing enough times yet?) prizes will be packaged into one big parcel for one lucky winner.


I have also held back a few small items for a second prize.



*An lovely snowflake charm from Jolicious

*A helpful notebook from Carolyn's Creations

*A cute mobile charm from The Beading Lady

* Beautiful Hair Accessories from SprinklesSparkles



Right, all you have to do to enter our little giveaway is either:

1) Visit one of the stores above and find a favourite item from one of them ~ now copy the link and post it on this blog's comments.

OR

2) Go over to Misi and take a look at the Handmade Spots ~ this brings up a different page everytime you click it ~ take a look through a few pages and find something that really captures your interest or imagination ~ now copy the link and post it on this blog's comments.

Please add your username to your comment too. If you aren't already registered on Misi, please join ~ it's free and very easy. And Misi promises not to spam you!

If the winner happens to be one of the Amazing people who donated a prize then you will not receive your own prize back ~ it will be substituted with one of the second prize items.

Competition closes at 12 noon on Saturday the 26th September 2009, when I will throw everyone's names in a hat and get my hubby to pick the lucky winner.

Good luck
xxx

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Fabulous Friday... The Interview ~ Little Scruffs

This week's crafter is Jean from Little Scruffs ~ those gorgeous miniature bears that we all have on our wishlists...



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

I think it was about 2001 that I went on a weekend bearmaking course and haven't stopped since!!

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

I love everything about bearmaking but because it takes a long time to create a miniature bear- probably about 8 hours not including designing, website upkeep, queuing in post office etc etc , I will never be a millionaire!

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

Bearmakers come and go but I think if you are going to get anywhere you really have to stick at it. Also loving bears is a great help!!!

How did you find Misi?

Misi found me and I am so glad, there are the nicest bunch of creators you could ever wish to meet on here!

What is your favourite item in your own Misi shop?

Alfie is my favourite bear still for sale in the shop at the moment. It still amazes me that people have such different favourites!

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

How could you ask that!!!??? There are far too many wonderful shops to have a favourite. Some marvellous card shops, knitting, jewelry, Carolyns sewembroidery..... oh gosh I could be on all night!




Random Facts about you:

What is your favourite colour? It changes/ Perhaps purple

What is your favourite food? Anything that is edible - maybe Chinese

What is your favourite season? Spring

What is your favourite time of day? Anytime

What is your favourite website (besides Misi)? one that is called www.miniaturemohairbears.co.uk !

What is your favourite TV programme? Loose Women!

Where have you lived? On a little Island in the Orkneys with only 400 people on where both my daughters were born. Spain and England *I just added that!!!



Thank you for chatting to us Jean (and ad-libbing extra questions, lol). Go to Little Scruffs shop to see the most adorable miniature bears ever.


Helen
xxx

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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