I met Caroline on Creating the Hive. She is one of the friendliest and talented U.K. crafters I've met. Some of her fav materials for crafting are textiles, lace, ribbons, beads and, in her words, "anything that I can turn into a gift or card." Enjoy a crafty moment with Caroline, as she shares a bit of her crafting vision and her mixed media world with us today.
A. I believe it was a link through Make Mine Pink, it was mentioned so I took a look, liked what I saw and joined.
Q. A home based business can be challenging and sometimes isolating. Do you have a strong supportive crafting community in the U.K.?
A. I have one firm crafting buddy, Jill, we met up this year through a forum and are forging ahead with our own plans to re-educate the buying public about handmade. We meet for coffee every other week and constantly email throughout the day. Her support is invaluable and to find a like minded person has certainly made the isolation less so. To be able to talk to someone who understands my passion and the obstacles out there, the saying ‘a trouble shared is a trouble halved’ could not be more right.
Q. That friendly support is so valuble. I noticed, Caroline, your love of fabric, beads and ribbon in your work. Many of us mix materials together and would be interested in knowing how do you edit your designs and manage the different materials.
A. I start off with an idea, normally colour based, I have such a stash of materials so do not have to go far to shop! Pull the colour palettes out, select beads and trim, laying out and overlapping fabrics until I have an idea of what looks good. Draw up a pattern, then start cutting and stitching, sometimes adding more, sometimes less.
Q. Caroline, what kinds of projects do you enjoy making for Carolee Crafts and what is the ultimate crafting tool that you can’t live without?
A. At the moment I am into evening bags, small pieces I hope of art, each piece is individual, which suits my personality, not good at doing a production line, love to make a project them move on to a new creation.
Crafting tool: could not live without my sewing machine, hate being without it and have now found a man that services in my home, so only without it for about 2 hours.
Q. Caroline, is there anything else that you would like to share with us about your business, Carolee Crafts, and your love of creating beautiful gifts and cards?
A. Live your dream, don’t let others detract you from what you want to do, follow your passion. Times are hard but to be able to create helps, be prepared to change direction and become aware of the current trends. Most of all love what you do, to me creating should never be a chore it should be a joy.
Very sound advice for all of us. Thank you so much for being here today and for sharing your thoughts, passions and advice with us, Caroline.
Please visit Caroline on the following links:
http://caroleecrafts.blogspot.com/
Carolee Crafts on Facebook
Creating The Hive
1 comment:
Thank you so much for this opportunity Margaret.
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