Oddsox Feature

I am have been really looking forward to this feature all week because it's from such a lovely lady that I met over on Folksy. Sharon from Oddsox has kindly agreed to answer my many mnay questions.

1. Where do you get your inspiration?

I’ve always loved crafting. My Mum & Gran did a lot of dressmaking and knitting when me and my sis were little so there were always bits of wool, fabric, buttons, lace and stuff in the house. So I s’pose the interest in materials and making started quite early. I’m inspired by craft, designer toy and sock creature books, craft fairs, art museums, sculpture parks, graffiti, pets, the zoo, pebbles, second hand shops, boot fairs… lots more but out of breath now! Flickr is also a fantastic place to lose a bit of time browsing other peoples work. It’s a place to be visually greedy!

2. Describe your work space?

I have two – the one that looks and feels like a workspace - the attic. And ‘downstairs’! I usually have a ‘project bag’ on the go that gets dragged about from garden to dining room to living room. I usually leave quite a lot of mess around me too.

3. When and Why did you start your crafting business?

By accident really and quite recently. After being given a sock monkey book by my sister a few years back I really wanted to have a go. Me and my partner both made some but I didn’t stop. The house kept filling up! We even took them on holiday to the Lake District one year and did some photography with them! Then I attended a craft fair that my brother-in-law helped organise and promote through his design agency. Lots of people asked if I had an on-line shop or website – which I didn’t so that’s what started it!

4. What is your most favourite item that you sell?

I quite like the DollySox at the moment. I also love the amigurumi stuff but it takes quite a long time to make. The two big pieces I had in the shop have gone so replacements are on my very long to do list!

5. Where else do you sell?
Folksy is the only shop I have, I’ve done one craft fair so far and have sold quite a bit to friends/colleagues and people they’ve recommended me to. I have another fair booked for November.

6. Do you do craft fairs and do you think they are a good place to sell?
My first Craft Fair was in March. I was nervous because I new there were going to be a lot of really good artists attending and I thought I’d be out of my depth! I was completely shocked at the reception my creatures got! I think there were more adults purchasing for themselves and other adults than for children! I sold three quarters of my stock. So do I think they’re a good place to sell – well that one certainly was! It prompted all kinds of other unexpected interest too. An enquiry about placing some items in the local museum exhibition space, a college teacher asking if I’d like to go in and do a sock creature making session with the students – plus I’ve had a number of repeat sales to people who visited the fair – one from a lady opening a ‘real’ shop. I don’t expect I’ll always be that lucky - the venue and publicity makes an enormous difference. This one was in the Town Hall and I was jammy enough to have my Sock Gardeners featured on the front of the posters and programmes – so that helped! They’re ugly little chaps and I took them along – amazing how many people wanted to buy them! But I can’t spare them – they’ve got a Sock Garden to keep tidy!

7. Describe your style in 3 words.
A bit mad!

8. What are you working on at the moment?
I’ve just finished an Amigurumi commission for another Folksy lady. She sent me a pic of the cat colours and helped choose the wool and make decisions about his face. I have a couple of songbird orders to make with special Happy Birthday messages. I always have at least one sock creature in my project bag and I’m working on a stripey amigurumi cat. Oh yeah, and I have a 9-5 day job as a project manager at a design agency too!

9. What is the weirdest thing about you?
I’m sure other people think my obsession with socks is a bit weird – can’t go near shops without seeking out socks – even in the supermarket!

10. What 1 item would you like to buy from another Folksy seller?
Henry the sausage dog! He’s just perfect.

http://www.folksy.com/items/29909-Henry-Plush-Sausage-Dachshund-Dog-Toy

11. Where is your most favourite place?
Quiet Greek islands and home.

12. What is your favourite book?
I enjoy lots of fiction but here are some of my favourite coffee table books…

13. What is your favourite film?
Oh no I can’t say just one! All Tarantino, Withnail & I, Romeo & Juliet, As Good As It Gets, Seven, Leon…

14. What is your favourite song?
Oh no I can’t say just one! I’ll go for everything by Radiohead – including the weird creature drawings that appear on some of their packaging!

15. If you could do anything for the day what would you do?
I’d repeat a day from a Greek holiday. Me and my partner went to a beautiful, quiet pebble beach and spent most of the day making pebble pictures and sculptures. I loved the idea of people just happening across them for the next couple of days until they either got washed away or knocked down!

16. You are a Superhero, what is your power?
I’d be a shapeshifter. I’d quite often be shifting into the shape of a life-size sock creature. What a laugh!

She has a wonderful blog called The Sock Garden, well worth a visit with a cup of tea and some cake.

Thanks so much Shaz for doing this interview for me, especially on such short notice!!

The Other Mousie Feature

This week it's the turn of the rather talented Sarah at TheOtherMousie to be featured and I am really excited to be able to pick some of her wonderful items to show you here today.

1. Where do you get your inspiration?

Actually - this is quite difficult! I admire loads of peoples work & wish I could be as clever or talented as them. But I have a grasshopper brain - it's always on the go & most of my ideas just pour out the top of my head - can't you tell - I mean where did Itty Bitty Pirate Kitty come from??

2. Describe your work space?
We have a very busy household so although I always keep my crafty supplies in one place I do tend to work wherever there is a bit of peace & quiet & a bit of space - which is very rare...

3. When and Why did you start your crafting business?
I actually started crafting properly over 14 years ago, just because I can't help it! At that time it was all craft fairs & I'd rent a space in my local library from time to time. I haven't done too much while I've been busy bringing up my 3 children. But as my youngest is getting settled at kindergarten I started to look at it again. The craft world has changed so much due to the Internet - I felt so scared! As soon as I discovered Folksy I knew things would be ok, they are such a friendly supportive bunch & have given me confidence too.

4. What is your most favourite item that you sell?
It has to be my Itty Bitty items - I think that's what people think of when they think of me! I do lots of what I call serious sewing too, but it's the fun items that grab everyone's attention.



5. Where else do you sell?
Apart from Folksy & Etsy, some of it now comes from word of mouth. Also I think I may have just developed a lucrative line of selling at the school gate to my daughters classmates - hope I don't cause any trouble...

6. Do you do craft fairs and do you think they are a good place to sell?
I did one in March that went very well indeed & I will be looking at doing some more in the future. Craft fairs never really change that much - they all seem a bit hit & miss what works for you doesn't work for others.

7. Describes your style in 3 words.
Kitsch, odd, whimsical or I'm not sure!

8. What are you working on at the moment?
A wonderful lady from Glasgow is getting married on International Talk Like A Pirate Day on September 21st & I'm making 72 (74 inc the bride & groom!) Itty Bitty Pirate Kitties as her wedding favours. I'm also continually thinking up new Itty Bitty Kitty variations & trying to fit them in too.

9. What is the weirdest thing about you?
Oh this is such a talent (!!!) I can take my socks off just by using my big toes & turn it into a sock ball - no hands required... it all comes back to socks really!

10. What 1 item would you like to buy from another Folksy seller?
Aaaarrggghhhh - this is a tricky question - I have so many favourites.... but if I had the money I would love to buy something from Jemima Lumley - her jewellery is stunning.

11. Where is your most favourite place?
My home with my husband & children around me.


12. What is your favourite book?
I don't get chance to read as much as I'd like at the moment. But last year I read Pobby & Dingan by Ben Rice & it still haunts me I've read it 3 times since. It means so much to me.

13. What is your favourite film?
Sorry - but out of all the films I love this is the only one I can watch over & over again & never tire of it... The Railway Children - it's a classic. I get to watch it on my own too because my family just don't seem to get the lure of it. Jenny Agutter on the platform saying 'Daddy! My Daddy!!'....... I just have to have the tissues at the ready!



14. What is your favourite song?
Ooooh that's a toughie... I have songs of the moment, I have quite an eclectic taste too. Can I have two - please???? Paper Wings by Gillian Welch and The Book Of Right-On by Joanna Newsom

15. If you could do anything for the day what would you do?
Just to be able to travel anywhere - stress free.

16. You are a Superhero, what is your power?
I would be a superhero that could transform into a fly!! The amount of times I would love to be a fly on the wall - well this could be my chance - think of all the things I could spy on!

Check out TheOtherMousie's blog, it's a really lovely read.

Lastly, many thanks to Sarah for letting me feature her and showing you her beautiful wares, especially her itty bitty pirate kitty which I adore.

Here's Something She Made Earlier

Recently I had a request from Oddsox over at Folksy for teeny tiny buttons in pairs. She bought loads, which was great ;-) and was such a lovely person to deal with. Well, I received an email from her the other day to tell me that she had listed some items in her shop that she had used my buttons on. They are so cute I wanted to show them on my blog.....and it just shows you what you can do with a smidge of imagination, a dash of talent and some gorgeous Here Pretty Kitty vintage buttons. As you can see I am not adverse to some shameless pluggin!!



So if you love what she makes, and believe me there are so many more cute items in her shop, or you want to have a go at making something with vintage buttons then pop over to our shops. I promise you a very friendly and pleasurable service from us both.