12 Days Of Etsy: Make It Awesome

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.



I'm a visual artist and writer. I have three published books of my collage, drawing and poety work. I've been doing this since the early 90s. I started making bunnies around then. I cut up an old sweater and started sewing. There was never a plan. 



2. How did you choose your shop name?



It's kind of a joke. I actually really need to change it. It doesn't reflect the bunnies at all. I chose it way back in 2006. Maybe earlier? I used it as my personal website. It was just something a friend said that slipped out. 'Make it awesome'. It's just about making things better.

3. What is your favourite item to make? 


Bunnies are fun but my heart is more with my art. The bunnies help support my other art practices. I can only make them once or twice a year. I make a small collection.



4. What is the best seller in your shop? 

The bunny!

5. Your work sells all over the world, in which parts of the world is your work most popular? 



I send alot of packages to Australia. I love that country. Our aesthetics jibe.


6. What inspires you? 


Almost anything. I like nature and the city. Beatrix Potter, Frida Kahlo...all the great lady artists. I consume alot of pop culture. I watch movies while I sew and then write reviews which are sometimes on Rookie. I work for them as well.
www.rookiemag.com



7. How long have you been crafting? 

Since I was a child.

8. What are your other hobbies? 


Trying to be healthy. listening to music. trying to be funny. 



9. Do you collect anything? 


Silly things. I like Bunnykins and depression-era dolls. Exquisite teacups and fun vintage eggcups. I put bunnies in them to give them a new life. Often an eggcup just sits around. It's a perfect bunny seat.

10. What is your favourite Christmas tradition?



Driving around looking at Christmas lights



11. Do you have a favourite Christmas song?

Silent Night is a tearjerker.

12. What is the funniest Christmas present you have ever been given?



I'm drawing a complete blank on this one. Just this year my family has started a new tradition of 'no gifts'. This is both liberating and kinda sad but kind of great. We all just buy what we want for ourselves. I do love presents!!!

Many thanks to Sonja from Make It Awesome for taking part in this feature. Click here to visit her Etsy shop.

An Early Birthday Gift For Me

     I have still been adding to my collection of needle felted items from Miss Bumbles. I now have a second cabinet to put them in (which is much bigger, so I have plenty room for more!)
        My Mum very kindly bought me my most recent custom order for my birthday and luckily I was allowed to have them now. The custom order consisted of:

     This beautiful Queen Of Hearts kitty comes complete with flamingo mallet and a hedgehog croquet ball. The detail in her dress is amazing.

     This Mad Hatter kitty is just gorgeous. I love the colour combination. And he even has a little hand painted cup.

This little cat burglar is just so sweet. He looks full of mischief. He is based on both of my cats as they can break into any room or cupboard.

And last but not least is this Big Hairy Scary Spider. I love the expression on his face. He also has a skull on his back which you can't really see in this photo.

      I have already asked for another custom order which will hopefully be ready before Christmas. I am really excited about it. I also have a gardening guinea pig on the way which I can't wait to see. Miss Bumbles' guinea pigs are so cute, they make me want a real one.


    Here are some photos of the rest of my collection including an early piece from 2009 which I picked up from ebay. He is a rather sweet tortoise holding a lovely juicy peach.

My Favourite Collection

     If you read this blog regularly you will know that I am a bit of an Etsy addict. And although I was doing very well on my shopping ban, that has now gone out the window.
     My collection of needle felted items from Miss Bumbles has continued to grow and about a month ago, I decided I needed a cabinet to display them in. I couldn't just display them all out in the open because both of my cats are prone to eating things!
       A couple of weeks ago after what felt like looking round the whole town, the perfect cabinet popped up at a local auction. It had an estimate of £20-£40 but I knew it would go for more than that and I was prepared to go up a bit. In the end it went for a whopping £130! Needless to say I didn't get it.
        The very next day my Mum found one for me at a recycling centre (which we had tried the week before but were out of luck). It was a bargain at £35. This is what it looked like when I first got it home.

The key was missing and it  had awful mustard fabric on the back. But it had potential.  But since my Mum has worked her magic on it, it looks great. The lock works and I managed to find a replacement key on ebay.

Now that it's pure white and has the vibrant wallpaper on the back (I was going for a retro feel) it looks like a different piece of furniture.

     The collection looks amazing in it. And the best thing is, it is safe from those mischievous little kitties of mine! The way I'm going I will soon need another cabinet to display them all!

        I thought that I had gotten rid of the collecting bug (obviously not!)  What do you collect? I'd love to hear about all your different collections.

More Needle Felted Goodies

            My mission to clear stuff out is still going well. I haven't been going shopping but Etsy continues to be my weakness. I have made a number of purchases from my favourite Etsy shop Miss Bumbles.

           A couple of weeks after receiving my custom order. I bought another little seaside donkey. This one is called Brandy (I don't know what it is about these donkeys, I just love them!).

        My next order consisted of a little ships cat with ships rat and a lovely little seaside bunny with an ice lolly.  It doesn't stop there...

       Next I bought the Big Bad Wolf, I thought he would make a good companion for Little Red Kitty Hood. I felt I needed a Halloween fix and I couldn't resist this little zombie mouse.

                  Then I bought this beautiful little house mouse.

                      Lastly, I had to have this gorgeous little pair. I really liked the fact that the baby bunny, Roger, is fondly known as Petit Pois. They are just so sweet!

       Please note all pictures belong to Miss Bumbles you can find her Etsy shop here. (I haven't taken pictures of everything yet but I will soon).

        It is safe to say I am well and truly addicted to Miss Bumbles' creations. In my next post I have another custom order to share with you.

Christmas Gifts Galore

This Christmas is one of the best I have ever had. I got to spend it in my own house this year. We didn't have to run around like mad all day and got to open our presents at our own speed. I was really spoiled this year, the Meow silk shirt from French Connection was under the Christmas tree.
     But the person who gives the best presents is my Mum. The highlight of my Christmas was the beautiful handcrafted  item from my super talented Mum (yes black cats were involved).
Here are some of the other gifts my Mum gave me:

The French Cooking for Men book, my Mum bought me as a joke (she knows I love all things French). But it is actually a good comprehensive cook book. Who knows, maybe it will help me nab a lovely Frenchman!
     I also received The Hairy Bikers Perfect Pies and Heston Blumenthal At Home from a friend. They are great too and will be put to good use throughout 2012.