Cuppa & Cake with Elizabeth Prince

These gorgeous little bowls & plates caught my eye whilst browsing etsy and I've coveted them ever since!!  Aside from trying to plan who to give these little lovelies to, I've been having a little chat with Elizabeth Prince, who makes the pretty little pieces.

You can visit her etsy shop too :)

1. Birdie Bowls!! Havwe these little lovelies always been a staple of your designs?

I started to make these a little while before I opened my etsy shop. I find it interesting that even if I try to make them the same, the slightest change in placement of lace or a love-heart makes a difference to the overall feel, or personality that each one has. I made one the other day that looked evil, but I recycled him!

2. Where did you start? And what led to this becoming a beautiful etsy shop?

That's a tricky one. I had a degree in art and design, then worked with top modern design as an interior designer whilst making pottery in my spare time. Then one day, I had a rush of blood to the head and quit my job of eight years and went travelling in Brazil for a little while. Whilst I was away I decided that I would try to make a living from my ceramics when I got home, and I am very happy and privileged to say that it worked!

3. What can we find you doing when you're not making for your shop?

I love to cook, plot home renovations and colour schemes ( I am moving house at the moment! ) and go for walks in the fresh air, preferably with one of my awesome friends! I had to take some time out this year for serious health reasons, so my focus shifted from 24-7 thinking about my work, because it had to. I realised just how lucky I am to have such great people in my life - they really held me up when I was down, and so I like to cook for them, watch a film and relax with them or just be there for them.

4. Now that christmas is drawing near, what is your favourite thing to do of a cold winters eve?

I am pretty busy at this time of year with work, but I love learning new skills, so I often try to fit in an evening workshop at Ellie Magpie in Prestwich, where I have my studio. It's a sweet way to socialise and experiment with materials that are outside of my normal repertoire. We had fun with lino cuts the other day! My health issues this year kept me out of the studio for a while, so I learned to draw using cad software whilst I was stuck at home. The first of these designs are now appearing in my shop, laser cut from perspex, so when I have a few minutes I like to work on my drawings, experiment and plot new ideas for this new range.

pssss...  why not take a peek at Elizabeths christmas decorations:

Cuppa & Cake with Victoria from Little Wren Pottery

Sticking to local supplies and traditional techniques, these little pieces really have stolen my heart.  Every item is produced by Victoria at her home in Yorkshire, inspired by natural shades & changing seasons in the countryside.  You can read lots more about the production of them in the 'About' section of Little Wren Pottery.  

Victoria opened her etsy store in 2009.  Having studied design at the University of Dundee, she was taught pottery by her father - culminating in the beautiful handcrafted items she produces.

1. I have to admit, I stumbled across your store because of your gorgeous yarn bowls, do you knit very much yourself?

I do knit, I've been a knitter for longer than I've been a potter and I actually started making yarn bowls because I wanted one. I love cabling and mostly making jumpers even though it takes a long time.

I think the favourite garment I've made was from a free pattern at knitty.com called beatnik. It's a really easy pattern to follow with beautiful shaping. I keep thinking about knitting another in a different colour!

2. When did you begin to create such brilliant pottery, and when did this become an online store?

I started throwing in 2008 mainly thanks to my Dad who was a potter himself. I started selling in 2009 on Etsy and doing a few events. Pottery is an odd medium to work in, it really rewards repetition and constant daily practise.

Since I started my shop I've seen my skills grow and develop pushed in part by custom requests. Collaborating with buyers often results in surprising new works. I was a bit nervous about selling online and it is a challenging marketplace but you never know unless you put yourself out there!

3. There are teeny frogs in coffee mugs!! Do you make any other animal themed goodies?

I do like to use animals and other natural symbols in my pieces. You can find snails and butterflies on yarn bowls but I think my favourite are the mice.

The mice are so cute and I love it when people 'discover' them for the first time on pots. We used to have a little mouse that lived in our garden, my dad named him Michael! The mice work best on mugs and I like to leave them unglazed to stand out more against the colour of the pot.


4. What's your favourite item to make - and why?

My favourites have to also be one of the most challenging; plates. Each plate takes 2 kilos of clay to throw but at the end of the session looking over your work is just satisfying. Especially when they're all in a row together looking like part of the same family of pieces.



5. Will we see you at any craft fairs or events in the coming year?

Events are tricky for me it takes a long time to build up enough stock so I'm not able to do them often. I don't currently have any plans to do an even but if I can squeeze one in before Christmas I will do. The best thing is to keep an eye on the blog where I'll usually announce it beforehand.

Victoria posts on a brilliant blog, which you can find here at littlewrenpottery.co.uk.  Everything from creative ideas, stunning pictures from countryside wanders and yummy looking recipies!

You can also find her on facebook & twitter.  And, of course, have a nosey at the etsy store.

Have you got any ceramics or pottery you adore?  I've already nabbed a gorgeous yarn bowl from Little Wren Pottery, and am so tempted by the dinner sets!  This little shop miiiight even have inspired me to take a pottery class here in Glasgow! (whenever I can find a day off...)

x

Cuppa & Cake with Katie from Hilltop Cloud

Woolfest is drawing close!  I'm rather excited to be visiting this year, and one stall I'm very keen to visit is Katies!   

My poor mum is coming with me - if you spot a relatively confused looking lady having wool smooshed near her face by an over-excited 23 year old, that's my mum.  

Favourite part of the planning conversation might have been:

"I'd love to come on a little road trip with you!  

As long as you don't expect me to be all enthusiastic about all the wool.  

I don't get the wool."

Summed up when she was asked if she was sure she really wanted to go with: 

"I've sat through worse"

It's ok.  I'll buy the poor woman lunch.  Knit her a scarf.  Return the leather gloves I 'borrowed' from her 2 years ago.

I recently bought some lovely green baby camel fluff from Hilltop Cloud, it is yummy.   (It might already be spun up into a softer-than-cloud 2ply fingering-weight yarn...)

1. Hello! I heard you were recently at WonderWool, how was it?!
Wonderwool was great, it was my second year exhibiting, and I had a fantastic show. Much warmer this year, which was much appreciated. Wonderwool has always been my favourite wool festival, and now I get to have a stand there I appreciate the work of the organisers even more. 

2. When you began to dye and spin, did you ever intend to sell your goodies?
Short answer- no
Long answer, setting up my business was a relatively quick decision but I'd been gathering the skills I now use for a few years. I fully admit to being quite a new spinner in comparison to many out there, I got my first spinning wheel in 2008, but sometimes you try something and it just feels like something you were meant to do. Spinning has always been like that for me. I left my job as a teacher, moved back home with my parents, and needed to do something to earn a living. I set up HilltopCloud 2 years ago, and I've never looked back, I keep trying new things, and learning new things.

3. What's your favourite breed to spin, and why?
I could never pick just one!
I'm a firm believer that every wool has it's use. One of the reasons I love spinning is that I can match my yarn to it's purpose. Commercial yarns tend to be Merino or BFL (though more rare breeds are now being spun thank goodness), which are great, they're lovely and soft, but that softness causes high wear, and sometimes piling. For some purposes you want a tougher wool. I had a beautiful pair of colour work mittens made from a commercially spun blend of Merino and Cashmere, they were great, but I wore through the fingers in 2 winters. If I'd have knitted them out of handspun, using a tougher wool, I'd still be wearing them now. 

4. You sell lovely simple drop spindles, what sort of fibre would you recommend for our budding spinners-to-be?
True Roving is great for beginners (roving is a thin strip of jumbled fibres, most of the roving sold is actually top which is thicker and the wool has been combed) If you're not sure wether something is top or roving send the seller a message, if they can't tell you then steer clear. Batts are also great, if they're well made, as again the fibres are more jumbled up so don't slip away from you too easily when you're drafting. For your first fibre, make sure to buy from someone who is a spinner, go and do a bit of research, on Ravelry or on the persons website. Or, in a shameless piece of self promotion, as well as spindles I do sell a kit with true roving, and a mini batt.

5. Do you have new ideas for your store in the near future?
I've got a list as long as my arm, I could just do with a few more hours in the day!
One of the things I've started doing more this year is going out to guilds and spinning groups teaching workshops which is great. I trained as a teacher, and I love teaching people new skills and ideas.

You can visit Katies brilliant etsy shop here :D


Do you have a favourite type of fleece to spin?  I'm looking for recommendations!  
oooo also, will I be seeing you at WoolFest??

...someone needs to save me from running off & buying a drum carder...



Drop me a little message if you'd like to join me for some tea & cake!

Cuppa & Cake with A Girl Called Boz

Laura (A Girl Called Boz) is a brilliant artist who, among many other pretty goodies, made the brilliant Doctor Who theme stitch markers in my etsy store at the moment.  Using computer graphics and plastic as a creative medium, Laura creates some brilliant earrings, cufflinks and great other bits & pieces for her store (I might have the bunny earrings...)

Tardis Earrings :o

Tardis, Dalek & Stetson Stitch Markers :o

Hi!  Thanks for inviting me over for a cuppa and cake. I love that you call it a cuppa. Where I come from (North East England) they call it a cuppa, but over here where I'm living now (North West) they call it a brew! My family get most confused if I offer them a brew before midday, to them a brew is a beer!

 1. Helloo!  You mention a love for graphic novels, what's your favourite?
When I say I love graphic novels its like a subtle way of letting the internet know I'm a geek. I love all sorts of nerdy things like sci-fi movies, fantasy books and role playing games. I do love a good comic though. My favourite at the moment is Gotham City Sirens. It's part of the Batman franchise and revolves around the three main female characters, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Catwoman. I was so excited to find a graphic novel with three of my favourite female characters as the protagonists.

 2. When did you start creating these wonderful little bits and pieces of jewellery?
I decided to start making and selling my own jewellery pieces in university. Unfortunately, real life got in the way and I had to find a boring full time job to pay the bills. Last July I decided I was settled enough in a boring job that I needed a creative outlet and set about crafting. One day I just decided I needed to start work on my own creative business. Even though I was still working full time I fit the creating and marketing in the evenings and A Girl Called Boz was born. It isnt the dream job I wanted in uni, but its the start of something amazing.

 3. Your favourite cuppa & cake?
Oh I've just come off a diet so I feel spoilt for choice at the moment. I love a good cup of tea. Two sugars and a splash of milk please. Blueberry muffins are always nice, or something chocolatey. I've got a really sweet tooth!

 4. I particularly love the shrink plastic animals, where did you get the inspiration for these and is creating them a difficult process?
I follow a lot of illustrators on twitter that inspire me. People like Jam Grantham (@1985jam) and Stacie Swift (@Stacie_swift). One day I decided I wanted to learn how to draw using a computer program and just started having a go at it. When I'd done a few of them I discovered shrink plastic. The plastic is perfect for earrings but it doesnt make very good necklaces because its so light. Currently I shrink each piece by hand using a heat gun but I plan to try using an oven to make the process faster.

 5. Are you from an arty background, or is this something you picked up later?
I am from an arty background. I studied fine art at college, then applied art at university. I've always loved making things for myself and for other people and I can't imagine living a life where art or craft wasn't a part of it. If I didnt have A Girl Called Boz to keep me busy I'd be making furnishings for my home or planning Christmas presents for the family.

 6. Anything we excited fans should know about?!
Well I've just started selling cufflinks in the shop so theres now even more ways to wear your favourite animals. Im excited to extend the range so that there are more choices for men. I have also got a new line in the planning stages at the moment which is tea party themed. And I plan to make the animal faces into temporary tattoos too. I'll update the blog and facebook as soon as there's more details.

Thanks for having me over for virtual tea and cake. It was lots of fun!

Take care, 
Laura, aka A Girl CalledBoz.


You can visit Laura's shop here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AGirlCalledBoz?ref=owlprintpanda
blog here: http://agirlcalledboz.blogspot.co.uk/
and follow her on twitter:@agirlcalledboz
and facebook!: www.facebook.com/agirlcalledboz

And if you're a knitter, the stitch marker versions can be found here :)