Bespoke Silver Designs?- Tell us more!

Bespoke silver designs, made the traditional way, link by silver link. Gorgeous! I am amazed at how many wonderful crafts people have been on my doorstep for so long and I never even knew!

1. If you were a cake, what kind of cake would you be?
If I were a cake, I'd like to think I would be a Lemon Cheesecake,all light and creamy with a hidden tang. In reality however, I'm probably a fruit scone,that is, what you see is what you get. I think my friends and family probably see me as a Hot Cross Bun,especially when I am making something and it's not going according to plan.
2. What will you be doing at “A Makey ‘do’”?
At a Makey do I will be selling my handcrafted silver jewellery and a few silver gifts such as bookmarks. I make all my items using traditional methods. I make all my own links,join them together and solder them into chains. I
also make bangles,earrings and pendants.I am registered with the London Assay Office and have my own maker's mark. Making silver items originally started as a hobby, but I have recently started doing it as a way of making a living.
3. Fish and Chips or Curry?
Curry! Definitely. Every time.
4. Where else can your wares usually be found?
At craft fairs and I hold jewellery parties in people's homes.
5. Do you usually hang out in Sandwich, or are you a visitor?
Unfortunately, I don't often get to Sandwich, but I like it there, particularly along the river.
6. Who is your all-time hero?
Hmm, tough one that. Probably Martin Luther King, but I am rather partial to Robbie Williams.(Yum!).
7. Who got you started on your crafty journey?
My tutor. He has worked in the trade for over 30 years and taught silversmithing for approximately 8 years. I started as a complete novice with no previous experience and he showed unending patience. Also, my partner has given me loads of support and encouragement and believed in my ability even when I doubted it myself.
8. What colour draws you most?
That depends on my mood. I like the greens found in nature but I also like a deep, rich red..
9. Where do you go for inspiration?
Anywhere. I get ideas from the beach, from the woods, from wrapping paper. Inspiration is all around,you just have to open your eyes to see it.
10. Do you dunk?
No. I think it is wrong to corrupt a perfectly good cup of tea.

Oh another non-dunker! I hope won't end up in the minority!

I have some more lovely goodies, some exciting news about a competition and another stall-holder interview to show you in the next couple of posts. I think it's all going to be very busy from here on in. Just for interest we now have 19 tables filled, which means plenty to show visitors- brilliant!

Beardy lathe-ers

As I mentioned in the last post the next person to be officially signed up for the 'do' is........my Dad. Meet Larry, my own beardy lathe-er. Let's find out more;

1) If you were a cake, what kind of cake would you be?

A dough cake

2) What will you be doing at “A Makey ‘do’”?

Probably looking after the grandchildren!

(well if you're offering!)

3) Fish and Chips or Curry?

Fish and chips.

4) Where else can your wares usually be found?

Cluttering up the living room.

5) Do you usually hang out in Sandwich, or are you a visitor?

Frequent visitor.

6) Who is your all-time hero?

Eric Clapton

7) Who got you started on your crafty journey?

My brothers-in-law

8) What colour draws you most?

Anything that doesn't show the dirt.

9) Where do you go for inspiration?

Museums, magazines and china shops.

Do you dunk

All the time!

Thanks Dad. I think that sums you up, traditional, practical and a bit cheeky around the edges! Larry will be selling his dear little ring pots and dishes. The perfect packaging for all the lovely jewelery that will be available. He will also be bringing along some doorstops made by my brilliant Uncle Ben, (the dude in the hat)- I swear to you for Dorset these guys are fairly hair-free. And anyone who makes any jokes about the beardy family resemblance is off the guest list!

In other business I am having such fun with the goodie bags, I have loads to show you in the next post, but for this one how about these darling promotional cards from Raffique. Aren't they charming?

I am beginning to realise that the way to spread the word about the 'do' is to do just that. Talking to everyone about it is opening up so many possibilities. Yesterday I visited Quex Park Craft Barn and spoke to three lovely unit holders. All had different ideas about how they might want to be involved, from displaying posters in their windows to having a stall, to sending fliers. I thought I might ask the Hotel in town where we went for a rare glass of wine if they wanted to put some vouchers in the goodie bags and found that the receptionist was a Brownie leader who offered to give fliers to all her pack.....it just grows and grows! I would be very grateful if you could join me in wittering on about it to all your nearest and dearest too!

The Who

No, not the band. Unfortunatly I haven't been able to book any live music yet for the 'do'. BOOO. But I have booked the amazing, the celebrated, the local; NiftyKnits YYYYAAAAAAYYYYEEE!!

Let's find out a bit more about Nifty;

1) If you were a cake, what kind of cake would you be?
I wouldn’t be a sophisticated gateau, I’d be something chocolatey, maybe with smarties on top. Or if I’m to be a homemade cake, I’ll be a quick and easy vinegar cake – recipe here http://niftyknits-somuchyarnsolittletime.blogspot.com/2009/01/vinegar-cake-or-dietwhat-decision.html


2) What will you be doing at “A Makey ‘do’”?
I’ll probably be looking a bit sleepy as I’ll be coming home from holiday the night before! I’ll be manning (womanning?) my stall full of knitted and crocheted novelties – animals, jewellery, flowers, morris dancers and even an occasional scarf or glove.

3) Fish and Chips or Curry?
Fish and chips every time.

4) Where else can your wares usually be found?
I can be found at http://www.niftyknits.folksy.com/ for those of us who like spending £££ and http://www.niftyknits.etsy.com/ if you can handle $$$. Last year for the first time I held a stall at the Tenterden Folk Festival, which is where my knitted Morris Dancers were launched. I shall have to make sure I bring along a mini dancer dressed in the Wantsum Morris kit, I believe they’re the local Sandwich side.

5) Do you usually hang out in Sandwich, or are you a visitor?
I am a true Maid of Kent: I was actually born in Deal, almost next door to Sandwich, but moved away at the age of 10 and only moved back to live in Kent (Tenterden) a few years ago.

6) Who is your all-time hero?
Steve Irwin is my family’s hero, he inspired us to own quite a few reptiles when my children were growing up, and we always wanted to go Australia Zoo to meet him. Sadly, we’ve left it too late. I’ve just finished knitting a mini-Steve for my son’s birthday – I’ll show you if you promise not to let him see it!

7) Who got you started on your crafty journey?

My Grandmother taught me to knit more years ago than I care to remember, but I only took it up again a few years ago when I was off sick from teaching. When the house started to fill with knits my son’s girlfriend, Lenny, told me about Etsy and the rest, as they say, is history!

8) What colour draws you most?
Tricky one! I love bright colours (you don’t have to spend long in my shops to work that out!) and purple is probably my favourite – if you’re looking for me at the MakeyDo, I’ll be the one with purple hair!

9) Where do you go for inspiration?
Out in the countryside works every time, I love walking. Sometimes it’s direct inspiration (for instance my knitted spring flowers) and sometimes it’s just being outside and having time and space to think without wandering off to the computer to check emails and chat on the forums.

10) Do you dunk?
Absolutely not! I’ve even broken my husband of the habit. Bleurgh! Nasty soggy bits in the bottom of a cup!

Thanks Nifty, really looking forward to meeting you face-to-face! Now that wasn't such a scarey interview was it? Who'd like to go next?