Live what you love
I started the shop because I love making things.
Even as a small child, I sewed and did a little crochet. Mostly, I drew - and drew. And painted, and coloured in. When I was around 8 years old, I wanted a doll's house so badly - and finally got one. Printed tin, with the people flat on the walls, the rugs flat on the floor. I was so disappointed as I wanted a proper one, that you could actually play with. So I took apart my rather expensive stamp album, and made my own double-height extension, with a veranda and a Lego garage. That was my first 3D attempt. I also made little animals from felt with a lot of wobbly blanket stitch round the edges - they stood up, though. This was the very start of the addiction...
Fast forward through art college etc - and a stint trading antiques on London's Portobello Road. I started specialising in old jewellery, particularly 20s-50s, and ended up having to make repairs. Which segued into designing and making my own. Also elaborate hair accessories etc. Fast forward again to my 2nd marriage, and back in London, where I had a stall on a craft market selling my own clothing designs, jewellery and a little art work. Around this time, I also started teaching: mostly arts and crafts, plus some bookbinding - in Blade Rubber Stamps (London), Rainbow Silks (Great Missenden) and a couple of other venues. I was also writing regular articles for Craft Stamper and Crafts Beautiful (UK magazines).
By this time, I'd fallen in love with bookbinding, and was making so many books that I had to give them away. I also sold some, and was asked for more. Which was great, as there's only so much room in a small first floor flat. Ditto re blogs - I fell in love with blogging and was determined to get my blog to look how I envisaged it in my head. So I had to learn a little html and Photoshop, and started designing my own. Then was asked to do one for someone else.. and the next thing I knew, I had an Etsy shop.
I adore making things, and it's all in the process - once they are made, I can let them go with love. As there's a finite amount of blank books and journals and scrapbooks and albums any one person can use in a single lifetime, they now appear here in my shop, ready to go to new homes.
As I love to make stuff, I thought other people would love to make stuff too - and so the tutorials started appearing, with more in the pipeline. I'm also knee deep in supplies - I can't resist a vintage book if it calls to me - and I recyle the covers into vintage journals. I'll be building collage packs with the text papers (I've got more than any one person could expect to use in several years, lol) so again, you'll see these here. They're a little bit special too - life is too short for everyday.
Do what you love, live what you love, and you'll have a wonderful life.
Susie
2016
