a question of crafting...

please excuse my lateness in this post, it would appear the real world got the better of me yesterday, but i'm here now.

in my shiny place, as lola would put it. i like that very much, the thought of here being my shiny place and then i think about how it is probably the only thing that i actually look forward to polishing...

and so for today's question of crafting i'm bringing you a truly shiny person, a lovely crafter that quite honestly takes my breath away with her talent...

so without further a do and before i get so completely giddy with excitement and lose my 'professional interviewing manner', i shall introduce you to Jane from ATLITW, which stands for Alltheluckintheworld. just saying the name makes one know it's pretty special...

i first came across Jane through the wonderful world of Flickr. to be honest i can't quite pin point the time but it was her Christmas Tree that stopped me dead in my Flickr tracks.

i took a closer look which led me to her other photos, beautiful images of vintage finds, recycled furniture and then her shop... once again i felt myself come over a little faint. this, i thought to myself, is surely how heaven should look...

over the past few months we have been getting to know each other and i do feel most fortunate that Jane has willingly participated in my 'question of crafting' feature. travelling all the way from the Netherlands to mossy shed, just so we may get a lovely healthy dose of her pretty wares and learn a little bit of the crafter behind the creations.

(oh and just so you know, i recorded this interview a few days back...)

so if you are sitting quietly and comfortably, i shall press the play button and begin

would you mind telling me and my dearest readers a little bit about yourself?

Jane: Hi, my name is Jane, I live in the Netherlands and I'm a graphic designer, artist, crafter and mother.
I was born in Australia but my parents moved our family to Holland in the 70's when I was 12 years old. That was a huge transition – everything was different. I don't know if you've ever heard people speaking Dutch but I can tell you, it's nothing like English and I couldn't understand a word at first. Although I picked up the language within about 6 months, I felt lost and terribly out of place. In those days of course we didn't have Internet so it was much harder to keep in touch with my old friends. I was a bit of a hermit spending a lot of time in my room reading and making things. Things started to change for me when I moved to Amsterdam and went to study at the art academy.
My daughters Robin and Nina are 21 and 19 and they both live away from home. Robin studies Communications at the University of Amsterdam and Nina is learning to be a goldsmith / jeweler. I’m very proud of both of them! I miss them a lot but luckily they often come home on the weekends.

Tif: do you know i really had no idea that your children were older, i imagined little ones running around for some reason

where did you come up with the name for your company Alltheluckintheworld?

Jane: As a single mum, I had to work long hours in my job as a graphic designer to support my family. When my daughters grew older and became less dependent on me I saw the possibility to start something for myself and do what I loved most. I felt (and still feel) so lucky! I wanted to share this with others by making things that bring luck and love and happiness to others because they are made with that intention. I’ve always been an avid visitor of flea markets and thrift shops so I decided to combine my passions. The combination of handmade, re-styled and vintage goods works quite well, I think.
I cut back my Graphic Design job to 3 days a week so I have enough time for Alltheluckintheworld . It was a good decision and although it sometimes is a struggle financially, I’m really happy I made it.

Tif: i am quite sure upon hearing this, there will be many that find your journey extremely inspiring, giving them the courage to follow their dreams.

when you started crafting, who or what inspired you to go down such a righteous and goodly path?
Jane: First of all, my mother. She made lots of clothes for us when I was a child. On my 9th birthday she gave me an old-fashioned treadle sewing machine and taught me how to use it. I was always sewing doll’s clothes. We had crafting/sewing lessons at school, which everyone hated, except me. That’s where I started embroidering. My dad is a draftsman and he used to draw with us a lot.

if a pesky gnome and his friends appeared on your doorstep, would you offer them a 'home for all seasons' and if so, could you describe the type of 'mini living quarters' you would craft for them to stay in? (i had to ask this one, as i can only imagine if i was a pesky gnome and landed on your doorstep, the type of living quarters you would create would make me think i had died and gone to gnome heaven)
Jane: There are 2 pesky gnomes living in my garden. They are trying to look innocent here but there is no way I’m letting them inside!

Tif: ah yes, i see them and yes they do look tres pesky to me, i'm quite sure they are happy as can be outside, next to all that loveliness :)

does your craft influence the way you dress? do you find if you dress creatively on any given day then perhaps that day ends up being far more productive work wise?
Jane: I’m not a very creative dresser. I like to wear dresses or jeans. Usually in dark colors. I have this one vintage summer dress that I loved to wear until it started to fall apart. I couldn’t part with it so I’ve “mended” it with applications and embroidery. It’s an ongoing project. Every now and then I add something to it.

Tif: that's a stunning dress... and how interesting, i know if i don't dress creatively then i can not get my creative juices flowing, it's like i need to dress 'the part' to be 'the part' if you see what i mean. the dress you are wearing today really is what i pictured you dressing in all the time.

you opened your lovely store recently, combining vintage finds along with your recycled and handcrafted wares. do you find the opportunity to create vignettes on a larger scale within the store has helped your creativity expand even further?

Jane: My sister Julie runs the real store, it’s at her house and quite a long way from where I live. I started with the web shop and she joined me a year later. Being so far apart is quite a problem, we’re still figuring out if this will work or if we should just stick to the web shop. Julie does most of the vintage products and I’m the one who makes things. She has a young family and a very busy job so time can be a problem too. It would be wonderful if we lived closer together.

how do you juggle between your graphic design job and being able to make things?

Jane: On the 3 days I work away from home, I find it very hard to spend time on my own projects. My head is filled with the projects I’m doing there. Of course I answer emails and send out orders but I usually can’t be very creative in the way of making things.

what is your most proudest crafting achievement to date?

Jane: My wall vases. I really like the way they turned out. I have made about 25 and I still have more to go. I like that they were ugly heater dishes that no-one would have wanted and I love the idea of having a vase hanging on the wall

Tif: i have to agree, this wall is simply one of the most beautiful walls i've laid eyes on, it actually has caused me to have 'wall envy', something i don't have very often

have you always used recycled items within your creations or is that something that has evolved over time for you?

Jane: Not always but I have been doing it for a long time. At least 20 years so you can imagine how big my collection of “supplies” is. I’m not very well organized though so I often have a hard time finding what I need. I have a million tins and they all have treasures hiding in them!

Tif: i now have 'tin lust' as well...

the Christmas tree that you applied to your wall last year is quite honestly the most beautiful tree i have seen. were you just sitting there one day and thought, "oooh, i know, lets stick all my quirky little collections on to the wall for Christmas"? i'm intrigued to know if that is how it happens for you, do you have crafting epiphanies that appear from nowhere, or do you perhaps have an inspiration book, where you jot down thoughts to reflect on at a later date, taking time to evolve an idea?


Jane: Well, yes, it did sort of happen like that. At first my idea was to take pictures of all sorts of christmassy items, cut them out and glue them to the wall. I did about 2 and then decided it was too much work. Why not just stick all the little objects to the wall instead? I didn’t think it would work but it did and I was very surprised when it became such a big hit. This year, last year’s tree was on the cover of magazines in Romania, Russia and Israel! Haha, I couldn't believe it.

Tif: that's fantastic and i'm not surprised, it has to be the best looking green christmas tree i've laid eyes on

if you could invite anyone to your place to have a little sit upon your stools, admire your wares and then have a chat, who would they be?

Jane: I’d like it if you could come over. I‘m sure we’d have lots to talk about :)! Also my Australian friend Tina. I haven’t seen her since Robin was a baby and she stayed with us in Amsterdam. My famous people would be Sophie Calle and Tracey Emin. They both have such interesting stories. And then of course, Johnny Depp

Tif: oh yes! i'd be there in a heart beat, i couldn't think of anything else i'd rather do, i would be most willing to help you go through your tins of treasures and quite honestly on this occasion i would be willing to share Johnny.

and last but no means least, quite a telling question i feel,
have you ever cooked a fish in a dishwasher before?

Jane: I’m thinking of saying yes to sound more adventurous but to be honest: No. Have you?

Tif: well actually i haven't, but i was saying to my man just the other day that surely someone has, and he mentioned that there might even be a cookbook written on dishwasher cooking, after that i tuned out as i knew the conversation was going in a direction i did not care for.

and so dearest readers, it just leaves me to thank Jane so very kindly for being here with us today (although really it was a few days back and this was recorded remember)

to actually take time out of her busy life to answer my rather dubious questions and tolerate my lack of quality interviewing skills is truly above and beyond... i am most fortunate indeed to have such a lovely crafter to grace the pages of my shiny place.

and i think it most true to say how delighted we are to have got to know the very talented creator behind ATLIW


she will be back on tuesday, until then she wishes you a crafting epiphany or two, of your own ~ Tif

footynote: please do note that all pictures belong to Jane, i wish i could once again say they belonged to me and only me... mine, mine, mine! but that would be wrong and wicked. so please do take notice of who's property they are and so shall i :)

a festival of 'granny love' ~ day five

and so dearest 'granny loving' festival goers we come to the end of our crafty gathering...

i think it is quite true to say, we have seen some fine talent amongst us... i also know it's true to say there are so many others out there in the 'granny chic' world that are unsung heros of the movement.

quietly going about their 'hooker' ways, slowly filling the earth we tread upon with warm crocheted goodness.

but before we trawl back to our tents for one more evening around the camp fires, let us finish off our festival of 'granny chic' with a special guest on stage...

so with out 'further a do' i introduce to you the lovely emma lamb.

(whoops and applause all around)

thanks emma for joining us at the end of our festival, of course many of us here today have already seen the work you do, marvelling at your ability to put a mosiac picture together and i think we all agree your treasuries for etsy are quite extraordinarily beautiful...

but i think the thing that intriques me most is your ablitities with the hook and needle.

if i can just tell our festival goers a little bit about how i met you and then we will get on with our 'question of crafting' finale...

a couple of years back i learnt to crochet, driven to it by the insane jealousy of seeing all things beautiful in the knitted world and then discovering the 'detail' turned out to be crocheted. i wanted these beautiful things i saw before me with a passion, and yet my lack of 'crocheting' knowledge was holding me back.

i took one whole month and sat down day after day until i untaught my brain to need two hands moving and retaught it to accept one hand moving. and with that began my love for crochet.

after a while i launched into a circlular cushion ("how hard could it be" i told myself)... well it went totally pear shaped to the point where i was so fed up i did a mortal sin, i tossed it in the bin, not even bothering to salvage the yarn... i was done.

and then in my little inbox came a message.

and that message was from the lovely emma, offering up her fool proof pattern for a granny round cushion. of course she had no idea that i was a complete and utter fool when it came to reading patterns and so i thanked her most kindly for her generous gift and then stared blankly at her instructions.

then it dawned on me after two days of staring blankly, why tear my graying hair out when there was a crafter out there doing her wonderful thing with 'granny' goodness... 'save my hair' and support a crafter at the same time, how perfect and so that's when i commissioned emma to make me a cushion, and from there our friendship has grown.

and now you find us together, side by side up on the main stage of this fab festival sharing a love of 'yarn' and 'granny chic'... so as the night draws in, our lanterns are lit and our knitted socks are keeping us warm, let's settle in for

an 'evening with emma lamb'...

tif: thanks for being here tonight emma, would you mind telling us a little about yourself and what makes you tick?

emma: i'm an english girl living in Scotland, but i've been here so long now (almost thirteen years) that i've picked up a wee bit of a scottish accent... :) i live with my man and my dog (my wee man) Spanner, he's an english cocker spaniel and full to bursting with his own wee personality. i design appliques and embroideries for childrens wear as my day job... and by night i'm a demon with a crochet hook or knitting needles... that is if i can tear myself away from flickr, etsy and blogland for five minutes... ;) oh, and i'm addicted to chocolate!

tif: would you mind recalling your earliest memory of creating something and what your gifted hands made?

emma: my earliest creating memory is from nursery school, about four years old... every day i would make a bee line for the painting easel and i clearly remember doing wee scenic paintings, you know ~ a strip of green at the bottom for the grass, a strip of blue at the top for the sky, a big green tree on the left and a bright yellow sunshine in the top corner! the rule was that you could only do one painting a day! but i have vivid memories of bending the truth a little so that i could eek out at least two or three paintings... ;)
my earliest crochet memory is of sitting in the kitchen with my mam, i think i was about five or six, not sure... anyway, we had our crochet hooks in hand and were working on lots of wee squares to make a good old fashioned acrylic granny blanket, with any colour yarn that happened to be at hand! i remember at that time i didn't know how to make the wee chain loop so i would pass my hook and yarn to my mam to get me started then i would happily build little squares all day... :)

tif: how many hours a day do you donate to getting a 'crafting fix'?

emma: i probably get in around six hours of applique and embroidery thanks to my day job, then in the evenings i try to ignore all the household chores that need doing and squeeze in a couple of hours crocheting or knitting while watching a bit of tv... 'Road Wars' is my current guilty pleasure!

tif: i am very suspicious that you are a flickr addict, or is that my imagination?

emma: totally addicted! it's the hub for everyone who blogs or makes and sells online, and it is such a wealth of inspiration... and i love, love, love all the groups and being able to share your pics with like minded folk. once i figured out how to set up my own groups and send out invitations i got sucked in completely. seriously, i can lose hours searching for the perfect pics to invite to 'all colours in' or 'granny chic'. but one of my favourite things to do is browse through other peoples favourites folder, it sends you in every direction to find the most beautiful images you might not come across otherwise! oh, and how can i forget the mosaics! i could make mosaics till the cows came home... ;)

tif: how would you describe your sense of style when it comes to crafting, and perhaps your style of dressing... does your craft influence your dressing?

emma: hmm, i'm not really sure there is a name for my key style... obviously 'granny chic' is a massive influence in my crochet at the moment, but it's colour that inspires my crafting the most. i do have a soft spot for the 'all colours in' approach which probably stems from my day job designing stuff for childrens wear... and i love playing with colour combinations, which is probably apparent from my flickr mosaics and etsy treasuries.but when it comes to my style of dressing and decorating i prefer a much calmer colour scheme... i live in my jeans so there is a lot of dark indigo, and i like mixing it with really strong colours such as olive, charcoal, red, teal, turquoise and russet. in my wee flat i have a lot of chocolate and deep burgundy against a backdrop of white and cream... although my studio is a riot of colour, but at the end of the day i like to close the door and enjoy the calm... :)

tif: if you happened to be hosting a 'yak and yarn' party, who would you like to invite?

emma: honestly, i would love to invite some of the wonderful cyber buddies i've met through blogging. while it’s great to have these lovely virtual friendships it would be amazing to gather everyone together for one big crafting session where we can ’oooh’ and ‘ahhh’ over what each other is doing! of course my wee man Spanner would have to be there too, so the invitation would extend to everyone's wee pals!but if i'm pushed to invite someone more well known, it would have to be someone like Jessica Ogden or Nathalie Chanin because of their amazing embroidery and clothes making talent... or maybe Tord Boontje or Rob Ryan for their paper cutting skills... i'm always attracted to the work of people who pay attention to the small details.as for where, well once i make my fortune(!) i will be the proud owner of a georgian townhouse in Edinburgh's beautiful new town! the rooms are huge with fabulous high ceilings and stunning sash windows that let in so much light... so i would invite everyone to my house for tea and cake, and i make a mean chocolate fudge cake and lemon drizzle cake too!

tif: i know you too are a fellow chocaholic, but what's you favorite?

emma: pretty much anything with at least 60% cocoa content... if pushed i would choose Green & Black's because it has enough of a bitter edge so i don't devour the entire bar in one go! and if i was being indulgent it would have to be Lindt Lindor (60% cocoa)... although a friend of mine recently introduced me to Dolfin chocolate and they do a gorgeous bar with pink peppercorns ~ not too spicy but with a lovely fragrant flavour... hmmm, i prefer to think of myself as a little bit of a connoisseur rather than an addict... :)

tif: when you started crafting, who or what inspired you to go down such a righteous and goodly path?

emma: to be honest it is something i have always done... i have always been creative in some way and it's always been an inherent part of who i am, i really can't remember a time when i haven't been creative or crafting... my mam taught me to knit and crochet when i was five or six years old, at school i loved to draw and paint, and it was at school that i remember trying embroidery for the first time. i suppose a key decision was when i finished school at sixteen and i decided to go to art college rather than study 'A' levels. i did a foundation style course, so in the first year i tried my hand at every thing from embroidery to architecture, and in the second year i decided to focus on textile design. that's when i came to Edinburgh and focused solely on printed textiles. after that i went directly into freelance work designing womens wear. initially my work was mostly hand painted fabric but over the years applique, embroidery and crochet became my preferred techniques and i've moved into designing for childrens wear... and now, thanks to etsy and my blog, i've got a wider outlet for my love of knitting and crochet and i'm enjoying the new direction it's leading me... :)

tif: would you run a marathon naked for charity?

emma: no, no way, no how... i'm not a natural runner and never have been, at school i used to skip the PE lessons and go to art class instead... and trust me you don't want to see me naked, too many wobbly bits these days!

tif: well put it another way then, have you ever attempted to knit or crochet a bikini or underpants, if not would you consider doing so and then running a marathon in all your 'finery'?

emma: what is it with you and your obsession with crochet bikinis!? ...i haven't and to be honest i don't think it has ever crossed my mind, and no i don't think i would consider it for a second... how about you!?

tif: now that would be telling!

tif: do you have a crafting skill you have yet to master?

emma: i've always wanted to learn how make my own clothes, but it's one of those things that i just don't seem to be able to find the time for. there are a few japanese crafting books i have my eye on because the patterns look fairly simple, so maybe one day soon! ... and i've also always wanted to give hand quilting a go, but again there just aren't enough hours in the day! oh, and i really want to learn more about photography but i think that will come with practice and remembering to take my camera where ever i go!

tif: do you carry a 're-use' bag where ever you go?

emma: i try to, we do have a stack of bags that we always take to do our food shopping and i have a specific tote bag that i take when i go fabric or yarn shopping. my rule is that i can only buy whatever will fit into it and no more, i say rule, it's actually more of a guideline... unless there's a sale on, then the rules and guidelines tend to go straight out the window!

tif: if there was one thing you would like to be remembered for, what would it be?

emma: obviously i would like to be remembered for my good looks, wit and charm... ;) but it's more likely that i'll be remembered as the one who called her dog Spanner!

tif: what's in your secret black crafty book, does it contain 'secrets of the utmost kind'?

emma: i have a multitude of ideas i want to try and every day i'm being inspired and adding to the list... but really, that would be telling!

tif: if you had to choose between fabric or yarn, who would win your heart?

emma: really, that's an impossible question to answer... okay, how about this ~ fabric, because i could also cut it up into thin strips for knitting and crochet! woo-hoo!!!

tif: have you ever cooked a fish in a dishwasher before?

emma: nope! i've never even owned a dishwasher, and my current kitchen is way too piddly, even for a work top sized one! it's rubber gloves and oven baked fish all the way for me!

how fabulous of emma to humor me with her wonderful answers tonight, i think we all agree that was a brilliant way to finish up our 'granny' festival... i also know there will be a lot of you that would like to come on over and meet emma, she has lots of examples of her work on display, some of which are here tonight.

you can also find emma on etsy seven days a week and so it just leaves me to say thankyou to ingrid, michelle, my man and emma for being such lovely guests, a big 'hurrah' to you, my dearest readers who for the past week have 'camped out' with me under the stars supporting my festival of 'granny love'...

and also to the fab victoria for giving me space on her truly beautiful blog, to ramble about my addictions.

sad as i am to being leaving in the morning, i take with me such fond memories, and of course many inspired thoughts from the talented crafters i have met... i shall look forward to meeting up with you, over on our 'granny chic' flickr pool, where the lovely emma has promoted me to great, great granny... giving me responsiblities i could only of dreamed of, until two days ago.

fare thee well, my 'granny loving' festival goers, you have made me proud to be a 'granny chic' addict...

she will see you on tuesday, and if you don't mind just checking for litter when you leave, that would be a great help for her and her clean up crew, aka 'little olive', 'used dog' and some backyard chickens ~ Tif

footynote: all images today, flew in with emma lamb from scotland, she is the lovely owner of them and sadly i am not :)

a question of crafting...

Janet Clare ~ part two

i don't think a roving reporter of 'worth' loses their notepad, so if you give me a minute to turf out my desk drawers i'll be right back...in the meantime, make yourselves comfortable and take a wee moment to reflect upon the fact that Janet had no prior screening of the questions and had to answer on the spot...it was a truely lovely sight, three women huddled around the kitchen table, one very professional with notepad and pencil posed, one with her best knitted frock on to impress and one trying on her collection of hats. i shall leave it to you to put the name to the description...

okay, notepad located and my best interviewing voice is in order.

let the questions begin...

if you were to host a 'yak and yarn' afternoon tea party, which famous people would you invite to your 'bit of a do'?

obviously i would invite Elvis ("me too!" i squealed) and Colin Firth for decorative purposes. Nigella Lawson will provide the refreshments. the best person i know for indiscreet gossip is my hairdresser Colin, so i'm inviting him too.

what is your ultimate thrift store find to date and what are you still on the look out for?

i'd rather choose the dump than a thrift store, my local dump is Aldershot and is full of great finds. my best find there has to be a two seater leather sofa from Laura Ashley for twenty pounds, all i need now is to get some feet for it.

i am still looking for a dresser top to display ceramics in the kitchen, perfectly distressed with layers of paint chipped away

what's in your secret 'crafty' address book?

i get my blankets that i use in my work, from military surplus stores online

what's your guilty craft secret?

never starting a new project in an old book. even if i have only a few pages used, i'll still start fresh in a new book.

what inspired you to start crafting?

i can't ever remember a time when i didn't do it. i have an Irish mother who never allowed us to be idle, so we were always busy with something. "why are you sitting there with your two arms the same length?" is something my mum always used to say. i do remember my granny teaching me to crochet.

a sunny day is perfect for?

going to the coast, sitting on the beach and ending it with fish and chips

what skill do you wish you had that you don't?

i'm not accurate enough, i would like to be more precise with cutting

what's your favorite chocolate bar? (such quality questions don't you think)

milk chocolate...i do like Green and Black. and if i had to make a choice it would be Galaxy over Cadbury

staying in or going out?

staying in, i'm a nester and a real home body

favorite book and movie?

nothing too intellectual, an 'aga saga' type of book, something feel good and uplifting.

as to a movie, any romantic comedy that i can sit and watch whilst sewing away

how do you feel being 'online' has helped you and your crafting?

i would not be where i am today without it.

i came across Heather Bailey's blog by accident and thought perhaps i should have myself a blog, it just took off from there. being online makes it easier to get work and for people to find me. it's lovely to be part of such a great crafting community and to received such positive support. i made my connections with Sew Hip and Pfaff through having my blog and i also find that blogging helps me to appreciate the little things.

favorite pronked outfit?

my spotted coat and knitted warmers

how many hours a day do you spend crafting?

as many as i can fit in

how many hours a week do you spend thrifting?

one or two hours

could you save the world in your underpants if needed?

yes! most definitely

would you run a marathon naked? (question courtesy of my 9 year old godson and probably the most revealing)

no! i couldn't, i don't run, not even for a bus

favorite crisp/chip flavor?

sweet chilli

what did you want to be when you were little?

a ballerina

how old were you when you completed your first quilt?

in my early 30's

if the queen came to tea tomorrow what would you give her to eat?

ginger cake, what's left over from today. i'm quite sure she wouldn't mind a bit

what lift's your spirits on a 'low' day?

tea, chocolate, music, romantic comedies, thrifting or just having time to myself

if you had three chickens in your backyard what would be their names?

Hfer (h for hen)

Rfer (r for rooster)

Cfer (c for chicken)

"do you mind Janet if we just pause there, so the readers have a mo to study the names and have a wee chuckle?"...

"no Tif, not a problem... perhaps we should pop the kettle on while we wait"

do you perfer warm giant undies or slinky skimpy knickers?

oh, definitely warm giant undies, remember i may need to save the world one day

stripes or spots?

stripes

knitting or crochet?

knitting

bagpuss or trumpton?

bagpuss

high street or thrift store?
thrift store

favorite all time fabric?

1950's cherry red with roses on it

what's your absolutely 'first love' in crafting?

knitting, my granny taught me, it was 'love at first sight'

what's your best eco tip for cleaning?

there's not much you can't do with vinegar. i also use baking soda and soap flakes

do you have a 're-use' bag with you every time you go out?

yes, it's one of those things i really try to do

have you ever cooked a fish in your dishwasher?

no! i never have but now i am wondering if perhaps i should try

so it leaves me now to just thank the wonderful Janet Clare for being a 'guinea pig' extraordinaire to my very dubious 'roving reporter' skills.

thanks goes to my lovely assistant Debbie who has still 'got it' and thus able to tell me things about my life that left my memory long ago.

and to you, dearest readers for humoring me.

so until next month's spiffy installment of 'a question of crafting' it will be back to normal ("ha! what's that Tif?" i hear you cry) tomorrow.

she is off to help 'orla and little eva' pack their bags as they take the midnight train to georgia very soon (no tears, we must be strong) ~ Tif

a question of crafting...

Janet Clare ~ part one

are you ready for this one dear readers, after talking about it weeks ago i am at last getting around to starting my new monthly blogging series 'a question of crafting'.

now if you are sitting quietly and have finished rustling your choccy bar wrappers then i shall begin...

a few weeks back (okay, a couple of months but let's not mention it) i had the greatest of pleasures in meeting the lovely Janet Clare.

i have been a buddy of Janet's for several years now, we both launched ourselves upon the cyber world at about the same time and fast became 'friends' and i will always treasure a picture of used dog and myself she so kindly gave me...

Janet is a mother, wife, crafter, and designer. she is fast becoming in demand for her tutorials and often has work featured in publications, you just need to take a look at an issue of Sew Hip to realize what a talent she has.

and so it was, on my wee visit back to old blighty, i told her of my whereabouts and she so wonderfully responded with a "please do come and have elevenses" rather than ignoring me, which a sanier person may have wisely done.

we arrived on Janet's doorstep, i believe wednesday morning (it's been a while remember)... she so very sweetly had baked a ginger cake, in return i had to confess i did not eat ginger cake (i can hear you all gasping at my bad manners, i can't help it, turning 40 has made me say things out loud without thinking).

but this little detail did not worry Janet, for she had stocked up on choccy bars (how well she knows me)... and so it came to be that one very lovely morning was spent in the company of my friend Debbie, (bought along for documenting purposes and 'cause i like her) and my friend Janet.

now may i just digress a little here and perhaps go back to the beginning, so we really understand just how fortunate i was... to be invited to some one's home is always a kind gesture but to be invited by someone whom you know in the cyber world but have never heard their voice or seen them is quite an extraordinary event.

i felt most honored and interestingly not at all nervous, it was like we had always known each other and perhaps only lived two doors away and not seperated by a gigantic pond...

moving on back to the lovely Janet, who i knew to be gifted in the ways of 'crafting' but until you really feel and see textile work in front of you it can be hard to have a complete appreciation of the work involved.

Janet kindly took me and Debbie on a tour of her beautiful home that she and her family have worked so hard on renovating.

the best moment for me was seeing her new studio space, a dream of Janet's for a wee while that had come true at last. we stepped from the kitchen, over the threshold onto hallowed ground, it is bright, light and just stinks of 'crafting'. (that's a good thing in case anyone thinks 'stinks' is a bad thing)...the defining moment was seeing Janet's lovely shelf of her animal figurines and there standing, pride of place is her Hugo... my very first stitched delight i saw of Janet's and a huge inspiration to her work.

and this is where i shall leave it for today, ("oooh, Tif, why would you do that? i hear you ask)

i wish to give you time to visit all of Janet's lovely places and then tomorrow i shall return with my interview, which Janet so graciously allowed me to perform.

it went most swimmingly, with me asking the questions, Janet replying, me then exclaiming "me too!" and then Debbie sitting recording our conversation in shorthand and using her 'corporate skills' that i can only sit and marvel at...

she will see you tomorrow with the 'telling and most revealing' part two of Janet Clare ~ Tif

footy note: please note that all pics in this 'gripping' prologue and interview were taken with Tif's spiffy camera but are of Janet's lovely abode and creations... please do not use unless you have asked permission from the lovely Janet herself as i don't want to get into any trouble however small... thanking you kindly