About a year ago now I got involved in a dodgy craft market venture that basically turned into a pointless experience and waste of money. The one good thing that did come out of this was being introduced to the wonderful and crafty Sarah, who also suffered at the hands of the dodgy craft experience.
For the past year we’ve been discussing how to take over the world with our crafts, and also been emotional props for each other in this battleground that is the crafty business world. Sarah designs and creates under the pseudonym Magasin and delightfully agreed to be interviewed for my blog!
We’ve also decided to run a giveaway, which will be explained in more detail at the end of the interview..!
First of all, tell us a little about your creative background…
Well, I’ve always been ‘creative’ as when I was little I loved drawing and making things. After school I did the typical route of going to Art College followed by University where I studied Fine Art. Our course was completely open so we set our own projects and worked in whatever medium we chose. I had been told countless times that I couldn’t paint and felt more comfortable making objects. In my final year I ended up doing a lot of tapestry and entered the world of embroidery!
So, when did you first start working with cross stitch?
In my final year of university alongside teaching myself tapestry I dabbled with cross-stitch. I think I’d attempted it when I was much younger but playing with Barbie’s was less mind boggling!
What was the first thing that you cross stitched?
This is a bit embarrassing but in my final year of university my project was based around the idea of breaking taboos, so I found myself finding ways of interpreting quite rude subject matter without using shock tactics. I was making tapestry boobs (as you can now see in my Etsy store) and recreating prostitute calling cards on a larger scale using tapestry. The first thing I actually cross-stitched was an STD!!! I found images of what various STD’s looked like under the microscope (the cells look like pretty patterns) and I recreated these using cross-stitch. Sadly I don’t have pictures of those to show you!
When did you decide to start selling the things that you made? That’s always a massive jump for any crafter/maker!
I think I’ve always wanted to have my own shop. I used to love playing shops when I was little and I used to make supermarkets and shops for my Barbies out of boxes. I know it sounds cheesey but I’ve only really realised it recently that I’ve always wanted to do it. In our final year at university myself and my friends would all discuss what we wanted to do one day and mine was always ‘have my own shop!’ so while I’ve not got my own shop yet, this will do in the mean time!
What’s the hardest thing about selling your wares?
I think the whole experience is quite hard! Making the items is great, but then you have to worry if you’ve set a reasonable price, if people can find your product, do they even like it? etc etc…
What do you find your best selling items to be? and what’s your personal favourite?
I don’t think I have one single item that is an obvious best seller. I think putting my ‘embroidered sieve boobs’ from my degree show on Etsy has got a lot of interest that’s for sure. It really depends who’s seen my items and where – some people like pieces that look more text based and graphic, and then sometimes you get a lot of interest in an item that you think wouldn’t do as well! I find it really hard to judge. I made a batch of badges for a Beatles themed exhibition in Bradford earlier in the year that did really well. My personal favourite is my tattoo style ‘mum’ brooch and at the moment I like the circus themed button set I have and all the moustache I have made.
Do you have any tips for crafters wanting to start selling?
I think do your best to make a product the best you can before you show it to the world! I used to make items that I’m now really embarrassed by! I think I was just so eager to ‘sell’ online that I would make anything and put it out there, but I really should’ve worked harder on the product and photos first.
Do you have any other crafting hobbies?
I would love to say that I can knit, but to be honest I can’t muster more than a rectangle. I made someone a knitted elephant once (not life size!!!) and looking back, I have no idea how I managed that. I would love to learn to crochet but I seem to focus all my energy on cross-stitch!
Where do you get inspiration?
I mostly think of themes I would like to make things for and brainstorm. At the moment I’m making quite small things like bobby pins, buttons and earrings so it’s more a case of thinking of something small enough to sew on them!
What is your favourite: book/film/tv show?
Favourite books of all time would include Hubert Selby Jr, Richard Yates, Rick Moody and American Psycho.
Film would be The Shining, Better off Dead and the original Wickerman (love the 70s)
TV show would be……..My So Called Life and more recently I’ve been watching US cop show The Shield and I LOVE it.
(Can you tell I can’t pick favourites?!)
And finally, where can we find you on the net?
All of these places if you please:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mamagasin
http://www.folksy.com/shops/MaMagasin
http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/magasin
http://mother-leopard.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mamagasin/
Thankyou!!
So as I mentioned at the start, we’re super excited to run a giveaway for your choice of a pair of Magasin cross stitch moustache earrings OR a cross stitched ring worth £8/$12 (take a look at them on Etsy), they’re freakin’ adorable!
To enter: Follow this blog and leave a comment here telling me & Sarah what your favourite Magasin item is by checking out the links above!
Entries close a week today, on the 22nd of September. Winner announced on the 23rd!
My fave product is the little cross stitch anchor brooch :)
I must say the space invader magnets are my fav! Sweet goods!
Love the Beatles inspired buttons!
The envelope ring is adorable ^^
I love the beatles inspired rings they rock :o) xXx
I love her style! I added her to my favorite shops list on Etsy. I would enter the contest but I can’t wear that type of earring.
HI Carly, I’ll ask Sarah is it’s possible to have an alternative prize for none-earring wearers!
Love them all but the beatles are my favourite. The boob colander is very clever must have been hard work though.
I love the boobie collander, genius!!!
d’aw everything is so cute… i have somewhat of a moustache fetish already, so i’d either say the ‘tache buttons or the toadstool earrings (so mario-geek-esque) or the sailor bobby pins… :))
am i disqualified for not being able to pick one thing? :/ lol
The various tapestry boobs are my absolute favorite. Cheeky! ;-)
I ♥ the cross stitch heart earrings, so cute!
My all time fave is the flying duck brooch, stunning. But I love Sarah’s button based work, I have button issues. On an aside if I were to win I’d send the ‘tache to my sis as being half Spanish we like to joke about the joy of the lady ‘tache.
The Cross stitch sailing boat earrings are so cute. My lobes must have them! x
I LOVE the tapestry boobs! I was looking at Sarah’s work online when I was doing my rude rug making, but didn’t end up doing a massive rug, because someone else did a porno rug :) it’s nice to see the cross stitched calling cards, love them too!
I ADORE the envelope hair clips!
So cute!!!!!
I love the moustaches! I think they are amazing. I love the little set of three pictures in frames Sarah has made. Might actually have to splurge for new house when I next get paid, and exhibit in the bathroom next to my signed Cliff Richard photo (I was about 12 and he signed a pic for me whilst we all ate fish and chips in my Dad’s studio!!!). Also love the volcanos.
Would loved to have seen the STDs, loved the boobies and call cards. x
Oh wow, there is just nothing I even slightly dislike on here, its all beautiful and so original, delicate inspired. But I have to say I do love the moustache earrings. very very cool, with an ‘in’ subject matter but still enormously original.
I love all the moustache items, dont know why but they remind me of the Go Compare man in those adverts on tv :)
The envelope ring is adorable
I love the Little Cross-Stitch Heart Adjustable Ring xx
I think I NEED the envelope hair pins…!!
sex! i want, i want, i want! and james said he would bye me something nice. i’m loving the ear rings. ♥
My favourite Magasin item is the Cross Stitch Anchor Bobby Pins. Good luck everyone.
:) Awesome stuff, completely in love with the space invader ring!
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