Right, so here goes. This is my first blog, so please be kind! Where to start? Who am I? My name’s Katie, I am a full time carer to my almost 10 year old son who is autistic and I like to spend any free time I get crafting. I have ADHD (and probably autism) so tend to alternate between flitting between unfinished projects and hyperfocussing on one inparticular. I like to say I “collect” crafts- I love learnign new things so will pick up a new hobby, learn all about it, complete a project and move on to something else, retuning to it later when a new project gets my attention. My house was filling up with art and craft items so, with some encouragement from a good friend, started to sell some of them. I guess I was hoping for a little pocket money from it but mostly it would just be nice for the hobbies to be self-funding and maybe treat myself to an occasional takeaway! (and to be able to actually move around in my house!) You can find my stuff online under Twee’s Hollow or occasionally at local makers markets.
I started out trading with my friend, Claire, under the name Disco Puffin- she's still out there so please do go check her out, she’s awesome! We upcycled and embellished ornaments and picture frames to sell around makers markets. I will always be gratefull to Claire for this start and all the encouragement but I can be pretty awkward and kinda shy, have trouble staying in one place for too long and like to be warm and comfortable so decided markets just weren’t for me. Plus my style was changing and I was experimenting more with different crafts so decided to go my own way and try to sell online. However, joke was on me cos then I got obsessed with plants and making miniature gardens and they’re hard to post so I'm back selling at markets again! (just trying to keep them few and far between- and indoors!)
Why blog?
I decided to start this blog for a few reasons - I’ve got a few big projects planned so figured why not document them. Most of them will be first attempts and/or using new techniques. My aim of this blog is to Maybe this’ll help others starting out, maybe it will inspire someone else to have a go, and maybe it will entertain the more experienced watching me make the same mistakes they made when they first started out! (again, please be kind!).
Accountability. As I said before I tend to flit between projects and no matter how excited I am to start them they can sometimes get forgotten about and left unfinished. If I have people waiting to see an end result maybe that won't happen as much? It's worth a try anyway!
The ever-increasing importance of a social media presence. - At the end of the day I am trying to get established as an artist/small business. These days this is near impossible without being seen and heard on the internet and social media.
On top of all this, despite being a humble person I am proud of the things I make- why not show them off a bit!
My first project is a small Dolls house model that I am refurbishing as a Punk squat.
Next year I’m going to be making a Palludarium (cross between an aquarium and a terrarium) with crabs and shrimp so stay tuned for that! In between blog posts you can catch up with me on Instagram, facebook, etsy and here on my website. Just search for Twee’s Hollow!