Welcome to my first Meet the Maker feature!!
I'm hoping to do this regularly, so that you can get to know some of the loveliest crafty people out there, and hopefully find some fab makes that you just need to have in your home!
I'm kicking off with one of the nicest people I have the pleasure of knowing, virtually at least!...
Hello! :) My
names is Jess and my little business is Stone Lodge Crafts!
Where are
you from?
Originally I
was born and raised in the picturesque market town of Ludlow in Shropshire. Now
my husband, my 2 boys and I live in the Lodge, which is located along the Offas
Dyke on the English/Welsh border of Shropshire and Powys.
What’s your favourite colour?
My favourite
colour is blue! I'm so in love with this colour and its beautiful variant
shades. It hasn't always been my utmost favourite though. Growing up I was
obsessed with yellow from my bedroom walls to my pretty summer dresses. Even
though blue is my first love, I very much appreciate the beauty of all colours!
I still hold a flame for yellow and also love the freshness and calm that green
offers :)
What’s
your favourite food?
Pizza! I
could literally eat it every day. At the age of 8 my mum and I went to Italy
and I got to see pizza being made and cooked in the traditional Italian way. It
was amazing! I'm also a huge 'puddings' fan with my all time favourite being
rhubarb crumble and custard!
How would you spend your perfect day?
My perfect
day would be spent with my wonderful husband and 2 beautiful boys (6 months and
2 years.) Biggest Little loves to run and explore so spending a warm summers
day at the seaside playing in rock pools and picnicking in the dunes would be
absolutely ideal. Sometimes it's just the little things :D
What do you make?
I make fairy cakes,
beds up, cups of tea and cheese sandwiches most days but when I do get the
chance I sew, draw and paint for Stone Lodge Crafts :) S.L.C.'s makes include
miniature toadstools, multimedia artwork and pocket cushions to name a few!
What’s your favourite thing you’ve ever
made?
Aaarrgghh
this question is too hard! I really don't have a favourite! I was so proud the
first time I made a pocket cushion. I sat on my living room floor with card,
scissors and fabric everywhere, making templates and seeing if my ideas worked
in practice! Hubby was away with work and both boys were asleep. I'm surprised
I didn't wake them or disturb the neighbours, I literally screamed with
happiness! I love my miniature toadstools too... they're so quirky and
fun!
Why did
you start your business?
I started
making hanging hearts and bunting when I went on maternity leave with biggest
little. It was something to do in the run up to becoming a mummy as I had
already washed all of the little vests, packed my hospital bag and assembled
the moses basket stand! I started up again on maternity leave 'take 2' with
littlest little but this time I wanted to do more and achieve more! And from
this, Stone Lodge Crafts was born!
What are your inspirations?
I'm very
much inspired by nature and I love 'folk' design but my boys (AKA 'the
littles') are truly my main inspiration! The first pocket cushion was created
last Christmas after a conversation my husband and I had about letters the boys
would write to Santa when they were older. I hated the thought that we would
send them away in the post never to be seen again so I had an idea! Why
not make a cushion they could put out
before Christmas with their letters to Santa tucked inside? Most fabric choices
I make are now based on their likes and personalities! I try to focus on gender
neutral and 'boyish' fabric choices as I think the high street shops just don't
cater for little boys like they do little girls! Without them I wouldn't be
doing what I do!
What would be your one tip for anyone
taking up a new hobby, or turning that hobby in to a business?
Take time
for you! Don’t allow the thing you love to become a chore. The reason you
started it was for the sheer enjoyment right? If you've decided to make it your
business as well, then you must really love it! In that case remember that even
the things we love become too much at times so whether it's a holiday or a cup
of tea and a biscuit, you can always come back to it once you've taken a
breather :)
Yay! So that was my first ever Meet the Maker, and isn't Jessica just lovely?!
If you'd like to see more of her adorable makes, or to purchase any of these, please click here
See you soon,
Ms Bee
xxx
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