This week it’s the turn of mafiosi Marceline of Asking For Trouble.

Why did you start in business/crafting?

I didn’t mean to! My long years of incessant computer work as a web designer and Overlord eventually resulted in RSI so I had to learn how to switch off the computer and relax. I ended up buying a sewing
machine, then a gocco printer and badge machine. I did go to art school so it only took me about ten years of rebelling against Being An Artist before I came back to it.

How did you come up with your crafty name?

Asking For Trouble was the name of my record label. Since it was all about short-runs and handmade packaging it made sense to use the same name. I am often asking for trouble but that’s the price of genius (or something).

Is your glass half full or half empty?

I’m a optimistic pessimist so probably about 60% full.

What is your favourite thing that costs nothing?

I am the master of spending nothing so I could make a big list. Sleeping is probably my favourite. Also, drawing pictures of bunny rabbits with stupid faces.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Books, books, books. I read constantly and get inspired by all kinds of ideas. Also the internet. I have an inspiration folder on my desktop of images I’ve saved which never fails to jolt me when I need a spark.

Top 5 desert-island essentials?

Sketchbook, nice pen, my squashy tofu pillow, a solar powered Nintendo DS and a Japanese restaurant. I would never leave.

What is the ugliest most pitiful thing you’ve ever made?

Oh, I had to do a compulsory interior design class in my first year of art school and it broke me. We had to make a 3D model of a room and I seem to have a blind spot when it comes to 3D. They eventually made me go cut some random shapes on the styrofoam machine and I just piled them in my cube room. THE END. They let me pass with the lowest mark possible. I went on to specialise in Printmaking. FLAT THINGS.

What have you made that you’re most proud of?

My Chococat laptop sleeve. I still have no idea what I did to make it work. It has removable padding and everything.

What’s so great about Glasgow?

Everything, even the rain. Mostly the fact that so many creative and friendly people live here and congregate in the same places so I can go to certain places and be guaranteed to bump into someone I like. Also, great bands.

Favourite biscuit?

Where to start? At the moment I’m extremely fond of Cafe Noir which have coffee icing. Not only are they delicious but no-one else likes them so I get to eat them all myself.

What crafts do you still want to learn?

Needlepoint – it seems like exactly the sort of detailed monotonous perfectionist task I excel at. I also want to re-teach myself screenprinting but I need more room.

What is your idea of a perfect day?

Awake early to sunshine, get a train somewhere near the sea – maybe a ferry too. Explore, take photos, sketch, eat cake, breathe in sea air. Find secondhand bookshop full of cheap Victorian books about
flowers and escapades. Get train back and go see amazing band with friends and get overexcitable and run around the streets of Glasgow in the dark with some kind of astronomical event happening such as a
lunar eclipse or a sighting of Mars. Can we do that tomorrow?

What do you do in your day-to-day life, other than being a mafioso?

At the moment I am trying to be a freelance web designer and build up my crafting business whilst living on tuppence a day (anyone need a website?). I’m also the Overlord of diskant.net, a music website, and
write for various other things.

What is your favourite crafting tool?

My Mitsubishi Unipin Fine Line 0.1 black pigment ink pen. Also Marvin Medium PVA glue – why does no-one sell it any more? It’s the best glue ever.

What are your plans for the future?

To be elected Evil Dictator of the World. Other than that I don’t have any big plans, just a notebook full of ideas I hope to attempt when I get the time. Also, drawing more pictures of bunny rabbits with stupid faces.

Thanks Marceline!
Get thee over to Asking For Trouble now and glory at the cuteness on display!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008 at 12:17 am and is filed under Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.