This week we say how do to Sarah of Sarey Poppins.

I’ve been crafty since I was a kid, but I really only made one-off things for specific people and occasions until late last year, when I realised I ought to do something with the growing pile of fabric I ‘just had to buy’ over the years. I made my friend a bag for her birthday, and got a bit carried away, and had to do something with my surplus, so an Etsy shop seemed like a good solution.

How did you come up with your crafty name?

Well, it was my Flickr name first, years ago. ‘Mary Poppins’ was the first film I can remember going to see (I still love it), and the scene where she’s unpacking her things with Jane and Michael, and there are standard lamps and all kinds of crazy stuff coming out of her bag… That’s the kind of bag I need! So when I had to think up a crafty name, I couldn’t really think of anything better.

Two thirds full

Watching dogs have a good old play.

My travels, particularly to sweden and japan, have been pretty inspiring, but I’m also pretty inspired by a seemingly never ending pile of things that have been made by my ancestors and kept by my mum – if there was no telly, maybe I would have made lace and embroidered tablecloths and inlaid furniture. (I doubt it.)

A pen
A good Frankie Valli compilation cd
My boy
The dog
Curry

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

A doll with horrible, synthetic, frizzy nylon-y hair, dressed in what is best described as a gingham hospital gown, which I made at school when I was 11 and found last year, and probably features my best bias binding work to this day. But it’s REALLY hideous.

A novelty cushion, commissioned for a special birthday which hasn’t rolled around yet – so I shouldn’t give any more away!

The parks and rivers; the curries; big flats; the Burrell Collection; the civic pride.

Favourite biscuit?
My pal Marc’s dad’s home made shortbread.

Crocheting and screen printing are at the top of my list.

The perfect day would involve getting out with the dog, having a good old sing at a band practice, the weather being too good to spend all day indoors and getting out for a trip to the park or the seaside or somewhere, and back for a curry and some booze and sitcoms and bed.

I’m member of a band called Belle & Sebastian, though we’ve been fairly inactive the last wee while! I spend a lot of my time thinking music-y thoughts though, and tinkering about with recording software that is way too sophisticated for my feeble brain, in preparation for whenever we get round to making some more music.

A good sharp pair of big scissors

I’d like to bridge the gap between sewing and photography by learning more about printing. Record some new songs, get my darkroom set up again…

You can see more of Sarah’s work in her etsy shop here.

This week we say a hearty how do to one of our newer members, Lauren of Cherryloco.

Why did you start in business/crafting?
From a young age i have always loved being creative. Since graduating from Glasgow school of art in Jewellery design i had an urge to continue exploring the creative path making the most of my Honours degree.

How did you come up with your crafty name?
Well, i love cherries and they are one of the sweetest fruits. i also felt that the cherry represented a very retro 50′s image and ‘Loco meaning crazy conveys my thoughts of a quirky edgy style.The idea of my style being sweet yet a bit kooky = Cherryloco.

Is your glass half full or half empty?
Usually it is half full.

What is your favourite thing that costs nothing?
I guess spending time catching up with friends/ old uni friends and having a good gossip!

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
I have a fascination for kitsch vintage styles and cute imagery. I also like to abstract subjects, to simplify them down to create silhouette forms. I am influenced by a range of subjects; from the punk and 1950′s era to nature such as birds and floral forms.

Top 5 desert-island essentials?
1.A friend
2. Suntan lotion, an endless supply as i burn easy!
3.One of those full body sleeping bag suits to keep me cosy through the night
4.A good book, of the drama thriller variety
5.A knife would come in handy.

What is the ugliest most pitiful thing you’ve ever made?
Haha one that springs to mind is when we were learning the Fold forming technique in uni and were asked to create a small boat using this technique- mine turned out hidious!and have not used fold forming since.

What have you made that you’re most proud of?
Probably in 3rd year at uni when given a tiny strip of 18 carot gold and piece of wire and had the task to create a piece of jewellery with it.I made a movable ring and was really chuffed with the result.

What’s so great about Glasgow?
Glasgow has such a wide variety of attractions to suit every type of person. For the arts and culture scene, there are many galleries,museums and architectural focal points in the city which make some great tourist spots.Shopping is a major factor which makes Glasgow so great. Glasgow is the place to be for people who just love to shop! The main aspect i love about Glasgow is the nightlife with hundreds of bars and restaurants within the city centre to suit everyone.Glasgow is also great for the music lover, like myself where your favourite bands mostly always play a show in the city.

Favourite biscuit?
I dont really eat biscuits much, but if i had to choose, it would have to be an orange club.

What crafts do you still want to learn?
I dabbled in a little bit of crochet throughout my degree year at uni so i would love to master it all over again as i have forgotten, and also some new techniques.

What is your idea of a perfect day?
I would have to say a relaxed day with no work.Waking up to sunshine and being treated to breakfast in bed after a nice lye in. Having alot of money to spend to go shopping in town for new shoes and outfits. Then being taken out for a posh meal in the evening sipping champagne cocktails and finished off by watching a movie snuggled up on the sofa.

What do you do in your day-to-day life, other than being a mafioso?
I work in a Swarovski store as a sales consultant.

What is your favourite crafting tool?
Jewellers piercing saw

What are your plans for the future?
My plan is to continue making jewellery and to gradually expand my workshop thus expanding further techniques.
My ambition is to succeed as an independant jeweller and to happily self employed.

This week we have a natter with one of our newer members, Rosie.

Why did you start in business/crafting?

I have been making things from when I was a child, starting off with jumpers for my brother’s Action Man and clothes for my dolls, and started selling things I made about 30 years ago when I was an undergraduate – so quite a long time, although never as a formal business. I started Rosie’s Retro Styling about two years ago as after many years of not crafting, the spirit moved me and I rediscovered the joys of making and selling.

How did you come up with your crafty name?

Rosie is my name of course and my business is about re-working vintage components, and it is also a nod to a fantastic and sadly missed shop in London that I used to frequent in the 1980s called Practical Styling.
Is your glass half full or half empty?

Half full most of the time.
What is your favourite thing that costs nothing?

My cat, the 10 year old handsome Jaspar, although there are obviously costs in food etc, but overall, relatively economical.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Amongst my various collections of fabrics, buttons, magazines, books etc but much of it just evolves as it goes along.

Top 5 desert-island essentials?

Partner, friends, books, friends, Jaspar.

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

In the 1980s I used to knit jumpers to commission, and I am sure there were some bad items then, but luckily I can’t recall them all individually.

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

I do tapestry now and again, although it is not yet part of Rosie’s Retro Styling. About 15 years ago I managed to work out a very complex Kaffe Fassett flower tapestry design just by looking at (obviously for a long time) and then made it as a tapestry. It saved much money and still looks pretty, if a bit chintzy.

What’s so great about Glasgow?

The size and variety, architecture, the buzz, the people, its in Scotland !

Favourite biscuit?

Boasters.

What crafts do you still want to learn?

Lace-making would be good, although don’t think my eyesight could cope with it.

What is your idea of a perfect day?

Reading the papers, pottering about, doing crafts, watching a film, eating nice food etc.

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

I am a senior manager in the NHS in sexual health services.

What is your favourite crafting tool?

Knitting needles probably.

What are your plans for the future?

Seize the day and make the best of everything.

This week we chat to Julie of Carrot Coriander.

Why did you start in business/crafting?

I’ve always been making things for people; I used to make all my friends cards for Valentines Day. The my obsession with buying craft things begin to take over my room so thought I would be best to sell my items other wise I was at risk of becoming trapped under it all.

How did you come up with your crafty name?

My name came from my favourite type of soup nothing more exciting that soup.

Is your glass half full or half empty?

I’m a half empty kind of girl, and if you’re going to the bar ill have another please.

What is your favourite thing that costs nothing?

Shell and broken glass that you find washed up on the beach.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

All around me, my jewellery is just items I would wear, and my other items are just random thoughts that become an obsession that become an item.

Top 5 desert-island essentials?

Sun Lotion so I don’t burn

A friend so I don’t get lonely or go mad

A flag so I can lay claim to the island

A wooden hut to call home

A large pointy stick because everyone needs a large pointy stick

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

I tried to make cardboard furniture last year, I cut the cardboard slotted it all together and was well impressed, then sat on it and it collapsed. The cat liked the cardboard though so at least someone was happy. (There are pictures if you really want to see)

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

I made a skirt out of a pillowcase I’m mega happy with that.

What’s so great about Glasgow?

Its only 45 minutes from sunny Gourock

Favourite biscuit?

Chocolate Digestives, or Rich Tea Fingers – Is a jaffa cake a cake or a biscuit?

What crafts do you still want to learn?

I really really want to learn to crochet, and id love to cross-stitch as well, I’m willing for any one to teach me ether, ill pay in biscuits!

What is your idea of a perfect day?

Waking up and the boats being cancelled so I cant get to work, heading back to bed getting up at a normal hour and sitting in my PJs all day watching Greys Anatomy on Sky plus (no adverts that way).

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

I’m an Occupational Therapist in Dunoon and I also take brownie guides. Don’t bother asking what an Occupational Therapist is just Google it.

What is your favourite crafting tool?

My pliers and my drill, its red and new.

What are your plans for the future?

Id love to open a Teashop in the future and sell all sorts of teas and cakes. Also it would sell handmade items and previously loved books.

This week week it’s the turn of Art by Neil Slorance

Why did you start in business/crafting?

I’ve always been a daydream doodler,  at school my books were always covered in monsters, ninjas and various computer game characters. Only in the past two years have I started painting my ideas. I love the feeling I get when I’m painting, it’s like having a nice dream. 

How did you come up with your crafty name?

I sometimes use the alias ‘osm art.’ That came from a friend who was teaching english in the Czech Republic; apparently Osm is Czech for the number 8, which is my lucky number and also, on a slightly more superficial note, it sounds like ‘awesome’! 

Is your glass half full or half empty?

Sometimes its half full, sometimes half empty, either way I’m probably making a picture about it.

What is your favourite thing that costs nothing?

My brain, walking about, sharing silly faces, sleeping.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Personal experience, relationships, dreams, adventures and random thoughts mostly. I also love old sci-fi films with awful special effects and various comics.

Top 5 desert-island essentials?

A pencil, my drawing book, sun cream (I burn easily because I’m a closet ginger), chocolate milk and a football which doubles as my friend when I go all island-crazy. 

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

My first few paintings were pretty awful.

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

I entered a painting into a competition when i was just starting out, it was for the travel company Expedia and the national gallery. I was one of the winners and my painting (of two robots flying a kite) was hung in an edinburgh gallery for a few weeks, i was ever so proud!

What’s so great about Glasgow?

There’s always so much happening, its a great place for art and music of all types and there is a nice community spirit between many of the creative people i’ve met and worked with.

Favourite biscuit?
Party rings!

What crafts do you still want to learn?

I would like to get into screen printing so i can make t-shirts and I’d also like to get better at oil painting.

What is your idea of a perfect day?

Up early with no hangover; me and a friend or two go for noodles and sushi and then go somewhere nice and sunny for a walk and some banter. Next it’s off to the pub for a bit where after a few, we’re interrupted by Bill Murray who is looking for a new Ghostbuster. He picks me and we ghost-bust the night away!

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

I go to college where I study art, I play in a band called Anavris, I hang out with my tortoise herman and sometimes go out with my telescope when its a nice night.

What is your favourite crafting tool?

The dinosaur toothbrush that I use to splatter paint around.

What are your plans for the future?

I would like to get better at what i do and eventually hold a big fancy exhibition with cheese and wine. Maybe a string quartet. And a juggler.

Take a peek into Neil’s world via his myspace page.