I have decided to start asking some of my favorite shops to have giveaways on my blog. If you have a shop and would like me to have a giveaway for you please contact me, melanieadey at hotmail dot com.
So onto one of my favorite shops. I LOVE these bracelets. Her color combinations are wonderful! And her prices are fantastic!!
Here is a little about the artist behind these beautiful creations...
1. Tell us a little about yourself…
I'm a beadaholic! I am married to Ian who is so supportive and praises my work always. I have 2 boys Kristian 17 and Jamie 8 who are football mad! I sing to myself all day whilst beading.
I love walking to gather inspiration, watching my boys play football, lunching with friends and spending time with my supportive family. I love all sorts of crafting and i'm constantly amazed by the beautiful things that people make, I love anything that is different. I dream beads and constantly come up with new colour mixes so my journal is always to hand. My first encounter with beads was when I was about 5, my grandad gave me a big bag of coloured beads, I strolled through the park on the way home happily with my mom when a huge dog bounded playfully at me, I lost every single bead and cried all the way home!
2. How long have you been doing this?
I have been beading now since 2007. My sister used to make jewelry and I always admired her, she tried to show me how it was done one day, it was fiddly and needed patience, it just wasn't for me even though I had always loved beads since childhood! I was made redundant from my job quite a few months later and had lots of spare time on my hands and was very bored so I decided to have a play but kind of doing it my way, from that day on I became addicted!
3. Who/What inspires you?
My inspiration for colours can come from the most bizarre things such as a colour combinations on a shower gel bottle, wallpaper, fabric, a pattern on a dress or a gift box. My main inspiration though is my garden and childhood memories of the hours I spent in my grandparents award winning garden full of flowers and orchards! My nan and my mom taught me every craft I know and always inspired me! The inspiring feedback from customers and other artists makes me want to keep doing what I'm doing and I love every moment of it.
4. What's your favorite piece?
I love every bracelet that I make for many different reasons but my favorite has to be "Summer Pudding" this is the one I use in my etsy avatar and banner. I love the vibrant colours, the flowers and berries that I have used.
5. What advice do you have for a beginner?
My advice to a beginner would be to keep practicing until you feel you have it right, don't give up if your idea doesn't work out first time! Try not to overspend on beads and findings which is so easy to do! I always write down my ideas and love coming up with new and unique designs. Try and work from an organized workstation where you have anything to hand. Above all enjoy what you do!
6. Where can we find you?
Kim has generously offered to giveaway a bracelet of your choice from her shop.
To enter:
Leave a comment telling Kim what your favorite item in
her shop is.
Must do this first before you can get any additional entries.
Extra Entries (please leave a separate comment for each):
Please make sure that I have a way to contact you if you win. Giveaway ends Thurs, Feb 11th. Anyone can enter, this giveaway is open worldwide.
Good Luck!!