20 Feb 2017

Meet the Maker Monday - Introducing Andrea Johnson of Kipple Traders

At Hand Made Yorkshire, we want to introduced to you our artists, crafters 
and designer makers, their wonderful work and where you can find them.

This weeks Meet the Maker is brought to you by the lovely Andrea Johnson owner and designer maker at Kipple Traders based in Darlington

Andrea designs and makes naturally inspired fine silver jewellery.
Here's what she told me.


How long have you been a designer maker?

18 months


How did you become a designer/maker?

I taught science in a secondary school for 17 years and felt my life was passing me by and my children were growing up without me.  I used to design and make all my own jewellery when I was a teenager and still had all my old tools and beads. During a bout of depression my partner suggested I take up jewellery making again.  At the time I had been going to pottery workshops as part of the Durham Exchange so we looked into working with PMC, bought a kiln and some moulds to get started, my partner has become a dab hand at casting leaves in silver.   I mostly have enjoyed working with silver wire and glass beads, and hope someday to use the kiln to make my own beads.  Who’d have thought that something that I used to enjoy 20 years ago, still brings me so much joy today.




How did you choose your business name and what’s the meaning behind it?

KippleTraders was supposed to be the name for our start-up business, the one that we make all the mistakes with and then, when we have learnt what to do (and more importantly, what not to do!) we would change over to our proper name! 
I’m still making mistakes!

The word ‘kipple’ comes from a Philip K. Dick book called ‘Do androids dream of electric sheep?’  It is a term for the collection of useless objects one collects during life.  According to the book, when no-one’s around, kipple reproduces itself so eventually the entire universe will reach a state of total kipplestation!



Do you run your business full time or balance another job as well?

I still tutor privately in client’s homes and I mark GCSE papers for AQA but mostly I’m a Mum which is exactly the way I wanted it.  I no longer say to my kids “I’ll be in in a minute, after I’ve marked these books”.  We haven’t got two pennies to rub together but we are happy – phew!













How do you make time for it all?

I have a loving a supporting long-term partner of 17 years – that makes me sound really old!  We never did get married, maybe we can find the time now though!

What’s your favourite thing about running your business?

Keeping my own hours and meeting new people.  Woops, that’s two things I’ll merge them seamlessly into one – meeting new people in my own time!


Of all the things you’ve ever made, which has been your favourite?

I love my spiral rings as they look so elegant, they go with everything and I’ve never seen them anywhere else.


Describe your business in three words?
Inspired Silver Jewellery













I have a love hate relationship with?
Facebook!

I love?
My life!

I ignore?
People who say ‘don’t you think it is time to get a proper job!














What inspires you?
Working with the metal itself – what shape do you want to be today?!

Where can you be found
Tel: 07886869641



Maybe I should write something in there!

Facebook:

Pinterest:
https://uk.pinterest.com/andie7735/

A big thanks you to Andrea for your detailed and informative interview.
 I love your nature inspired jewellery.







6 Feb 2017

Meet the Maker Monday - Introducing Catherine Jackson of Knit Sew Rosie

At Hand Made Yorkshire, we want to introduced to you our artists, crafters 
and designer makers, their wonderful work and where you can find them.

This week I'd like to introduce to you Catherine Jackson owner of Knit Sew Rosie based in  Melsonby.  Richmond, North Yorkshire.       



How long have you been a designer maker?
I have been working as a self employed designer for six months.


What do you do/make?
My main passion is creating beautiful embroidery hoop art. I especially enjoy the free hand design aspect of my creations. I love these colour therapy books but get bored colouring them in, so instead I free hand draw some basic designs on my fabric and embroider and appliqué them in instead. I love combining textures and work a lot with buttons, beads, different fabrics, crochet and knitting all fused together to create my hoops.



How did you become a designer/maker?

I have always sewn and embroidered from a young age, many of my skills have been passed down from my granny and my mum. After having my children and becoming a full time mum, I found that I needed something to do to relax, unwind and escape the everyday hustle and bustle of family life. I took up my knitting needles (not forgetting to blow the cobwebs off!) and started knitting. My creating then started to take off and I settled into my own unique way of designing and creating. I am also an avid crocheter I love making baby blankets and wedding shawls.



How did you choose your business name and what’s the meaning behind it?

I chose my business name to reflect what I do which is knitting and sewing. My youngest daughter is Rose or Rosie and this was added as it sounded good and more personal.


Do you run your business full time or balance another job as well?

I am a busy mummy to my three beautiful children. I run my business part time inbetween school pick ups and when they ve all gone to bed.



How do you make time for it all?

I often ask myself this very question. Sometimes one has to turn a blind eye to the cobwebs!

What’s your favourite thing about running your business?

I love the freedom of being able to work the hours that suit myself and my family. I enjoy being able to design and create what I like.



Of all the things you’ve ever made, which has been your favourite?

This is a hard one, I have two favourite things. Firstly I love and couldn’t be without my toolkit. One birthday my brother bought me some beautiful fabrics and I designed and created my own knitting needle and crochet hook case.


The second is a beautiful gift box from one of my closest friends and god mother to Rose. She had filled it with all sorts of things from fabric and beads to buttons and ribbons. In it she had written a note saying to make a keepsake for Rose. I felt very touched by this and will treasure this memory always. I created a cushion and incorporated all the items we had received on to it. The leaves were made using leaves from a Rose bush from the same friend for Rose’s first birthday  as a template.


Describe your business in three words?

Unique, Bespoke and Personal



I have a love hate relationship with?

My sewing machine

I love?

Fabric, more fabric and did I mention I love fabric?


I ignore?

Others comments, there are many who think what you do is not a justifiable job and that no priority should be given to it. I will prove those people wrong.



What inspires you?

Colour, texture and pattern. I really love Scandinavian, Indian and Hungarian designs along with anything from a folk background.



Where can you be found? 

Tel: 01325 717979



Thanks Catherine for letting me interview you and showing us your colourful creations. 

I love your needle roll! I made one similar to hold my calligraphy pens in. I hated the plain calico ones available on line and managed to get some green fabric with lettering on. It was much admired :-) 

And what a fantastic idea Rosies God Mother had of filling a box of bits and pieces to make something memorable. How creative was that?

Once again, thanks for taking the time to share your life as a designer maker and showing us your beautiful work. .

Happy crafting
Sue x