Tag Archives: children

Feature Friday ~ The Handmade Nursery

Posted on by Jeraly | 1 Comment | Blog, Feature Friday

Name: Joanne Gross (just Jo to friends)

Business: The Handmade Nursery

Website: www.thehandmadenursery.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Handmade-Nursery/

Describe yourself in three words: Creative, dreamy, fanatical

What else should we know about you?I’m 33, I am a mum to one daughter (Fern 3 1/2) and stepdaughter to Lauren (15 1/2) I am married to Martin who I have known and loved for nearly 10 years. I had been all set to do a degree in illustration/typography when I became really ill at 19, and after that fell into a government job where I stayed for nearly 13 years. I was made redundant in Feb this year and so am having a go at something creative again which has always been my passion.

What do you do? I make knitted and fabric things for children and adults. Although i craft just about anything and very rarely stick to just one type of craft.

Why do you love it? I can be a fairly stressed out person and knitting/crafting is always guaranteed to calm me down. I can’t watch TV without some thing to make in my hands

Where do you get your inspiration? When studying art at college I was really taken with Pre-Raphaelite art and the whole Arts and Crafts movement, I adore William Morris and Edward Burne Jones. I love taking patterns from nature especially flowers.

Who has been one of your biggest influences? My mum obviously , she taught me to knit and sew. Also I have been attending a knitting group since early May 2011 and find the girls I meet there every week very inspiring. They have allowed me to find myself again after being a very befuddled mum. The group meets at Make Do and Mend (in Chelmsford Essex www.makedomend.com.) a wonderful place full of people doing workshops and selling our handmade things.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things could you not live without? Apart from my family (naturally) I would have to have my knitting with me, a sketchpad and a pencil

Where do you see yourself in ten years? I really don’t know! I would like to have taken the design side of my work further and as eventually I would love to design craft kits or have some designs made into crafter’s materials. I’ve always had an ambition to have something in print also so who knows a craft book….watch this space!

Anything else you just *have* to say? !? I’d like to urge people to buy handmade, its great to have thing which are different from the norm and unique. Also get making, Make Do and Mend! x

Feature Friday ~ Naptime Hero

Posted on by Jeraly | Comments Off | Blog, Feature Friday

Name: Missy Wagner

Business: Naptime Hero

Website: www.facebook.com/welcometonaptimehero

Describe yourself in three words: WAHM, Military Spouse

What else should we know about you? I love my job, the items I make and seeing the joy they bring to my customers.

What do you do? I hand make baby blankets for cribs and toddler beds, I make full size bibs and quillows for all ages.

Why do you love it? I love it because it is something my mom taught me how to do and it’s a great way to feel close to her when we move further and further away from each other.

Where do you get your inspiration? My inspiration comes from my family, friends and all the wonderful military families I see on base everyday.

Who has been one of your biggest influences? My dear friend Rachel who convinced me to start my business. Nap Time Hero would not exist if it weren’t for Rachel and amazing confidence in me and my product.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things could you not live without? My family, quillows and a seam ripper.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? I see myself being able to support my family if need be and sending my product around the world on a regular basis.

Anything else you just *have* to say? Thank you for letting me share my business with you all. I hope you enjoy what you see and hope to hear from you soon so I can create and item just for you.
Missy- Nap Time Hero